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Pierce's 20 lead Presbyterian past Youngstown State 67-42New Delhi: External affairs minister S Jaishankar is currently touring the US to meet members of the outgoing Biden administration as well as key players of Trump 2.0 to discuss the incoming administration's priorities and India's expectations for the next four years. ET Year-end Special Reads Top 10 equity mutual funds of the year. Do you have any? How India flexed its global power muscles in 2024 2024 was the year India became the talk of America Ahead of Jaishankar's visit, foreign secretary Vikram Misri held meetings with Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Deputy Secretary of State for Management & Resources Richard Verma at Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. ET was the first to report that Jaishankar and Misri will visit the US this month to engage with members of the incoming Trump administration . Among the agenda items for Jaishankar and Misri is the Quad Summit that India is scheduled to host in 2025, iCET, the situation in South Asia, Khalistani extremism and defence partnership , it is learnt. Discussions with the Trump team are likely to centre around the President-elect's focus on trade and tariffs , besides partnerships on technology, geopolitics and geoeconomics in the backdrop of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war. Ahead of Jaishankar's trip, US NSA Jake Sullivan telephoned Bangladesh interim regime chief adviser Mohammed Yunus and called for protecting 'human rights of all people, regardless of religion' in the backdrop of rising attacks on minorities. 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Two-way trade is expected to cross the $200 billion mark in 2024, he added. The number of Indian students in the US has increased from just 54,664 in 2000 to over 330,000 in 2023, while the population of the Indian diaspora is now over five million from 1.9 million in 2000. Verma said the Biden-Harris administration appointed a record number of 130 Indian Americans to senior positions. India today is the top military exercise partner of the US, he said, adding the US is the biggest source of remittances to India. A fifth of unicorns in the US have Indian migrants as founders or cofounders, Verma noted. It may be recalled that last week, the Biden administration slapped sanctions on four Pakistani entities, including state-owned flagship aerospace and defence agency National Development Complex, on charges of contributing to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme. Also, US principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, Campbell and Indian ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra last week travelled to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to mark the significant progress that the two countries have made to strengthen space cooperation, including under iCET. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
ESPN Host Elle Duncan Responds To Fans Calling For Her JobAviation, Transport, and Innovations The first specialized Expo exhibition, held in 1936 in Stockholm, was dedicated to aviation, laying the foundation for further research in this field. Over the years, Expo exhibitions expanded their focus to various spheres of technological and scientific innovations. One significant event that continued this tradition was the 1938 Expo in Helsinki, dedicated to aviation, which brought together 25 countries and attracted 15 million visitors. This event highlighted the growing importance of aviation as a transformative technology in the 20th century. In 1965, the Expo in Munich focused on various forms of transport, gathering 31 countries and showcasing the latest advancements in railways, shipping, and aviation. The event included prototypes of high-speed trains and advanced underground systems. As global transportation needs grew, these exhibitions became platforms for presenting innovations that would shape the future of travel and communication. Over time, transportation was not only explored in terms of physical infrastructure but also relation to sustainability and environmental impact, reflecting changes in the priorities of global societies. Ecology and Sustainable Development Over the following decades, specialized Expo exhibitions expanded their thematic focus, with increasing emphasis on ecology and sustainability. The 1974 Expo in Spokane, one of the first exhibitions to promote ecological sustainability, marked a key moment in the global discussion on sustainability. These events opened the door to a better understanding of ecological challenges, laying the foundation for the introduction of concrete measures to reduce environmental impact and enhance knowledge of the interconnectedness of people, technology, and nature. The 1984 Expo in New Orleans, with the theme "World's Rivers," focused on the conservation of water resources and their importance for the environment, providing a global platform for understanding how water conservation affects the sustainability of our planet. Similarly, the 2008 Expo in Zaragoza, Spain, was dedicated to water and sustainable development, featuring interactive exhibits that demonstrated water-saving technologies and emphasized the necessity of protecting this vital resource for the future of humanity. These exhibitions not only showcased technological innovations in the protection of natural resources but also served as an opportunity to raise global awareness about the importance of preserving the natural balance in a world where resources are increasingly threatened. Sport and Culture as Universal Bridges Sport has always been a key element of global connectivity and a way to build bridges between different cultures and nations. At Expo 1949 in Sweden, called Lingiad after the founder of Swedish gymnastics, Pehr Henrik Ling, the importance of physical culture and collective sports activities was highlighted as the foundation for health, mutual trust, and integration. This event linked physical activity with broader social values, creating a strong impact on the public and laying the groundwork for the long-term promotion of health through sport. Similarly, Expo 1955 in Turin focused on sport not only as a physical activity but also as a key factor in human development and cultural integration. The event attracted 120,000 visitors and delegations from eleven countries, which facilitated the exchange of ideas and experiences, setting the stage for international sports initiatives that would evolve over the decades. In this way, sport became a symbol of unity, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds in a shared pursuit of health, peace, and mutual respect. Housing and Urban Planning for a Changing World Over the years, Expo exhibitions have explored key aspects of housing, recognizing its central role in shaping society and its development. These events provided an opportunity to address future challenges in urban planning and living conditions across the world. From urban environments to rural areas, Expo exhibitions have served as a platform for discussing sustainability, the balance between development and the preservation of natural resources, and living conditions that form the foundation of everyday life. Expo 1947 in Paris, with the theme of urbanism and housing, addressed the post-war reconstruction of residential areas, highlighting the importance of planning and building sustainable communities in a time of recovery. This opened the door for new approaches to creating urban spaces that would meet the needs of a new social and economic environment. Expo 1949 in Lyon, with the theme "Rural Habitat," focused on the challenges faced by rural regions, providing solutions for restoring and improving living conditions. These initiatives helped stabilize and grow rural communities, which were vital for the long-term recovery of society. Taejon Expo 1993 in South Korea, with the theme "The Challenge of a New Development Path," promoted sustainable urban development and green technologies, emphasizing the need to balance modernization with environmental preservation. The theme of this Expo raised the question of how to create sustainable cities in a rapidly urbanizing world, without compromising the future of our planet. Each of these exhibitions responded to specific social needs in housing and the environment. The focus on improving quality of life and adapting to contemporary challenges laid the groundwork for further research and the application of new solutions in these critical areas. Belgrade 2027: Bridging Tradition and Innovation Expo 2027 in Belgrade is a testament to the rich tradition of specialized Expo exhibitions, while simultaneously paving the way for the future. By focusing on sports and music, this exhibition highlights universal themes of creativity, unity, and the power of connecting people. With the theme "Play for Humanity," Expo 2027 emphasizes how play—whether through sports or music—serves as a tool to foster inclusivity and understanding beyond borders and cultures. The blend of physical and virtual spaces enables Expo 2027 to redefine the concept of global gatherings, offering innovative experiences that connect sports, music, technology, and sustainability in an entirely new way. By combining the legacy of previous specialized exhibitions with contemporary challenges, Expo 2027 in Belgrade has the potential to become a milestone. This exhibition not only reflects the spirit of its predecessors but also provides a platform for future generations to explore, innovate, and connect through the universal language of play. In this way, Belgrade 2027 lays the foundation for the continued development of specialized Expo exhibitions, while helping to shape the future and preserve the fundamental values of human collaboration and progress.Supreme Court Allows Multibillion-Dollar Class Action to Proceed Against Meta
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Parts of Scotland are bracing for a second day of disruption with high winds and localised flooding after Storm Bert swept heavy snow and rain across the country. The central belt was hit by more snow that anticipated early on Saturday, causing widespread problems on the roads. The M8 saw long traffic jams and two of the main routes south - the M74 and A68 - were closed for a time due to accidents. Lothian buses suspended all of its 70 routes across Edinburgh and surrounding areas and there was disruption to the rail network. But an amber weather warning for rain and snow in the east of Scotland was downgraded to a yellow warning for rain which will remain in place until 09:00 on Sunday . In an unusual move, the Queensferry Crossing across the Firth of Forth was closed due to the threat of falling ice. Traffic in the area was diverted via the Forth Road Bridge. The diversion was due to remain in place until 01:00 on Sunday. David Bishop from the national road maintenance body Bear Scotland said the closure was due to concerns that ice sticking to the bridge's 70km of cable stays could fall and cause a "significant road traffic incident". It is the first time since 2021 the bridge has closed. All 700 buses in the Lothian Buses fleet ground to a halt for much of the day due to tough road conditions. The company announced services were back to normal early on Saturday evening. Edinburgh sightseeing buses were cancelled and there was disruption on Citylink, McGill's and First services. A dramatic image shared on social media showed a bus which had left the road at Buchlyvie, a village in the Stirling area. George Henry, head of road safety and road policy for Transport Scotland, said the conditions had been "challenging". He said: "We have been treating our roads around the clock, our operating companies have been out and we have used over 240 gritters. "Unfortunately there has been some impacts with various vehicles being stuck due to some vehicles losing traction at various location and we’ve tried to treat that as quickly as we can to minimise the disruption to the motoring public." Mr Henry said particular incidents had impacted the M8 near Livingston and the M74 at various points on Saturday. He added attention is now turning to the risk of localised flooding caused by the temperature rising and snow melting. "There will be lots of surface water so we urge the motoring public when they are returning to the roads to please take care and drive to the conditions they are faced with," he added. Regional flood alerts have been issued for parts of Dumfries and Galloway, west Borders, Central, Tayside, Aberdeenshire, Dundee and Angus regions. While a flood warning urging people to "act now" is in place for the Churchill Barriers in Orkney. A total of 11 SPFL games were called off with kick-off times delayed on another three, including two in the Premiership. One of those called off was a league two match between Cove Rangers and Stenhousemuir, after the away team's bus got stuck in snow at Broxden Services outisde Perth. Over 3,000 homes in England and Wales are without power. Scotland has not been hit as hard, with both Scottish Power and SSE reporting just a few localised faults. The Met Office has warned a rapid thaw and subsequent rain may cause further disruption. A yellow weather warning for rain and snow remains in place for most of Scotland until 09:00 on Sunday. The Highlands and Argyll and Bute will see winds of up to 65mph on Sunday, with a yellow warning has been in place from 12:00 until 00:00. Forecasters say Storm Bert will be quite slow moving and will only start to clear from Monday.
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ATLANTA — Texas wasted no time making its presence felt in the mighty Southeastern Conference. In their debut as a member of the powerhouse league, the No. 2 Longhorns posted the best regular-season record and earned a spot in the SEC championship game Saturday. “Not a lot of teams can go into a league their first year — especially the SEC — and get a chance to play for the championship,” Texas running back Jaydon Blue crowed. In an intriguing matchup between the brash newcomer and a stellar member of the old guard, Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC, No. 2 College Football Playoff ) will face No. 5 Georgia (10-2, 6-2, No. 5 CFP) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Bulldogs are playing in the title game for the seventh time in nine seasons under coach Kirby Smart, who has won a pair of national championships and established Georgia as the dynasty everyone else is chasing. Adding more fuel to the fire, the Dawgs handed Texas its only loss during the regular season with a 30-15 drubbing in Austin back in mid-October. “Georgia and Kirby have been the standard in college football,” Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said. "Georgia has got the heart of a champion and you see it time and time again.” No matter the outcome in the A-T-L, both teams are headed to the College Football Playoff. But there's still plenty on the line, with the winner claiming both a coveted SEC championship and a trip straight to the Sugar Bowl for the national quarterfinals on New Year's Day. The loser will be saddled with an extra playoff game, likely hosting a first-round contest on either Dec. 20 or 21. “It's an opportunity to rest and recover while others are playing formidable opponents,” Smart said. "It removes you from that.” Longhorns vs. Dawgs, Part II Texas is eager to atone for its only loss of the season, that ugly performance against Georgia when the Longhorns were ranked No. 1. “We’re going to have to play a better version of football than the first time around,” Sarkisian said. “We were out of character, out of sorts.” It was the most lopsided loss for a No. 1 team at home in 42 years. “They deserve to get our best shot,” Sarkisian said. "I know we’re going to get their best shot.” Quarterback duel Both starting quarterbacks will be looking for better performances than they showed in the first matchup. Georgia won despite Carson Beck tossing three interceptions, while Quinn Ewers of Texas had two fumbles to go along with a pick. Also keep an eye on Texas backup Arch Manning, who came on in last week's victory over Texas A&M to run for a touchdown on fourth down. With Ewers still nursing a sprained ankle, Manning could provide an intriguing change of pace with both his arm and his legs. “He’s a really good athlete that can take off and run at any time, which is the toughest guy to defend," Smart said. “I’d much rather have a guy that only runs than a guy that does both.” Injury report Trevor Etienne rushed for three touchdowns in the first meeting with Texas, but he's missed three straight games with a rib injury and was listed as questionable for Saturday. Georgia has also been without defensive lineman Christen Miller, who is dealing with a shoulder injury. Without Miller, the Bulldogs surrendered a season-high 260 rushing yards in an eight-overtime victory over Georgia Tech . Texas could be missing Outland Trophy finalist Kelvin Banks Jr., who went down last week with a leg injury after just seven plays. Freshman Trevor Goosby will start at the crucial left tackle position if Banks can’t go — and be on the firing line against a Georgia defense that bullied the Longhorns for seven sacks in October, two of which resulted in fumbles. Run, Texas, run Texas had just 29 yards rushing the last time out against Georgia, but the Longhorns run game has been dominant of late. Quintrevion Wisner has emerged as the go-to back with 344 yards in the last two games, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. “When you have 30-40 carries in multiple games, there is a great commitment to the run," Smart said. "They’re extremely physical, they’ve got really good backs, their offensive line is massive and the quarterback does a great job putting them in the right runs.” Georgia in the A-T-L While Mercedes-Benz Stadium is only about a 75-mile drive from the Georgia campus, making this a de facto home game for the Bulldogs, that hasn't proven to be a big advantage when playing for the SEC title. The Bulldogs are only 2-4 in conference championship games played at the Benz, not to mention an overtime loss to Alabama in the national title game at the end of the 2017 season. Going back to the years when the Georgia Dome hosted the SEC championship, the Bulldogs are just 4-7 in Atlanta with the league championship on the line. “We're essentially playing a road game,” Sarkisian said. “But I do expect a good amount of burnt orange to be there.”Leggett & Platt Inc. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the day
NEW YORK — The holiday shopping season is about to reach full speed with Black Friday, which kicks off the post-Thanksgiving retail rush later this week. The annual sales event no longer creates the midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem of recent decades, in large part due to the ease of online shopping and habits forged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoping to entice equivocating consumers, retailers already have spent weeks bombarding customers with ads and early offers. Still, whether visiting stores or clicking on countless emails promising huge savings, tens of millions of U.S. shoppers are expected to spend money on Black Friday itself this year. Industry forecasts estimate that 183.4 million people will shop in U.S. stores and online between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation and consumer research firm Prosper Insights & Analytics. Of that number, 131.7 million are expected to shop on Black Friday. At the same time, earlier and earlier Black Friday-like promotions, as well as the growing strength of other shopping events (hello Cyber Monday), continue to change the holiday spending landscape. Here's what you need to know about Black Friday's history and where things stand in 2024. Black Friday falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year, or Nov. 29 this year. The term "Black Friday" is several generations old, but it wasn't always associated with the holiday retail frenzy that we know today. The gold market crash of September 1869, for example, was notably dubbed Black Friday. The phrase's use in relation to shopping the day after Thanksgiving, however, is most often traced to Philadelphia in the mid-20th century — when police and other city workers had to deal with large crowds that congregated before the annual Army-Navy football game and to take advantage of seasonal sales. "That's why the bus drivers and cab drivers call today 'Black Friday.' They think in terms of headaches it gives them," a Gimbels department store sales manager told The Associated Press in 1975, while watching a police officer try to control jaywalkers the day after Thanksgiving. Earlier references date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Jie Zhang, a professor of marketing at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, points to a 1951 mention of "Black Friday" in a New-York based trade publication — which noted that many workers simply called in sick the day after Thanksgiving in hopes of having a long holiday weekend. Starting in the 1980s, national retailers began claiming that Black Friday represented when they went from operating in the red to in the black thanks to holiday demand. But since many retail companies now operate in the black at various times of the year, this interpretation should be taken with a grain of salt, experts say. In recent decades, Black Friday became infamous for floods of people in jam-packed stores. Endless lines of shoppers camped out at midnight in hopes of scoring deep discounts. But online shopping has made it possible to make most, if not all, holiday purchases without ever stepping foot inside a store. And while foot traffic at malls and other shopping areas has bounced back since the start of the pandemic, e-commerce isn't going away. November sales at brick and mortar stores peaked more than 20 years ago. In 2003, for example, e-commerce accounted for just 1.7% of total retail sales in the fourth quarter, according to Commerce Department data. Unsurprisingly, online sales make up for a much bigger slice of the pie today. For last year's holiday season, e-commerce accounted for about 17.1% of all nonadjusted retail sales in the fourth quarter, Commerce Department data shows. That's up from 12.7% seen at the end of 2019. Beyond the rise of online shopping, some big ticket items that used to get shoppers in the door on the Black Friday — like a new TV — are significantly cheaper than they were decades ago, notes Jay Zagorsky, a clinical associate professor at Boston University's Questrom School of Business. "There is less need to stand in line at midnight when the items typically associated with doorbuster sales are now much cheaper," Zagorsky told The Associated Press via email. He pointed to Bureau of Labor Statistics data that shows the average price for a TV has fallen 75% since 2014. While plenty of people will do most of their Black Friday shopping online, projections from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights indicated that a majority of Black Friday shoppers (65%) still planned to shop in stores this year. It's no secret that Black Friday sales don't last just 24 hours anymore. Emails promising holiday deals now start arriving before Halloween. "Black Friday is no longer the start of the holiday shopping season. It has become the crescendo of the holiday shopping season" during what now feels like "Black Friday month," Zhang said. Some retailers have updated their official marketing to refer to "Black Friday week." Retailers trying to get a head start on the competition and to manage shipping logistics helps explain the rush, Zhang said. Offering early holiday deals spreads out purchases, giving shippers more breathing room to complete orders. Zhang therefore doesn't expect the five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year to cause significant strain because retailers would have taken them into account. Linking pre-Thanksgiving sales with Black Friday is also a marketing technique since it's a name consumers recognize and associate with big, limited-time bargains, Zhang said. Multiple post-Thanksgiving sales events keep shoppers enticed after Black Friday, including Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, which the National Retail Federation's online arm designated in 2005. U.S. consumers spent a record $12.4 billion on Cyber Monday in 2023, and $15.7 million per minute during the day's peak sales hour, acccording to Adobe Analytics. On Black Friday, they spent $9.8 billion online, Adobe Analytics said. Enough people still enjoy shopping in person after Thanksgiving that the activity is unlikely to become extinct, Boston University's Zagorsky said. While Black Friday's significance "is being slightly diminished" over time, the shopping event is still "a way to connect with others," he said. "This social aspect is important and will not disappear, ensuring that Black Friday is still an important day for retailers."Daily Post Nigeria Gov Okpebholo suspends free bus services earlier approved for Edo residents Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Gov Okpebholo suspends free bus services earlier approved for Edo residents Published on November 27, 2024 By Enahoro Iyemefokhai Barely three days after approving free bus services across the three senatorial districts in Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo has suspended the service. DAILY POST reports that Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, had released a statement to journalists in Benin City in which he said the governor approved the free bus services to residents as part of his administration’s initiative. However, in another statement by the Chief Press Secretary on Wednesday, he urged members of the public to disregard the earlier announcement. Itua said the suspension was occasioned by a briefing received by the governor on the issues surrounding the operation of the state-owned Edo City Transport Service, ECTS, the operators of the free bus services. According to the statement: “The earlier statement announcing the approval of free bus services by the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, should be disregarded. “The governor is being briefed on issues surrounding the operation of the State-owned Edo City Transport Service (ECTS), operators of the free bus services. “For now, the free bus services have been placed on hold. A new decision by the governor will be communicated to the general public.” Related Topics: edo Okpebholo Don't Miss ICPC arraigns ex-bank MD, CEO over alleged money laundering You may like Gov Okpebholo inspects schools, mocks ex-Gov Obaseki’s EdoBest program Commissioning of Stella Obasanjo Hospital a scam – Okpebholo knocks Obaseki Hardship: Gov Okpebholo approves free bus ride for Edo people Gov Okpebholo squandered over N30bn left by Obaseki in 14 days – PDP alleges PDP urges Gov Okpebholo, Deputy, Idahosa to officially resign from NASS Gov Okpebholo’s Asset verification committee will not witch hunt Obaseki — Umakhihe Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
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Stock up on these popular board games for your next get-togetherFormer Boise State coach Chris Petersen still gets asked about the Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma on the first day of 2007. That game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. “Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things,” Petersen said. “But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win.” Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. “They just needed consistency of leadership,” said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. “This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level.” But Koetter referred to “an unfortunate chain of events” that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. “One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program,” Koetter said. “Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here.” But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. “As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they’ve pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint,” Koetter said. “So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure.” Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. “I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada,” Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. “That team would've done some damage.” There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal . Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship . Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal . Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy . “Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here,” Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It’s because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven’t been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, ‘We’re going to get that done.’ They went to work.” As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. “It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, ‘Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,’” Petersen said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballBehind FeiXiaoHao: Insights In Global Blockchain Data
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