Signing day for high school and junior college recruits is the most positive day of the year on the college football calendar. Whereas portal day, when players can enter the transfer portal to go find greener pastures, has turned into the most negative. Idaho State, like every other football program in the nation, celebrated early signing day on Wednesday, when the Bengals welcomed 18 new high school players and a junior college transfer. On Monday, the Bengals will say goodbye to at least one accomplished player who still has eligibility remaining – All-Big Sky Conference kicker Gabe Panikowski. Panikowski, who was a perfect 15-for-15 on field goal attempts this past season, announced on social media last week that he’s going to enter the transfer portal after just one season in the ISU program. One of the most positive and upbeat young men you’ll ever want to meet, he is determined to pursue his dreams of kicking at the highest levels of the college game – and eventually in the National Football League. “I love to explore life,” said the California native in a recent interview. “I love to have really different experiences. One of the things I’ve learned is that life is very short. ... Sometimes in life you’ve gotta move on. I want to compete with those guys whose names are big in the kicking world. I want to have that type of competition, to push myself to the max.” Leaving ISU, his kicking coach Dan Hawkins and his head coach, Cody Hawkins, are not easy things to do for Panikowski, who started his college career at Sacramento State, moved on to junior college and then came to the Bengals over the summer. “Those are the two best coaches I’ve ever had,” he said of the father-son duo. “It was definitely hard to make that decision.” Panikowski dreams of taking his talents to a Power 4 school, where he can perform under the pressure of kicking before tens of thousands of rabid fans. He is fully aware, however, of the pitfalls of such situations. He watched what happened to former ISU kicker Ian Hershey, who transferred to Arizona State. Hershey was publicly called out by ASU head coach Ken Dillingham after missing two important field goals in a loss to Cincinnati earlier this season. Hershey, a Highland High School graduate who started his collegiate career at ISU, missed from 41 and 48 yards out in the 24-14 loss to the Bearcats. After the game, Dillingham called the ASU kicking game “atrocious,” and said he was going to hold tryouts to find a new kicker. “I’m dead serious,” Dillingham told the media after the game. “We’ve got to find somebody who can make a field goal.” Dillingham later issued an apology on social media. He said he talked about ASU’s kicking game like he would the team’s offense or defense. “However, the kicking game is always directed at one player. I should not have done that and I apologize,” Dillingham said. “This team’s losses will always 100% fall on me.” Hershey, who was 7-of-12 in field goal attempts this season, hasn’t kicked for Arizona State since that game. But Panikowski is not deterred by Hershey’s experience. “It was very unfortunate what happened to Ian Hershey,” he said. “He’s a phenomenal kicker. I definitely took into consideration that going into a bigger level of football. There’s going to be criticism – always. Again, that’s a part of life. What makes people different – the excellent people vs. the normal people, is the excellent people are able to put their head down and move through criticism. They are able to drive themselves through to finish their task and do whatever it is they need to do. “You’ve gotta have a professional mindset when you get to that next level,” Panikowski continued. “I do understand, and I think I’m fully capable, fully ready for this. I’ve prepared myself mentally for this.” Panikowski has used his former private kicking coaches to put the word out that he’s going into the transfer portal. But schools can’t officially contact players until the portal opens on Monday. While the internet is full of stories of prospective transfers getting back-channel contacts from schools, coaches and collectives before the portal opens, Panikowski is determined to play by the rules and wait until Monday to find out what interest there is in his kicking abilities. “I haven’t heard anything from my coaches, they’ve being very cautious about the rules,” Panikowski said. “I also told them if there is a school that is interested, let’s make sure we don’t break any rules or regulations. I’ve gotta find out on Monday and let’s do it the right way. That’s what’s cool about the transfer portal – life is full of uncertainty. The transfer portal brings a lot of uncertainty, and uncertainty makes life fulfilling, it makes it fun.” A lot of coaches would call the “uncertainty” that the portal brings something other than “fun.” But Cody Hawkins has been consistent in his approach to his players who may have the opportunity to play at a higher level. He works with them to understand their aspirations, he gives honest appraisals to larger schools that express interest in his players and he sticks to the mantra that he treats his players the way he’d want his own son to be treated if he were a potential portal transfer. A good example of this was wide receiver Chedon James, who led the FCS in receiving at ISU during the 2023 season. James met with Hawkins and talked about what schools he was interested in playing for, and when none of those schools pursued him in the early portal period, decided to return to ISU. However, after spring ball was completed and Fresno State expressed interest, James took the opportunity to move up. It was not a great experience. He caught only one pass, couldn’t beat out the competition to get in the Bulldogs’ regular receiving rotation, and eventually, Fresno State made the decision to redshirt him. Of course, while there are cautionary portal tales like those of Hershey and James, there are also success stories. Sacramento State running back Cam Skattebo has become one of the most productive running backs in the nation after transferring to Arizona State two seasons ago. He gained almost 1,400 yards and scored 17 touchdowns for the nationally-ranked Sun Devils this season. And while Hawkins and the ISU staff will miss Panikowski, and perhaps other talented Bengals who decide to make use of the portal staring on Monday, they also realize the portal door swings both ways. ISU greatly benefitted from the addition of quarterback Kobe Tracy, who transferred from Utah Tech this past summer, and wound up being the Bengals’ starting quarterback. They also picked up receiver Jeff Weimer from UNLV, who was a first-team all-conference selection, starting safety Jaydin Davis from Central Michigan, receiver Tsion Nunnally from Washington State, offensive linemen Ty Hyde from Utah Tech and Jake Hellmann from Utah State. The perception problem with the portal, though, is that typically the players who are leaving a program tend to all hit the portal at the same time, creating the impression that the sky is falling. The players that use the portal to come to a smaller school like ISU, however, typically don’t start showing up in the public’s perception until they can start producing the following season. So while ISU effectively traded Chadon James for Jeff Weimer as first-team all-conference receivers, Bengal fans didn’t really appreciate what they got until the past season was over. The message to ISU fans, then, is this: When you hear about Bengals entering the portal over the next couple of weeks, it’s okay to miss them, but don’t forget there are probably going to be some good portal additions you won’t know about until spring football – or when fall practice begins. Brad Bugger has been observing athletics in southeastern Idaho since 1979 as a sports writer, broadcaster and fan. He can be reached at bpbugger@gmail.com
Danbury seniors celebrate collegiate signingsNASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world’s No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn’t feel that way to him. “Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much,” Scheffler said. “A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things.” Asked if he felt any frustration he didn’t take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. “I think in this game I think a lot of all y’all are looking for perfection out of us,” he said. “Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I’m pretty pleased.” Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn’t concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. “You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are,” Thomas said. “He’s a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I’m honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It’s a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you’re on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies.” Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn’t always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It’s the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. —- AP golf:WesBanco, Inc. and Premier Financial Corp. Announce Shareholder Approvals of Merger Agreement
Petition launched calling for halt to expansion of Montreal-Trudeau airport due to noise and air pollutionA petition is calling on Transport Canada to prohibit the expansion of the Montreal-Trudeau Airport, as a group claims it will lead to more noise and air pollution. Pierre Lachapelle, the president of Les Pollués de Montréal-Trudeau, says that plans to add a new terminal and 10 gates at the international airport will only worsen noise pollution. “We acknowledged there is an airport in Montreal, but we want to be able to sleep at night,” said Lachapelle. “The issue for our group is our quality of life because for a number of years since the closing of Mirabel and this enlargement of the airport in Dorval, in the augmentation, the increase of the number of flights day and night, that’s the issue.” The petition states that airport authorities allow airplanes to travel over the city between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., which Lachapelle says disrupts the sleep of thousands of Montrealers. He adds that noise from aircrafts results in risk to health, particularly in terms of cardiovascular diseases. “We believe that the construction without any impact assessment and any public consultation that our quality of life will diminish again and too much,” explained Lachapelle. The petition also suggests that increased air travel over Montreal will lead to more air pollution because of the accommodation of more planes and passengers. In a statement to CityNews, Transport Canada did not reply to questions about the petition, but said that strict requirements govern aircraft emissions and that airport authorities are required to assess a project to determine whether it is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. “There needs to be a substantial improvement in what we live with this airport. They are not behaving like good neighbours,” said Lachapelle. “It’s the job of our MPs and that’s why we call upon citizens to sign the petition, so we can put pressure. The election will be coming this year in 2025, so it’s the time to speak even louder to our MPs in Ottawa.” Earlier this year, Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the authority for Trudeau airport, announced $4 billion in renovations — including a new terminal and new gates, expected to be completed by 2028. Since the closure of the Mirabel airport in 2004, concerns about noise and air pollution from aircraft have persisted, particularly in the densely populated neighborhoods surrounding YUL. ADM tells CityNews in a statement that it has pledged to maintain ongoing dialogue with the public and address the concerns raised by citizens. ADM has reiterated its commitment to managing the noise climate around Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) amidst ongoing legal proceedings and growing public concern over its expansion plans. In response to a lawsuit filed by a group of concerned citizens over noise pollution, ADM stated it would refrain from commenting further due to the active legal situation. However, the airport authority emphasized its dedication to balancing its role in the economic development of Greater Montreal with its responsibility to minimize disruption to local communities. “Soundscape management remains a priority for ADM,” officials said. “We strive to ensure a harmonious coexistence between the airport’s operations and the surrounding neighborhoods. Detailed information on our initiatives is available in our 2023 Soundscape Annual Report and throughout the airport’s public reports.” While the new developments aim to alleviate overcrowding, ADM reassured the public that an increase in passenger traffic would not result in a proportional rise in the number of flights. The airport explained that the number of aircraft movements at YUL has declined by 13% over the past decade, despite a significant rise in passenger numbers. Technological advancements, such as more efficient aircraft and higher load factors, have contributed to this reduction in flight frequency. Airlines are also expected to continue upgrading their fleets, further reducing noise and greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years. In addition to its expansion plans, ADM has taken steps to address noise concerns through its 2019-2023 Soundscape Management Action Plan. The authority has worked on developing new operational scenarios, which focus on restricting flights based on noise certification levels rather than aircraft weight. These proposed changes, which would implement stricter noise restrictions during certain hours, aim to mitigate noise pollution by prioritizing quieter aircraft during night and early morning hours. The proposal includes a designated period of no scheduled flights from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., a measure intended to reduce nighttime noise disturbances. ADM has conducted public consultations as part of the regulatory process, including an open-door event for citizens, and has submitted a request to Transport Canada to amend the noise abatement procedures at YUL.
Axis Announces Proposed Redemption of DebenturesA field trip for special education students to a Cracker Barrel in Maryland this week has resulted in outcry from teachers and parents. On Tuesday, a group of 11 students and seven staff members from Maryland's Charles County Public Schools District were "refused service" at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Waldorf, Maryland, Superintendent Maria Navarro said in a statement. The outing was a part of community-based instruction for students at the district's Dr. James Craik Elementary School. The instruction allows students in special education programs to perform practical skills and socialize with the public. The Cracker Barrel general manager told teaching staff the restaurant "cannot accommodate to your group" and that the restaurant should be removed from the approved list of restaurants for community-based instruction, Charles County Public Schools special education teacher Katie Schneider told parents in an email, which has been shared online. Stacey Campbell told USA TODAY that her autistic, non-speaking 9-year-old son, who goes by "JoJo," attended the outing on Tuesday. "I saw red," Campbell said about when she read Schneider's email. "JoJo" attends Charles County Public Schools' ACHIEVE , a regional program in Charles County that serves students in kindergarten through age 21 with "significant cognitive disabilities." Students in the school district's ACHIEVE and SOAR (regional program for students with Autism) programs attend community-based instruction outings once a month between November and May, Campbell said. What happened at the Cracker Barrel? In her statement , Navarro said Charles County Public Schools staff notified the Waldorf Cracker Barrel of the group's size and purpose of its visit, but they were told reservations were unnecessary. Though the group did not ultimately dine-in, the restaurant did permit the students and staff to place a carryout to-go order, Schneider said in her email to parents. "During this time, the servers were blatantly rude to our staff and ignored all of our students, Schneider continued in her email. "Refusing to serve them, they did not even ask if our students wanted a drink or anything. Our students were so well behaved and sat at the tables patiently, which you know can be hard, waiting for their food and drinks to-go." After about an hour of waiting, Schneider said the students were moved to wait outside on the school bus. They ate the lunch back at the elementary school. Schneider did not immediately respond for comment about the experience when contacted on Friday afternoon. In a statement provided to USA TODAY, Cracker Barrel said a "staffing challenge" led to impacting the group's experience. "At Cracker Barrel, we strive to create a welcoming environment for all our guests, and we understand that a recent visit by this group to our Waldorf location fell short of those expectations," the statement reads. "A staffing challenge that day led to the closure of part of our second dining room, creating confusion that impacted the group’s experience. We take this matter seriously and are working directly with the group’s leadership to better understand what happened, extend our apologies and make things right." Parent organizes protest at Cracker Barrel In response to this week's events, Dustin Reed, whose 7-year-old daughter Madelynn attended the community-based instruction outing, has organized a protest to occur at the Waldorf Cracker Barrel on Sunday afternoon. Madelynn attends the districts' SOAR program. "I can't put into words how I felt − anger, sadness and worry," Reed told USA TODAY about learning of what happened at the restaurant. "I've battled wanting to protect (and) shield her from the world but not forgetting why we're doing this. I've spent more time crying over her and praying she never has to experience this again." Reed said he hopes the protest sheds light on the fact that just because some children have different abilities, it doesn't make them less than anyone else. Screenshots of Schneider's email, shared by Campbell in a public Facebook group, have garnered a lot of attention, with the post boasting nearly 300 shares, as of Friday afternoon. Campbell said she doesn't have much of a social media presence, but she felt obligated to share her son's experience. "I don't have the option of being quiet about these things," Campbell said. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com .
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