Latest news with #DWA
American Press
7 days ago
- Sport
- American Press
Old school attitude
It won't be the same-looking defense for the Cowboys. Gone is All-American linebacker Micah Davey, off to Texas-El Paso. Gone is All-Louisiana safety Boogsie Silvera, off to South Florida. Gone are some other key pieces that took big steps last season for McNeese State. But what was once old is new again for the Cowboys, who have brought back DWA (Defense With Attitude). Started over a decade ago by then-defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, the DWA is more than just three letters or a snappy catch phrase. It is a style of thinking and play that has been missing at McNeese for some time. Not only is the attitude back, but so are the shirts that read DWA on defensive players. 'I love it,' said defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro. 'I wanted to bring it back the last couple of years. It is great to see. 'I have been all about the branding and the attitude. There is special pride that goes with it, and this group has embraced it.' The DWA rebranding has also been a big hit with the players, especially those who grew up around the program. Junior linebacker Peyton Lemaire is one of those defenders. He grew up in Sulphur and understands the history and meaning of DWA. 'I'm excited that we have that brand back,' said Lemaire, who played in 11 games last year, starting three. He finished with 29 tackles, a forced fumble, and a recovery. 'That's about playing for the guys who played before us here,' said Lamaire. 'They set the standard and we want to follow it.' Lemaire knows all about following those who set the standard. When Davey was injured last season, it was the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder who replaced him in the lineup. 'That helped me get the experience I needed,' said Lemaire. 'It gave me confidence that I would play at that level.' Lemaire believes this defense will be more about the group than just one or two guys. 'We have a lot of guys who can make plays,' Lemaire said. 'We are going to be more defense by committee, I think this year.' There are 19 newcomers expected to give the defense depth. One of those is South Alabama transfer Emauri Sibley The junior has made himself noticed early in camp. 'Sibley has shown us some real flashes,' Pecoraro said. 'I'm excited to watch what he brings with him. 'We lost Micah, we lost Boogsie, but we had guys come in who can play as well.' Despite not being previously familiar with the DWA thing, Sibley has bought fully into it. 'We came out with the DWA jerseys and want to live up to that tradition,' Sibley said. To him, playing defense is simple. 'See ball, hit ball,' Sibley said. That is perfect for DWA. One other linebacker, Landon Barrett, is ready to leave his mark after injuries limited him to just two games last year. 'It feels great to be out here now,' Barrett said. 'It was frustrating, but I think it helped me mentally.' Barrett also likes the vibe DWA brings. 'This is a very tight-knit group,' Barrett said. 'We hold each other accountable and learn from the older guys.' It is early, but the attitude adjustment runs deeper than just a slogan on a shirt. 'I'm excited about this group,' said Pecoraro. And the group seems excited to try to live up to the previous standard of McNeese football.
Scottish Sun
02-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
Chilling rise of ‘psycho' cats – domestic pets crossed with wild animals bought online & now prowling UK streets
The cats are mixed with wild servals - and armed cops had to retrieve one that escaped WILD SIDE Chilling rise of 'psycho' cats – domestic pets crossed with wild animals bought online & now prowling UK streets Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THERE'S a rise in Brits adopting "psycho" hybrid cats described as unsuitable pets - with armed cops even called in to retrieve one. Savannah cats are the result of breeding wild African servals with domestic moggies - and a special Dangerous Wild Animal Licence (DWA) is needed to own first generation crosses (F1) of the "breed". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 A savannah cat that was on the loose in Hampstead in 2020 Credit: SWNS 6 Worried neighbours had called cops after spotting the 'big cat' 6 Armed cops in Hampstead retrieved the cat It comes after The Sun exposed the dangerous exotic animal trade - with 12 lions and more than 70 venomous rattlesnakes currently being kept as pets in the UK. Celebs and influencers, including Justin Bieber, are among those to have owned savannah cats - but experts warn they can be a major risk, especially to other pets. Bieber's wife Hailey described his two savannah's as "pyscho". Armed police were called in 2020 to affluent Billionaire's Row in Hampstead, London, when one escaped causing panic among neighbours. READ MORE NEWS WILD SIDE Inside exotic animal trade with 12 LIONS among dangerous pets kept at UK homes The latest Government data shows at least 30 F1 versions of the species are being kept in the UK - but many more later generation examples are currently on these shores, with numbers rising. F1s can cost as much as £20,000 - but sites like Pets4Homes list non-first generation savannah kitten litters for sale for as little as £200 each. Chris Lewis, captivity research manager for Born Free, told The Sun people should not be fooled, and it's impossible to remove the wild genes and instincts in just one or two generations. He said: 'I would strongly advise against anyone wanting to purchase a savannah cat. 'They're considered to be a step up from your common domestic cat, because they're bigger, they're quite striking in appearance and have featured in a number of online videos with influencers or celebrities. 'So they are considered to be a fashionable pet, I guess." Pet dog runs on court to celebrate as Emma Raducanu is beaten by Anna Kalinskaya in Washington He continued: 'Once you get into the second generation of Savannah cats, you then don't need a license anymore, which I think helps with their appeal and also that raises questions as to whether that's even appropriate because you have this animal, which is only two generations away from its wild parents, and you suddenly don't need a license for it yet… 'It is quite bizarre, almost a bit of a loophole with the licensing.' Chris said he would encourage people to remember that the domestication of cats and dogs occurred over the thousands of years over multiple generations. 'To assume that an animal after just two generations is suitable and capable of being kept adequately in a domestic environment within the UK is perhaps not appropriate, not advisable,' he continued. 'And any hybridisation of two species which are so noticeably different because the breeding of a domestic cat and a wild cat can be filled with welfare issues for the animals involved." Savannah's are not simply high maintenance, they are different animals from domestic cats - described as energetically hardwired, they are often accused of terrorising neighbourhood pets when allowed to roam. RSPCA scientific officer Evangeline Button told Discover Wildlife: 'It can be extremely difficult to meet the needs of a savannah cat. 'Providing an environment that meets the needs of these large animals is likely to prove extremely difficult, particularly in the average family home. "Animals should only be kept in captivity if good welfare can be assured.' 6 Savannah kittens can be bought online for a few hundred pounds 6 Savannahs are a mix of wild servals (pictured) and domestic cats Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Chilling rise of ‘psycho' cats – domestic pets crossed with wild animals bought online & now prowling UK streets
THERE'S a rise in Brits adopting "psycho" hybrid cats described as unsuitable pets - with armed cops even called in to retrieve one. Savannah cats are the result of breeding wild African servals with domestic moggies - and a special Dangerous Wild Animal Licence (DWA) is needed to own first generation crosses (F1) of the "breed". 6 A savannah cat that was on the loose in Hampstead in 2020 Credit: SWNS 6 Worried neighbours had called cops after spotting the 'big cat' 6 Armed cops in Hampstead retrieved the cat It comes after Celebs and influencers, including Justin Bieber, are among those to have owned savannah cats - but experts warn they can be a major risk, especially to other pets. Bieber's wife Hailey described his two savannah's as "pyscho". Armed police were called in 2020 to affluent Billionaire's Row in Hampstead, London, when READ MORE NEWS The latest Government data shows at least 30 F1 versions of the species are being kept in the UK - but many more later generation examples are currently on these shores, with numbers rising. F1s can cost as much as £20,000 - but sites like Pets4Homes list non-first generation savannah kitten litters for sale for as little as £200 each. Chris Lewis, captivity research manager for Born Free, told The Sun people should not be fooled, and it's impossible to remove the wild genes and instincts in just one or two generations. He said: 'I would strongly advise against anyone wanting to purchase a savannah cat. Most read in The Sun 'They're considered to be a step up from your common domestic cat, because they're bigger, they're quite striking in appearance and have featured in a number of online videos with influencers or celebrities. 'So they are considered to be a fashionable pet, I guess." Pet dog runs on court to celebrate as Emma Raducanu is beaten by Anna Kalinskaya in Washington He continued: 'Once you get into the second generation of Savannah cats, you then don't need a license anymore, which I think helps with their appeal and also that raises questions as to whether that's even appropriate because you have this animal, which is only two generations away from its wild parents, and you suddenly don't need a license for it yet… 'It is quite bizarre, almost a bit of a loophole with the licensing.' Chris said he would encourage people to remember that the domestication of cats and dogs occurred over the thousands of years over multiple generations. 'To assume that an animal after just two generations is suitable and capable of being kept adequately in a domestic environment within the UK is perhaps not appropriate, not advisable,' he continued. 'And any hybridisation of two species which are so noticeably different because the breeding of a domestic cat and a wild cat can be filled with welfare issues for the animals involved." Savannah's are not simply high maintenance, they are different animals from domestic cats - described as energetically hardwired, they are often accused of terrorising neighbourhood pets when allowed to roam. RSPCA scientific officer Evangeline Button told 'Providing an environment that meets the needs of these large animals is likely to prove extremely difficult, particularly in the average family home. "Animals should only be kept in captivity if good welfare can be assured.' 6 Savannah kittens can be bought online for a few hundred pounds 6 Savannahs are a mix of wild servals (pictured) and domestic cats Credit: Alamy 6 Justin Bieber has previously owned savannah cats Credit: Instagram
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Deadly African scorpion is found by horrified Brit woman after it ‘crawled past her feet' while she watched TV
A WOMAN has been left terrified after returning home from holiday and discovering a "deadly" scorpion in her home. It is believed the scorpion hitched a ride back in her luggage when she returned from a holiday in Africa. Advertisement 4 The woman spotted the terrifying scorpion crawling across her floor Credit: Facebook 4 The small creature packs a venomous punch Credit: Swindon Community Notice Board/Facebook The deadly scorpion was discovered in a Swindon home earlier this month. It was reportedly spotted by the homeowner as she sat watching TV with the scorpion crawling across her carpet right under her nose. The terrified homeowner bravely trapped it under a wine glass before transferring it into a jar where it was safely kept until help arrived. The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was called and recommended the woman speak to a specialist. Advertisement Jonathan Cleverly who provides educational workshops for schools featuring insects, reptiles and invertebrates was eventually scrambled to deal with the African scorpion. Jonathan took the creature away after identifying it as a member of the Buthidae family which several of the most deadly scorpion species in the world are also a part of. After getting the deadly creature home Jonathan made sure to keep it locked up safely before finding it a new home. Jonathan owns several scorpions himself and was well prepared with the proper equipment to transport the deadly animal. Advertisement He dismissed the idea that the animal was an escaped pet, believing it snuck into the UK in the woman's luggage. The dangerous creatures are commonly found in Africa from where the homeowner had recently returned. The scorpion has since been taken to live with an expert who has a DWA (Dangerous Wild Animals) licence. Moment student finds deadly Chinese SCORPION inside her parcel It was estimated to be around 4cm long with Jonathan calling it the "most dangerous animal" he ever had. Advertisement Speaking to the BBC Jonathan said: "She'd [the homeowner] done a brilliant job of moving it from a wine glass into a jam jar with a secure lid so it couldn't move and escape. "She put in some lettuce for a bit of moisture. She looked after it brilliantly well. "The scorpion, I would like to say, is absolutely gorgeous - even if it is potentially harmful to humans, it's a very rare thing for these sorts of scorpion to make their way into the UK." 4 The homeowner managed to contain the scorpion until help arrived Credit: Swindon Community Notice Board/Facebook Advertisement 4 The deadly scorpion is believed to be a member of the Buthidae family Credit: Facebook The six legged creature boasts a pair of fearsome looking claws and a large, venomous stinger on its tail. Coming in at just 4cm the scorpion is small but deadly with the species occasionally causing human fatalities. When fully grown the scorpion can reach a terrifying 12cm, more than twice the size of the one found in Swindon. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
10-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Deadly African scorpion is found by horrified Brit woman after it ‘crawled past her feet' while she watched TV
A WOMAN has been left terrified after returning home from holiday and discovering a "deadly" scorpion in her home. It is believed the Advertisement 4 The woman spotted the terrifying scorpion crawling across her floor Credit: Facebook 4 The small creature packs a venomous punch Credit: Swindon Community Notice Board/Facebook The deadly scorpion was discovered in a Swindon home earlier this month. It was reportedly spotted by the homeowner as she sat watching TV with the The terrified homeowner bravely trapped it under a wine glass before transferring it into a jar where it was safely kept until help arrived. The Advertisement Read more in News Jonathan Cleverly who provides educational workshops for schools featuring Jonathan took the creature away after identifying it as a member of the Buthidae family which several of the most deadly scorpion species in the world are also a part of. After getting the deadly creature home Jonathan made sure to keep it locked up safely before finding it a new home. Jonathan owns several scorpions himself and was well prepared with the proper equipment to transport the deadly animal. Advertisement Most read in The Sun He dismissed the idea that the animal was an escaped pet, believing it snuck into the UK in the woman's luggage. The dangerous creatures are commonly found in Africa from where the homeowner had recently returned. The scorpion has since been taken to live with an expert who has a DWA (Dangerous Wild Animals) licence. Moment student finds deadly Chinese SCORPION inside her parcel It was estimated to be around 4cm long with Jonathan calling it the "most dangerous animal" he ever had. Advertisement Speaking to the BBC Jonathan said: "She'd [the homeowner] done a brilliant job of moving it from a wine glass into a jam jar with a secure lid so it couldn't move and escape. "She put in some lettuce for a bit of moisture. She looked after it brilliantly well. "The scorpion, I would like to say, is absolutely gorgeous - even if it is 4 The homeowner managed to contain the scorpion until help arrived Credit: Swindon Community Notice Board/Facebook Advertisement 4 The deadly scorpion is believed to be a member of the Buthidae family Credit: Facebook The six legged creature boasts a pair of fearsome looking claws and a large, venomous stinger on its tail. Coming in at just 4cm the scorpion is small but When fully grown the scorpion can reach a terrifying 12cm, more than twice the size of the one found in Swindon. Advertisement What are the most poisonous animals in the world? Here are seven of the most deadly creatures... The box jellyfish is widely regarded to be the most posionous animal in the world and contians a toxin that can cause heart attacks Cobras, typically found in the jungles of India and China, can spit a venom which can result in death in a very short space of time and just 7ml of their venom is enough to kill 20 humans The marbled cone snail is a sea creature that can release venom so toxic it can result in vision loss, respiratory failure, muscle paralysis and eventually death and, to make things worse, there is no anti-venom available Posion dart frogs are small and brightly coloured but have glands containing a toxin that blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death Puffer fish are considered to be a dangerous delicacy because some of their anatomy contains a hazardous toxin which, if ingested in a large quantity, can cause convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ultimately death The Brazillian wandering spider, also known as the 'banana spider', has venom that is so high in serotonin it can paralyse and kill Death stalker scorpions have a fitting name as enough venom from one can cause a lot of pain and respiratory failure
