Now that Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed an education funding bill that gives the poorest school districts in Illinois more money, its tempting to think our education problems are solved.

After all, life will be a little easier for teachers working in the states most needy districts.

More money will pay for updated books.

More money will give students access to the latest technology.

And more money will ensure that more teachers can work in their areas of expertise.

But one thing that funding cant do is make up for a lack of motivation.

Motivation is what pushes students over the finish line even when they come from the poorest school districts.

OPINION

The same is true for adult learners.

Take Candace Walker. The 26-year-old single mom was stuck in a low-wage job in Little Rock, Arkansas, when she applied for the construction-carpentry program at Kennedy-Kings Dawson Technical Institute.

I wanted to learn how to build a house, Walker says. The way things were going for me working a minimum-wage job and not being able to save any money I knew I probably wouldnt be able to buy a house.

The most Ive ever made in my life was about $12 an hour, working in a Verizon Wireless call center.

An inspirational message in church got her to pack up her 5- and 7-year-old children and move to Chicago.

The pastor was preaching that we always say what we want to do and what would be better for us, Walker says. I decided to take a chance on life.

The construction-carpentry program ran 16 weeks. A company contracted to rehab public housing properties in Chicago hired her three days after she finished the course.

A year ago, Walker didnt know how to use a tape measure. Now, shes making $41.63 an hour.

I was the only girl in the class, but everything went really well, she says. It was an amazing experience.

Dawson Technical Institute has offered jobs training since 1968. In the past, it prepared students for careers in the culinary arts and health care. Today, its focus is construction technology careers.

Our students come from all walks of life and from different places, says interim dean Lucretzia Jamison. Our students come highly motivated because they are ready to work and to make money.

The program also covers welding, plumbing, concrete masonry, bricklaying and overhead lineman work. A gas utility workers program is offered in a partnership with Peoples Gas.

We have a pre-apprentice type setup that helps our students to connect with apprenticeships, Jamison says.

An apprenticeship provides on-the-job training. And apprentices are paid while they train to be journeymen. That normally takes a three- to five-year commitment.

What Dawson does is prepare our students to get in the door faster, Jamison says.

The construction-carpentry program changed Walkers life.

I cant explain the amount of joy that I have in my heart, she says. I know a trade. I know how to build. I know how to repair and remodel. They taught us how to read blueprints. And you can pretty much build anything if you can read a blueprint.

Her excitement is likely to be a positive influence on her children.

More than ever, CPS students need to bring the joy of learning into the classroom because they will start school under a microscope.

The bickering over education funding might be over, but people will have their eyes on every dime CPS spends.

Expectations are high.

Still, think CPS newly acquired funding guarantees better things for public school students.

The bulk of that burden is still on parents shoulders.

Unfortunately, many parents living in the poorest school districts cant motivate anyone because they are downtrodden. We expect them to volunteer, coach and be cheerleaders when they can barely get out of bed in the morning.

Walkers story offers some hope.

I had doubts about myself, she says. But the program let me know women can do pretty much anything.

Her achievement shows whether they do or they dont, its on us to push our children and ourselves when it comes to education.

Read the rest here:
MITCHELL: School funding reform is great, motivation is even better - Chicago Sun-Times

A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of 18-year-old Ellen Higginbottom, as reported bythe Guardian.

Mark Buckley, 51, attacked Ellen Higginbottom, stabbing her repeatedly in the neck, before taking her laptop and mobile phone and then leaving her for dead near a nature reserve in England.

Prosecutor Neil Fryman spoke to the court after Buckley entered his guilty plea.

There was a sexual motivation for this offense and also it was pre-meditated, he said.

In addition to Buckley, three other people have been charged with crimes related to Higginbottoms murder.Dean Speakman, 30, and his partner Vicki Calland, 30, each pleaded guilty last month to a single charge of perverting the course of justice and handling stolen goods. They handled the 18-year-olds laptop and phone after receiving knowledge that she had been murdered, according to Liverpool Echo.

The third person,David Steele, 47, faces similar charges but will not face a judge until October 6.

As previously reported by CrimeOnline, Higginbottom went missing in June after failing to come home from studying. After a thorough search, which included both law enforcement and members of the small community of Wigan, her body was discovered in a nature reserve. An autopsy later revealed that she died from multiple wounds to the neck. Her family remembers the 18-year-old for her beauty, love and kindness.

Her grieving boyfriend, Ryan Warren, posted a tribute on Facebook, as reported by The Sun.

Ellen, I loved you, we all loved you, sleep well and may we meet again. I am lost for words and lost without you, I miss you so much right now but I am humbled by the fact that I know you will be looking down on us all, he wrote. Thank you for everything nugget, love from your chicken.

Buckley will face sentencing next week, according to his defense attorney.

[Featured Image: Twitter]

Original post:
Missing teen's body found, man admits 'sexual motivation' for killing her [UPDATE] - CrimeOnline

Staying MotivatedFirst-year students are usually pretty easy to spot this time of year. Theyre the ones roaming around in packs or looking lost. Given a little time, the freshmen will find their way around campus. But heres a sobering thought: Many of them will never be more academically motivated than they are right now.

Two-thirds of fourth-year students surveyed for the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education saw their motivation stay the same or decline during college. Its a finding that Josipa Roksa, co-author of Academically Adrift, has described as much more disturbing than the small gains in critical thinking detailed in that book. So why does motivation flag? And is there anything professors can do to turn it around?

One culprit is grades or at the least the evaluative grades (think letters or percentages) used in most classes, as discussed in this recent article. Students who get low grades may become less engaged; those who get high grades may focus on keeping them up rather than on learning. One way to boost motivation, then, is to provide descriptive feedback instead.

Theres more to motivating students than how you grade, of course. Students motivation is closely tied to their sense of a courses intrinsic worth, research has found. Thats something professors can cultivate by giving students autonomy, for instance by letting them tailor assignments to their interests. Motivating students isnt just a warm, fuzzy thing to do: Gains in motivation predict retention. And whatever else happens to this years freshmen, colleges definitely want them back as next years sophomores.

How have you helped students forge a deeper connection to your course? Are there strategies youve used to help students maintain or even increase their motivation? Send an example to beckie.supiano@chronicle.com and I may include it in a future Teaching newsletter.

Education and Polarization

Education is often touted as an effective way to counteract our increasingly polarized climate. But it might not always help, according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University who studied the interaction between education, political and religious identity, and attitudes about polarizing issues.

For certain topics, people who had taken more general-education courses and had more-extensive science knowledge held more-polarized attitudes. Specifically, when these highly educated people were asked about stem-cell research, human evolution, and the Big-Bang theory, their religious or political identity came into play, and their views became increasingly polarized. When they were asked about climate change, their political identities were activated, which also increased polarization. In contrast, nanotechnology and genetically modified food didn't trigger the same kinds of polarization.

When it comes to controversial issues, the authors wrote, "the gap between beliefs among political conservatives and liberals widens as education increases."

These findings bring to mind the work of Dan M. Kahan, of Yale, about whom our former colleague Paul Voosen wrote a few years ago. Mr. Kahans theory is that tribal biases, or what he calls "cultural cognition," often govern how we perceive scientific knowledge.

Another Use for the SyllabusA few weeks ago, we asked you to share ways that you use your syllabus as a teaching tool. Catheryn J. Weitman, dean of University College at Texas A&M International University, uses hers to model how students can complete an assignment that she often gives in her organizational-leadership course.

In this assignment, students select and submit a quote that, in some way, relates to each chapter they must read. The assignment allows her to see who understands the reading and helps her start the discussion of each chapter.

In her syllabus, she models how the assignment might be completed, by including quotes that relate to various parts of that document. For example, in the part of the syllabus thats about deadlines, she quotes the writer Douglas Adams: I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make when they fly by.

Beckie and Dan

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Continue reading here:
Teaching Newsletter: The Motivation Cliff, 8/31/2017 - The Chronicle of Higher Education

As a young or lost soul, finding the motivation to do just about anything and everything can be pretty tricky. When you dont have the motivation you need, you let yourself or even others down. You lose track of yourself and what really matters.

But theres good news for you; there are many ways to find motivation. Ill share some with you.

1. Look at yourself in the mirror (or not) and give yourself a pep talk.

2. If youre not so great at pep talks, ask for someone you know who is to give you one.

3. Reward yourself after your deed. Its not only kids who need to be really convinced to do something they dont want to do; adults definitely need some convincing. Treat yourself to that piece of cake you said you wouldnt eat.

4. OK, so maybe youre working out and you cant eat some chocolate cake. Spend a little cash on a new nice workout outfit. I saw some really cute running shoes and leggings at Nike when I first became a runner. Guess what happened? I bought those leggings and shoes and it somehow motivated me to start running every week just so I could show them off.

5. If its something you actually want to do but caught yourself in a slump, use time as your motivator. I find it useful if I give myself a time limit and do my best to abide by it. Not many people are disciplined enough to do this, but you could teach yourself.

6. Think of the future. This seems a little clich or funny to say, but who you want to be and the goals youve set for yourself will play a huge role if you constantly keep it in mind while you do your task.

7. Have a small task like doing the dishes? Fine! What do you like to do, listen to music? Dance? Include a hobby of yours while you mop the floor or do your homework. Not everything you have to do has to be boring.

8. Speaking of boring, one thing most people really like to do is play games. You can make a game out of pretty much anything. Cool teachers do it all the time. Create a game you know youd love and enjoy and mix it up with the activity you hate. That activity will turn into something you love.

Tasks dont have to be chores; we just choose to make them so. Life is for enjoyment, and finding the motivation for them is part of it.

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8 Ways to Find Motivation - Uloop News

A long day spent sitting at work can leave you tight and stressed out. Pilates may be a solution.

KARE 11 Staff , KARE 8:37 AM. CDT August 28, 2017

How do you get moving after a day of nothing but sitting at your workplace? Pilates is one option.

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - We've heard how sitting all day really isn't good for your health, so how about making up for it when you get home at night?

The average office-based worker spends an estimated 80,000 hours sitting throughout their working career. And those who spend a majority of the work day sitting are more likely to spend a significant amount of time sitting outside of work and on non-workdays. For the working adult, it has become more difficult to create an active lifestyle largely due to the advancement of technology and industrial innovation and these modern lifestyles are the biggest indicators of these health issues.

Preston Rogers, Pilates Coordinator at Life Time Athletic St. Louis Park, stopped by KARE 11 Sunrise to show us the the best stretches and exercises to do to keep moving, along with some simple changes to your routine::

Rogers also recommends Pilates as one of the best things you can do for your body, especially if you sit for a majority of your day. Pilates elongates and strengthens the body, as well as improved mobility, which in turn improves muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility, which you gain from doing Pilates, is less likely to be injured and face the negative effects that come from sitting for long periods of time

2017 KARE-TV

Read more:
Motivation Monday: Stretching out after sitting at work - KARE

It may arise in the context of learning what they need to do to level up in their firms, or to support the amount of income that they want, or in some other context. But whatever the context, when this demand presents itself they generally feel that they have no choice but to satisfy it and they have no idea how to do it.

In most cases these lawyers have never before had to turn their minds to expressly identifying the things that they find satisfying about the practice or to envisioning what a fulfilling, satisfying practice would look like to them. They have gone about the work that they have been given, been successful at it, spent a lot of time at it and that is as far as they needed to go. Moreover, because they have always defined their value by the technical aspects of the work they do, they havent thought about who their clients might be who they serve beyond a vague sense that their clients could really be anyone within a certain geographic area that has a problem or need that falls within their general sphere of practice.

So, when they come to me, they often dont feel themselves to be in the best position from which to start building a business. And they are right. It extremely difficult to build a business if you are going to market with a vague mindset and an overly broad definition of who you are targeting. Moreover, any practice that you do manage to build on that foundation is unlikely to be one that will be satisfying to you and sustain itself over the long term.

You improve your chances of success significantly if you start with a narrower and more specifically defined focus. You can expand from there as time goes on, but starting with more specificity makes taking the action that you need to take more manageable.

The question then becomes how does one narrow the focus?

It starts with figuring out what you WANT to build, instead of trying to figure out what you SHOULD build, MUST build or what is EASIEST to build.

The secret to figuring out what you WANT to build lies in figuring out what drives you what motivates you intrinsically. Why did you go into law? What do you get out of it? What lights your fire about it and drives you forward?

Contrary to what many people might think, for lawyers and others in knowledge-based enterprises that require creativity, problem-solving, decision making and higher-order thinking, your intrinsic motivator likely isnt money.

With that possible motivator off the table, you have to look farther and wider to uncover your intrinsic motivator(s). The framework that I use to help direct this inquiry with clients is rooted in the thesis of a book called Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us by Daniel Pink.

Though presented in a different context than the one addressed in this column, Drive expounds on the proposition that when people are engaged in knowledge-based enterprises, like the practice of law, their performance is best and their satisfaction is highest when their work provides them with a sense of autonomy, mastery and purpose the motivation trifecta. If your work delivers those three things, you will feel more connection to what you do, and get more fulfillment from it.

Unpacking these terms, I think you will agree that a practice hallmarked by these elements would be satisfying indeed:

Autonomy Independence; the ability to be self-directed in our enterprise. Autonomy causes us to pursue our work with a sense of personal commitment and engagement to it, rather than just putting in the time and fulfilling our obligation with no spark or passion.

Mastery The compulsion or desire to continually grow, stretch and advance our knowledge and skills in an area that matters to us. Continued growth is a human need that is fundamental to our feeling of fulfillment.

Purpose The knowledge that our work serves something larger than ourselves a greater good. Finding meaning in one's work has been shown to increase motivation, engagement, empowerment, career development, job satisfaction, individual performance and personal fulfillment, and to decrease absenteeism and stress.

While they are all important, the last of these may have the greatest impact on business development success for lawyer. When we believe that our work is contributing to a purpose or cause that has significance and is greater than ourselves, we enjoy the highest levels of motivation and fulfillment, exhibit greater resilience and grit in the face of adversity and will overcome more or less any hurdle thrown our way in service of contributing to an outcome that we care about.

The contrary is also true. It will be very difficult to maintain a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in your practice, and overcome the challenges that are inherent in the practice of law, over the long term if what you are doing doesnt motivate you naturally and you instead have to rely on external motivators fear, money, rewards, recognition, status etc. to keep you going.

Start as you mean to go on. Factor these three elements in when you are cultivating your business development mindset and choosing the strategies and tactics you will use to build your practice. This will help you pursue relationships and opportunities that will be connected to the people and values that are important to you and set you on a path that will give you the best chance of coming out with a business that excites and ignites you, that you feel inspired and compelled to grow and build and that incorporates all of the things about the profession and the practice that have meaning for you.

Read the original:
Autonomy, mastery and purpose: The 'motivation trifecta' at the heart of a successful and fulfilling practice - Canadian Lawyer Magazine

ATLANTIC DIVISON

Boston College Eagles

Last year's record: 7-6

Key returning players: DE Harold Landry, RB Jon Hilliman, C Jon Baker, LB Connor Strachan

Key losses: QB Patrick Towles, CB John Johnson, LB Matt Milano, RB Myles Willis

Reason for optimism: Landry has the ability to change games with his presence on the outside, and the offensive line should be vastly improved and help the Eagles get back to their physical run game.

Cause for concern: There's still no decision on a starting quarterback between Darius Wade and Anthony Brown, and game-breaking ability with the skill position players remains a question mark.

X factor: RB AJ Dillon. The former Michigan commit became one of BC's top signees in February and is working to find a role in the backfield. His frame (6-foot, 240 pounds) makes him an ideal fit in Steve Addazio's offense.

Game to watch: vs. Notre Dame, Sept. 16

Clemson Tigers

Last year's record: 14-1

Key returning players: WR Deon Cain, OT Mitch Hyatt, DT Christian Wilkins, DT Dexter Lawrence, LB Kendall Joseph

Key losses: QB Deshaun Watson, RB Wayne Gallman, WR Mike Williams, TE Jordan Leggett, LB Ben Boulware

Reason for optimism: Clemson returns what should be another elite defensive group, led by an aggressive, relentless line that will have the opportunity early on to set the tone for the defending champions.

Cause for concern: Any time a team loses a once-in-a-generation player like Watson, there are questions about how he will be replaced. Kelly Bryant takes over with new faces to rely on at running back, tight end and receiver.

X factor: Ray-Ray McCloud. One of the fastest players on the team, McCloud has spent time taking reps at cornerback in fall practice. Whether he plays both ways, or moves permanently to defense, he's one of the most intriguing players on the roster.

Game to watch: vs. Florida State, Nov. 11

Florida State Seminoles

Last year's record: 10-3

Key returning players: QB Deondre Francois, S Derwin James, DT Derrick Nnadi, DE Josh Sweat

Key losses: RB Dalvin Cook, DE DeMarcus Walker, WR Travis Rudolph, LT Roderick Johnson

Reason for optimism: The Seminoles return nine starters on defense, including the versatile James and three starters up front. Plus, Francois returns after a redshirt freshman season in which he threw for over 3,000 yards.

Cause for concern: The offensive line, shaky for much of last year, remains a work in progress. Depth at receiver beyond Nyqwan Murray and Auden Tate is also a concern headed into the season.

X factor: Cam Akers. With Cook gone, Jacques Patrick and Akers look to take on the rushing responsibility. Patrick is the more experienced player, but Akers comes in with the hype after an outstanding prep career in Mississippi.

Game to watch: vs. Alabama, Sept. 2

Louisville Cardinals

Last year's record: 9-4

Key returning players: QB Lamar Jackson, LB James Hearns, CB Jaire Alexander, WR Jaylen Smith

Key losses: LB Keith Kelsey, RB Brandon Radcliff, LB Devonte Fields, TE Cole Hikutini

Reason for optimism: Two words: Lamar Jackson. Even though the last three games of 2016 were less than ideal, Jackson won the Heisman for a reason. He spent the entire offseason working on improving his overall game, and is motivated to show the results.

Cause for concern: If the offensive line and Jackson can't work in concert, the Cards won't show anything in the way of improvement. Depth must also be developed on the defensive line and at linebacker, as a new coordinator works to instill more discipline.

X factor: DE Trevon Young. Young has made a remarkable comeback since a major hip injury nearly ended his career in the 2015 bowl game. Young was second on the team in sacks that season and is cleared and ready to go for 2017.

Game to watch: vs. Clemson, Sept. 16

NC State Wolfpack

Last year's record: 7-6

Key returning players: QB Ryan Finley, HB/TE Jaylen Samuels, DE Bradley Chubb, NT B.J. Hill

Key losses: RB Matthew Dayes, S Josh Jones, DB Jack Tocho

Reason for optimism: NC State returns 17 starters from a team that was only a few plays away from beating Florida State and Clemson last season. More than that, its strong defensive line ranks among the best in the nation.

Cause for concern: The Wolfpack have yet to prove they can get past the upper echelon in the Atlantic Division, so overcoming that hurdle is vital. Can the passing game improve to the point where explosive plays can be made down the field on a consistent basis?

X factor: Samuels. Everybody knows Samuels, but NC State coaches have all said he must take on a much larger and varied role in the offense with Dayes gone. That means getting more reps and taking more snaps in the backfield and as a tight end/receiver.

Game to watch: vs. Louisville, Oct. 5

Syracuse Orange

Last year's record: 4-8

Key returning players: QB Eric Dungey, LB Zaire Franklin, RB Dontae Strickland, WR Ervin Philips

Key losses: WR Amba Etta-Tawo, CB Corey Winfield, WR Brisly Estime

Reason for optimism: If Dungey is able to stay healthy and play the entire season, watch out. The Syracuse offense returns most of its speedy, athletic playmakers and will be in Year 2 in Dino Babers' system. Dungey already has raved about how the difference is evident in practice.

Cause for concern: If Dungey can't stay healthy, the optimism might drain away. The defense is still relatively young. And the schedule is the toughest in the ACC, with games against LSU, Miami, Clemson, Florida State and Louisville.

X factor: Philips. With Etta-Tawo gone, watch for Philips to take charge among the receivers. The speedy Philips has game-breaking capabilities and came oh-so-close to a 1,000-yard season a year ago.

Game to watch: vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 7

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Last year's record: 7-6

Key returning players: QB John Wolford, QB Kendall Hinton, TE Cam Serigne, DE Duke Ejiofor, S Jessie Bates

Key losses: LB Marquel Lee, S Ryan Janvion, CB Brad Watson, LB Thomas Brown

Reason for optimism: The Deacons are headed into Year 4 under Dave Clawson and boast the best depth and talent since his arrival. Wolford beat out Hinton for the staring quarterback job and with experience on his side, Wake Forest hopes to vary its approach and be less one-dimensional.

Cause for concern: The run game remains a work in progress. Do the Deacons have enough returning to improve their passing game with much-needed big, explosive plays on offense?

X factor: WR Scotty Washington. Wake Forest has worked on stretching the field with its receivers during fall practice, and Clawson is banking on a big year from Washington, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore with vast potential.

Game to watch: vs. Duke, Nov. 25

COASTAL DIVISION

Duke Blue Devils

Last year's record: 4-8

Key returning players: QB Daniel Jones, WR T.J. Rahming, C Austin Davis, LB Ben Humphreys, LB Joe Giles-Harris, CB Bryon Fields

Key losses: RB Jela Duncan, WR Anthony Nash, DT A.J. Wolf, DB DeVon Edwards, DB Deondre Singleton, CB Breon Borders

Reason for optimism: Jones might be the most underappreciated quarterback in the ACC. While the rest of the Coastal is trying to figure out life with a new starter at the position, Duke has quietly developed a rising star.

Cause for concern: Last year's defense allowed 8.9 yards per pass -- 125th nationally -- and yet Duke fans are more concerned about the lack of presence up front. In other words, the defense needs to make major progress all around.

X factor: No player earned more praise from coach David Cutcliffe during the offseason than safety Jeremy McDuffie. He has track-star speed. If he blossoms into a true playmaker, he could be the steadying force Duke's secondary desperately needs.

Game to watch: vs. Northwestern, Sept. 9

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Last year's record: 9-4

Key returning players: WR Ricky Jeune, OL Parker Braun, AB Clinton Lynch, DE KeShun Freeman, CB Lance Austin, CB Step Durham

Key losses: QB Justin Thomas, RB Dedrick Mills, OL Freddie Burden, LB P.J. Davis, DE Patrick Gamble

Reason for optimism: Georgia Tech might have been the nation's quietest nine-win team last season, and Paul Johnson returns the bulk of what was a sturdy defense to go with his always reliable option offense.

Cause for concern: The loss of Mills, just days before camp broke, is big. He was a powerful runner. While Johnson's offense allows for some level of plug-and-play in the backfield, Mills was a difference-maker.

X factor: Freshman linebacker Bruce Jordan-Swilling could see early work, and at a position where Georgia Tech doesn't have a ton of experience he could prove to be a boon for the defense.

Game to watch: at Miami, Oct. 12

Miami Hurricanes

Last year's record: 9-4

Key returning players: RB Mark Walton, WR Ahmmon Richards, TE Christopher Herndon, LB Shaq Quarterman, DE Joe Jackson, DT Kendrick Norton

Key losses: QB Brad Kaaya, WR Stacy Coley, OL Danny Isidora, CB Corn Elder, S Rayshawn Jenkins

Reason for optimism: The defense employed four true freshmen in starting roles last season and was still one of the top units in the country. Miami returns enough talent up front to play with anyone.

Cause for concern: The quarterback spot was the biggest topic of offseason conversation, but the lack of depth behind Walton at running back might be an even bigger concern. If Walton gets dinged up, Miami could be in trouble on offense.

X factor: Dee Delaney. If there's a knock on Miami's defense, it's the lack of experience in the secondary. Delaney transferred in from The Citadel, where he was an FCS All-American, and he could easily blossom into one of the ACC's better defensive backs.

Game to watch: at Florida State, Sept. 16

North Carolina Tar Heels

Last year's record: 8-5

Key returning players: LT Bentley Spain, WR Austin Proehl, LB Andre Smith, LB Cole Holcomb, CB M.J. Stewart, DE Malik Carney

Key losses: QB Mitch Trubisky, RB T.J. Logan, RB Elijah Hood, WR Ryan Switzer, WR Mack Hollins, WR Bug Howard, CB Des Lawrence, DL Nazair Jones

Reason for optimism: The defense, long an Achilles' heel for UNC, appears ready to turn the corner. Up front, a bevy of talented youngsters will get a chance to prove the unit is for real.

Cause for concern: It's rare that any offense loses so many parts in one offseason, and aside from Spain and Proehl, there are virtually no established holdovers to build around.

X factor: QB Brandon Harris shouldered much of the blame for LSU's offensive struggles. Now that he's at UNC and working in a more wide-open offense, Tar Heels fans are hoping he'll finally make good on his obvious talent.

Game to watch: vs. Notre Dame, Oct. 7

Pitt Panthers

Last year's record: 8-5

Key returning players: WR Jester Weah, WR Quadree Henderson, OL Alex Officer, OL Brian O'Neill, CB Avonte Maddox, S Jordan Whitehead

Key losses: RB James Conner, QB Nathan Peterman, TE Scott Orndoff, WR Dontez Ford, DE Ejuan Price, LB Matt Galambos, DL Shakir Soto

Reason for optimism: QB Max Browne, a transfer from USC, should provide a steadying force for an offense that still has lots of weapons and was among the most potent in college football a year ago. Plus, Pitt can build off beating Penn State and Clemson last season.

Cause for concern: The defense, particularly on the back end, was brutal last season. While that unit has gotten younger -- and arguably more talented -- it's the defensive front that has tons of questions after Price graduated and Rori Blair and Jeremiah Taleni were dismissed from the program.

X factor: Defensive end Dewayne Hendrix arrived as a transfer from Tennessee three years ago with great promise, but a redshirt year and a season-ending injury have limited him to just a handful of snaps. He'll be essential this season if Pitt's defense is going to turn things around.

Game to watch: at Penn State, Sept. 9

Virginia Cavaliers

Last year's record: 2-10

The rest is here:
ACC preview: Defense keeps Clemson strong; Lamar Jackson gains motivation - ESPN (blog)

Sam Tomkins will try and harness the nauseating feeling of defeat at Wembley - to ensure their Super League campaign doesnt meet the same fate.

Wigan have little time to mull over their 18-14 Challenge Cup Final loss to Hull FC.

They travel to St Helens this Friday knowing defeat would see their top-four hopes recede.

Wigan and Saints are locked on points, a point behind fourth-placed Wakefield, with four rounds to go.

And Tomkins hopes Saints feel a backlash from their Wembley agony.

Weve got to remember the feeling in that dressing room, he said, moments after full-time on Saturday afternoon.

Its not a good place to be. Its horrible, I feel sick.

Weve got to remember that, we dont want to feel that again, so weve got to go and bounce back and smash Saints on Friday and win the next four.

Weve got to do that - otherwise our season is over with, we can all go on holiday and be depressed for six weeks.

Well kick stones for a couple of days, but come Monday were back in work.

Win four games, weve got a semi. Win that and weve got a Grand Final.

Tomkins says it was no comfort that they played their part in an absorbing Challenge Cup Final, which went right down to the wire. Joe Burgess had a match-levelling try in the final minute ruled out, correctly, for a forward pass.

Theyre fine margins, thats why we have a brilliant game called rugby league, added Tomkins.

Thats what people want to see, tight games which can go either way and that was one.

Unfortunately we were on the losing side.

See the rest here:
Tomkins to use Wembley loss as motivation - Wigan Today

Coaches and athletes sometimes use the littlest things, real or perceived, to motivate them. They try to prove that other people cant put limitations on them.

Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook is one of those people who is motivated by things others say cant be done. Years ago a booster said the volleyball team wouldnt be able to go on foreign trips if not for all of the money the football program brings in for the Nebraska athletic department. Now, because of a larger arena and the success of the four-time national champion Huskers, the volleyball program covers its own expenses.

Now Cook has written a book, Dream Like a Champion, that will soon be in bookstores in Lincoln. The books cover says the book is about wins, losses and leadership the Nebraska volleyball way. Cook and Hail Varsity magazine managing editor Brandon Vogel wrote the book together.

Cook says one of his motivations for writing a book goes all the way back to when he was in high school in San Diego.

Cook's mom was in high school when he was born. Nobody in his family had ever gone to college, and it wasnt on his radar, either. He was a pretty good football and basketball player, and some of his coaches said he should think about playing in college.

He took the SAT, a college admission exam, but didnt have a good enough score on the English section. So Cook thought he couldnt go to college.

But a teacher tracked him down, he got enrolled in two English courses that semester, and he worked at it. He took the test again and got the score he needed and received a scholarship to play basketball at Linfield College in Oregon.

That kind of always stuck with me, Cook said during a recent interview. Well, its one of the reasons why I wanted to coach, but it also stuck with me like, OK, some test determined I wasnt smart enough. The English teacher -- her name was Judy Corbin -- I always felt like someday I wanted to prove that all that was worth it, and one way I could do that would be writing a book. So thats just something that planted a seed a long time ago.

Cook said another motivation for the book is for the fans of the program. We met in his office, where he can sit at his desk and look out on the arena at the Devaney Sports Center. When he talks about the fans, Cook sometimes looks out on the arena, where those fans sit during the matches.

This book to me is also a payback to our fans, and the support that weve had, he said.

After Nebraska won the national championship in 2015, Cook decided it might be time to write that book. He got hooked up with Vogel, and they began writing in the summer of 2016.

During the writing process Cook and Vogel had long interviews, and then Vogel would write. But Cook also sat at a computer and wrote a few of the chapters himself. He said ideas for the book would come to him while he was riding his bike on the MoPac trail in Lincoln, near his home.

One of the neat moments since the book was finished was when Cook got a copy of the University of Nebraska Press catalog, listing books that were about to be published.

I opened it up and the book is in there, along with other professors' books, and everything, Cook said. I felt like, Thats pretty big-time right there.

Cook tried to write about what has worked for the volleyball program and what he believes in, and share stories that back that up.

I enjoyed the book. Ive written about the volleyball program for several years, but there were still some stories I hadnt heard before.

The bombshell was Chapter 7, where Cook writes about the day he almost died on a mountain near Lake Tahoe. Cook, admitting he was young and a little obnoxious, fell about 100 feet off a cliff while he was rolling boulders off the cliff, and he landed on some rocks. He writes about his long rehab, and what he learned from it.

You also get insight into how no detail is too small for Cook, including going to Dallas to help find a vitamin for the players to take to strengthen their bones.

Another great story is about Kelsey Fien, once considered by the coaches to be a RM recruiting miss. But she improved a lot, and ended up having the kill to clinch the Huskers national championship in 2015 in front of 17,000 fans in Omaha.

Cook writes about his regrets, one of which details why he says that ever since a high school match he coached in 1983, his approach is that the best players always play, regardless of their age, or the situation.

One thing youll notice is that the names of the players still on the team aren't listed in the book. Cook said there was a concern from the athletic department that players could later take legal action. Most fans will know whom Cook is writing about, though. Some of the answers to those missing names are Mikaela Foecke, Kelly Hunter and Olivia Boender.

Cook also said he made an agreement that he wont be paid for writing the book.

As we talked, I was curious about Judy Corbin, the teacher who helped Cook get into to college. Cook doesnt know if shes alive, but hes sent a copy of the book and a note to a leader at the school, in hopes they can find her.

Writing the book was more of a motivation to prove to myself I could do it, and for that English teacher and coaches that believed in me, and got me to college, Cook said. Because Id hate to think what my path would have taken if I didnt go to college.

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Wagner: Motivation for John Cook's book goes back to high school ... - HuskerExtra.com

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- A low pick in the Pioneer Football League preseason coaches' poll is motivating for Morehead State University.

The Eagles (4-7 in 2016) were predicted for an eighth-place finish in the PFL, the nation's only non-scholarship football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. San Diego was picked to finish first for the seventh consecutive season. Dayton also picked up first-place votes and was second in the poll followed by Marist and Drake.

San Diego won the 2016 regular season championship and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs.

"We are excited about the upcoming season and believe that we can compete for a PFL title, just like we did in 2015," Morehead State head coach Rob Tenyer said in a release (www.msueagles.com). "That season, we were picked near the bottom of the league and used that as motivation throughout the season. We're looking to do the same in 2017."

The Eagles graduated quarterback Austin Gahafer and wideout Jake Raymond, who both left Morehead State with several PFL records.

Redshirt sophomore running back Trevor Jones (5-foot-9, 186 pounds) from Irvine, Ky., returns after rushing for 500 yards and nine touchdowns in a pass-dependent offense last season.

College Sports Madness selected senior cornerback Braylyn Cook, junior cornerback Brandyn Duncan, sophomore safety Juanyea Tarver and senior offensive lineman Kyler Corbett for its Preseason All-PFL team. Cook was on the first team while Corbett and Tarver were part of the second team. Tarver was tabbed as a kick returner and Duncan was a third-team pick.

Cook (6-foot, 183) from College Park, Ga., led the defense with 17 passes defended and 14 pass breakups in 2016. Cook intercepted a team-best three passes and totaled 36 tackles.

Corbett, a 6-2, 281-pound native of Liberty Township, Ohio, blocked for an offensive unit that generated 445.7 yards and 32.4 points per game while ranking among the best teams in the PFL in passing yards at 310 per game.

Tarver, who hails from Kennesaw, Ga., ranked among PFL leaders in kickoff returns, averaging 21.4 yards per return. The 5-10, 162-pounder He totaled 642 yards on 30 returns.

Duncan, a 5-9, 182-pound product of Lexington, Ky., ranked second on the team, only behind Cook, in passes defended (13) and pass breakups (13). He also registered 39 total tackles.

Tanner Duncan (6-4, 260) is a freshman offensive lineman from East Carter High School in Grayson, Ky., Dalton Frasure (6-3, 233) a redshirt freshman tight end from Prestonburg, Ky., and Caleb Montgomery (5-10, 180) a freshman defensive back from Vinton County High School in McArthur, Ohio.

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Morehead State has motivation entering season - Huntington Herald Dispatch