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super. ace Pragya Nagra Private Video Controversy: Malayalam Actress Breaks Silence on MMS Leak, Says ‘Still Hoping That It’s Just a Bad Dream’

Iowa's O hopes to stay hot vs. defense-minded NorthwesternUpdate: December 7 with performance details on Apple’s in-house 5G modem shipping in the iPhone SE . Following a near three-year wait, Apple will launch the next generation of iPhone in early 2025. The new iPhone SE will be the fourth of Apple’s mid-range smartphones, and it will be the torch-bearer for several new technologies and approaches that Tim Cook and his team are bringing to the mobile space. Why Apple Needs To Sell The iPhone SE First is the need for an iPhone in the competitive mid-range market. Apple is ceding ground to the likes of the Galaxy A series, Nothing Phones, OnePlus Nords and the Pixel 8a . The iPhone SE needs to be updated for Apple to stay relevant in this space. It will need to do more than match the current competition. Most of these handsets will be updated in the first half of 2025, putting even more pressure on Apple’s iPhone SE brand. Given that it has been 1000 days since the last iPhone SE in March 2022, the new SE will need to stay relevant for a similar three-year window, and the specs will need to leapfrog over the Android-powered competitors by some distance. Thankfully, Apple has no choice but to raise the specifications above and beyond the historical level of the iPhone SE. The launch of the iPhone SE in 2025 is expected to coincide with an update to Apple’s generative AI suite of tools. Apple Intelligence And The iPhone SE The awkwardly-backronymed Apple Intelligence remains a shadow of the capabilities available on Android-based suites such as Gemini AI or Galaxy AI. The iOS update scheduled for the first half of 2025 should allow Apple to offer broad parity with the competition, but that comes with a need for more memory, storage, and the latest Axx processor. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have already benefitted from this and saw their specs lifted higher than you would normally see annually. I very much doubt Apple would launch a new SE without it supporting Apple Intelligence, so the same specs lift will also take place. Finally, Apple looks set to use the iPhone SE as a testbed for new hardware. Since the purchase of Intel’s modem division in for $1 billion in 2019 , Apple has been working hard to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm for its cellular connectivity and introduce its own 5G modem. Currently, the iPhone portfolio is Qualcomm modems, as far as the spec sheet can see. Until the iPhone SE arrives. Details from Apple’s suppliers, alongside industry analysts, point to the iPhone SE shipping with Apple’s first 5G modem. The iPhone SE Modem’s Advantage Update: Saturday December 7 : Writing for Bloomberg , Mark Gurmn has picked out some key details on he new modem that will ship within the iPhone SE. The modem is not going to be as fully functional as the Qualcomm equivalent on the premium iPhone 16 family. 5G connectivity will be limited to using the Sub-6 standard, with mmWave unavailable in the mid-range iPhone. This isn’t an unusual choice at this price point, so the iPhone SE will not be at a disadvantage regarding 5G. Consumers will not feel the lower levels of carrier aggregation—four-carrier bands can be accessed simultaneously compared to six-carrier bands on higher-specced modems. Apple will be hoping that the tighter integration into iOS will offer more tangible benefits, such as reduced battery usage and, therefore increased standby time, better support for satellite connectivity, and a lower SAR rating. The ultimate goal will be for consumers to notice any difference and to an iPhone that ‘just works’. The iPhone SE Tests Apple’s 5G Platform Testing the modem in the iPhone SE allows Apple to gather real-world data without risking the main line by debuting it on the iPhone 17 Pro. If all is well with the SE, then the way is clear for Apple to incorporate the design into later iPhones. It is worth noting that Apple’s agreement with Qualcomm for modems stretches out to 2026, suggesting that the iPhone 18 family will be the main beneficiary. Matching the competition, bringing Apple Intelligence to the broadest possible user base, and acting as a testbed for the larger and more powerful iPhones to come. The iPhone SE will carry the first spark of the iPhone’s future when it arrives next year. Now read the latest news that impacts the iPhone SE in Forbes’ weekly Apple Loop news digest...

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MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions scored a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national battle over union rights. That law, known as Act 10, effectively ended the ability of most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. Under the ruling by Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost, all public sector workers who lost their collective bargaining power would have it restored to what was in place prior to 2011. They would be treated the same as the police, firefighter and other public safety unions that were exempted under the law. Republicans vowed to immediately appeal the ruling, which ultimately is likely to go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. That only amplifies the importance of the April election that will determine whether the court remains controlled 4-3 by liberal justices. Former Gov. Scott Walker, who proposed the law that catapulted him onto the national political stage, decried the ruling in a post on the social media platform X as “brazen political activism.” He said it makes the state Supreme Court election “that much more important.” Supporters of the law have said it provided local governments more control over workers and the powers they needed to cut costs. Repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefits, would bankrupt those entities, backers of Act 10 have argued. Democratic opponents argue that the law has hurt schools and other government agencies by taking away the ability of employees to collectively bargain for their pay and working conditions. Union leaders were overjoyed with the ruling, which affects tens of thousands of public employees. “We realize there may still be a fight ahead of us in the courts, but make no mistake, we’re ready to keep fighting until we all have a seat at the table again,” said Ben Gruber, a conservation warden and president of AFSCME Local 1215. The law was proposed by Walker and enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in spite of massive protests that went on for weeks and drew as many as 100,000 people to the Capitol. The law has withstood numerous legal challenges over the years, but this was the first brought since the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to liberal control in 2023. The seven unions and three union leaders that brought the lawsuit argued that the law should be struck down because it creates unconstitutional exemptions for firefighters and other public safety workers. Attorneys for the Legislature and state agencies countered that the exemptions are legal, have already been upheld by other courts, and that the case should be dismissed. But Frost sided with the unions in July, saying the law violates equal protection guarantees in the Wisconsin Constitution by dividing public employees into “general” and “public safety” employees. He ruled that general employee unions, like those representing teachers, can not be treated differently from public safety unions that were exempt from the law. His ruling Monday delineated the dozens of specific provisions in the law that must be struck. Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he looked forward to appealing the ruling. “This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges,” Vos said in a statement. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business lobbying organization, also decried the ruling. WMC President Kurt Bauer called Act 10 “a critical tool for policymakers and elected officials to balance budgets and find taxpayer savings." The Legislature said in court filings that arguments made in the current case were rejected in 2014 by the state Supreme Court. The only change since that ruling is the makeup of Wisconsin Supreme Court, attorneys for the Legislature argued. The Act 10 law effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation. It also disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. The law was the signature legislative achievement of Walker, who was targeted for a recall election he won. Walker used his fights with unions to mount an unsuccessful presidential run in 2016. Frost, the judge who issued Monday's ruling, appeared to have signed the petition to recall Walker from office. None of the attorneys sought his removal from the case and he did not step down. Frost was appointed to the bench by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who signed the Walker recall petition. The law has also led to a dramatic decrease in union membership across the state. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum said in a 2022 analysis that since 2000, Wisconsin had the largest decline in the proportion of its workforce that is unionized. In 2015, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approved a right-to-work law that limited the power of private-sector unions. Public sector unions that brought the lawsuit are the Abbotsford Education Association; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 47 and 1215; the Beaver Dam Education Association; SEIU Wisconsin; the Teaching Assistants’ Association Local 3220 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695.

Phelekezela Mphoko aka Report Ndlovu: A pioneer freedom fighter

Malayalam actress Pragya Nagra became the subject of major controversy after a private video allegedly featuring her went viral on social media platforms. The unfortunate news comes amidst a troubling trend in Pakistan, where popular social media figures have been targeted with digitally manipulated videos falsely depicting them in compromising positions. Pragya Nagra has now released a statement reacting to the MMS leak. Pragya Nagra’s S*x Video Leaked Online? Malayalam Actress Caught in MMS Scandal After Alleged Private Clip Goes Viral. Pragya Nagra Reacts to Her Leaked Intimate Videos Just hours after several intimate videos and pictures claiming to be of Pragya Nagra, the actress reacted to the same and denied the rumours and penned a long note expressing her discomfort regarding the controversy. Taking to her X (previously Twitter) handle, she wrote, "Still in denial, and still hoping that it’s just a bad dream that I will wake up from. Technology was meant to help us and not make our lives miserable. Can just pity the evil minds who misuse it to create such AI content and the people who help spread it!" Still in denial, and still hoping that it’s just a bad dream that I will wake up from. Technology was meant to help us and not make our lives miserable. Can just pity the evil minds who misuse it to create such AI content and the people who help spread it! Trying to stay strong... — Pragya Nagra (@PragyaNagra) December 7, 2024 Pragya shared that the recent incident has been really stressful, and she is trying to stay strong through it. The actress also expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the people who have shown support to her during this difficult period and prayed that no other woman should ever go through something similar." Who Is Pragya Nagra? Pragya Nagra is a South Indian actress who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry. She was born into a Punjabi family on December 14, 1998, making her 27 years old. Pragya Nagra started her career with modelling and also featured in several ads before debuting as an actress. She made her acting debut opposite Jiiva in the 2022 Tamil film Varalaru Mukkiyam. Pragya later went on to star in many Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu movies. Mathira Private Video Controversy: Pakistani Influencer Claims MMS Leak Was AI-Generated, Says ‘I’m Bold, but I Know My Limits’. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pragya Nagra (@pragyanagra) Previously, alleged sensitive videos featuring Pakistani social media influencers, including Kanwal Aftwab, Minahil Malik, Mathira and Imsha Rehman, were leaked online training concerns about safety and privacy in this digitally advanced world. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 08, 2024 07:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).

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Daily Post Nigeria SEDC: Tinubu’s choice of Board members phenomenal – Ohanaeze Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News SEDC: Tinubu’s choice of Board members phenomenal – Ohanaeze Published on December 8, 2024 By Emmanuel Ugwueze Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described the team members of the South-East Development Commission, SEDC, as round pegs in square holes. It could be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday announced Board members of the Commission, with Dr Emeka Nworgu as chairman. Another key member of the Board is Toby Okechukwu, who is the executive director of projects. In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the calibre of people chosen by President Tinubu showed the seriousness the government attached to the Commission. He said, “we commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the serious attention he has given to the South-East Development Commission, which manifested in the calibre of people he has appointed in the Board. “It is clear from the list of the members that these are renowned Igbos with a track record of experience both in private and public service. “The Chairman of the Board, Dr Emeka Nworgu, CON, is a one time chairman of Abia South local government area, former political adviser to former Gov of Abia State and a two term minister under the administration of goodluck Jonathan. He performed creditably in these offices. “Also of particular mention is Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, who is the executive director of projects, a former member of the National Assembly, who was synonymous with attracting quality projects to his constituency and beyond during his time in the National Assembly. He was known as Mr project during the time in question. “The former Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives is a man of with capacity when it comes to infrastructural development and human empowerment. “No wonder he was the Chairman, House Committee on Works in the 8th House of Representatives and capped it up as Deputy Minority Leader of the 9th House of Representatives. He was a leader in the 9th Assembly and greatly admired by his people. “As the chairman house committee on works, he contributed a lot to the progress of work at the second Niger Bridge, rehabilitation of Abuja – Kano federal highway and Lagos – Ibadan expressway, etc. “Another distinguished member of the Board is Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, Chief of staff to the president of the 10th Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio. “With these calibre of men in the helm of affairs at the SEDC, Mr President deserves kudos; it’s a phenomenal choice; he has no doubt set the ball rolling.” Okwu said now that the Commission was totally in place, the expected rebuilding of the South-East after the civil war should commence in earnest. “The people of the South-East had all along cried out over the high level of marginalization against us; it became manifestly high that our people could no longer bear it, leading to a resurgence in agitation for Biafra. “However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a giant leap towards addressing all the injustice against the South-East. The starting point is this quality of Board members of the SEDC. “We, however, urge Mr President to go a step further by making good funding available to the Commission through the 2025 budget, which is in the process. “Without adequate funding all the expectation and joy of our people will be cut short. “But we are upbeat and quite positive that the much-awaited good time for the people of the South-East is here. “We assure the President of the support of Ndigbo, now and in future,” Okwu concluded. Related Topics: Ohanaeze SEDC Tinubu Don't Miss Nigerian Govt disowns circulating list of ambassadorial nominees You may like Ghana election: Tinubu congratulates President-elect Mahama I’ll go after ‘bad’ Nigerians, they are in trouble – Tinubu threatens Duk da ba’a son mu,mun kawo gyara a Najeriya – Tinubu Economy tough, Nigerians facing challenges – Tinubu Many states now enjoy 22hrs electricity – Yul Edochie claims as he hails Tinubu Masu sukar Tinubu makiyan Najeriya ne – Umahi Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

Five-star center Chris Cenac Jr. commits to HoustonSnow strands hundreds of commuters in J&K’s Banihal; for some it’s cricket all right

KITE’s initiatives to boost tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa NATHIAGALI: The provision of heavy machinery worth Rs350 million for road clearance during snowfall at the popular tourist destinations in the province is one of the major initiatives of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE) for promotion of tourism, especially during winter season. The state-of-the-art machinery, including two heavy bulldozers for Galiyat valley only, has been handed over to the local development authority, which has been effectively clearing road blockages in the snow-bound long strip of the beautiful valley. Such efforts have significantly improved winter accessibility in the picturesque Galiyat valley and other tourist zones in Hazara and Malakand divisions. “We had received a request from the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) for two units each of five-ton and three-ton bulldozers to clear snow-covered roads during winter. These machines have been arranged and handed over to GDA and they play a crucial role in keeping the roads open,” said Hashmat Ali, a KITE representative. A resident of the area said that the results of this initiative could be gauged from the fact that Galiyat valley has experienced uninterrupted traffic flow during the snow season for the past three years. “It is certainly a relief from the hardship of earlier times when heavy snowfall would frequently block roads, causing difficulties for the local population and the tourists,” he added. A GD official said that this development had not only eased the hardships of local residents but has also made the valley more accessible for tourists, boosting winter tourism.” KITE, a foreign-funded project, under the KP Department of Culture, Tourism, Archaeology, and Museums, is designed to foster sustainable tourism development in the province. The project has adopted a multi-dimensional approach to ensure that tourism promotion is balanced with environmental conservation and community engagement. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, KITE has been working to identify integrated and sustainable tourism zones. Feasibility studies and master plans have been completed for four Integrated Tourism Zones (ITZs), including Tandiyani in Abbotabad, Ganool in Mansehra, Mankiyal in Swat and Madaklasht in Chitral, in order to safeguard the existing tourist destinations from overcrowding. Destination Investment and Management Plans (DIMPs) and Visitor Management Plans (VMPs) are also implemented to improve tourism infrastructure while preserving cultural and natural resources. KITE has also conducted studies for Upper Swat, Chitral, and Kumrat in Upper Dir, which have been handed over to the respective Special Purpose Development Authorities (SPDAs) for implementation. These plans are expected to streamline tourism activities, enhance visitor experiences, and ensure long-term sustainability. In a bid to create awareness and involve stakeholders, KITE had organised a three-day orientation workshop for journalists here. Some 18 Peshawar-based journalists from various leading media houses attended the workshop. Shafqat Ali Khan, a social development specialist, was the resource person at the workshop, who provided the participants with insights into the legal frameworks guiding the project, including the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF). He also highlighted KITE’s initiatives such as installation of 73 prefabricated washrooms in the tourist sites, conservation of archaeological sites and provided technical support for tourism development. He spoke about the project’s role in balancing tourism development with environmental and cultural preservation. “Our goal is to enhance tourism in KP while ensuring that the region’s rich cultural and natural heritage is preserved for future generations,” he said. The workshop also included a panel discussion on “The Future of Sustainable Tourism in KP and the Role of Media.” The participants engaged in a thoughtful dialogue on ecotourism, natural resource preservation, and the media’s role in shaping public perceptions about sustainable tourism. Journalists were urged to use their platforms to advocate for promotion of tourism and highlight KITE’s efforts.Snow strands hundreds of commuters in J K's Banihal for some it's cricket all rightWhat happens when the team with the fastest pace in the NBA meets the team with the second-worst? Sunday offered an answer to that question. The Bulls have gone from 28th in pace to first thanks to the personnel changes and a coach who has rebuilt an offense to maximize their talents. Meanwhile, the Sixers have struggled to succeed with an injury-ridden roster. Sunday, all Nick Nurse could muster pregame when asked how to slow the Bulls down was, “You gotta run back really fast.” Turns out, the Sixers didn’t have an issue keeping up with the Bulls thanks to one MVP being reinserted. Joel Embiid exposed what’s been the Bulls’ Achilles’ heel all season: physicality in the paint. He finished with 31 points, helping hand the Bulls a 108-100 loss on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Bull’s big man — Nikola Vucevic — was rendered largely ineffective, finishing with just 13 points on seven attempts. “One area that’s gotta be a major focus for us going into these four days is we’ve gotta be able to post feed better,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “He could have had a much better offensive night.” Sunday was the Bulls’ second consecutive game with at least 50 three-point attempts, which isn’t necessarily an issue for a team leading the NBA in pace. The task for the Bulls — emphasized by Vucevic’s lack of involvement in the last two losses — is melding their high volume from behind the arc with getting Vucevic his inside touches. “There was way too many passes deflected, tipped away,” Donovan said. “We’ve got to find him and we’ve done a pretty good job of that, but I think that’s the versatility of Vooch. It’s OK if he’s not necessarily getting threes. He can do other things, finding the ball in the pocket. I thought he had some opportunities to shoot the basketball, but he’s so unselfish he moved it. We’ve got to be better at executing passes to him.” The Bulls gave up 21 points off turnovers, including six in the fourth quarter. Donovan added that he’s pleased with his team’s shot selection from behind the arc. They’re averaging 43.5 attempts this season and converting 38.4%. What’s impressed him most is their ability to generate uncontested threes. Against the Sixers, however, they shot 19-for-54 from deep. “We didn’t shoot the ball well,” Donovan said. “I thought it started slipping from us in the first half. I give the guys a lot of credit coming out of the half. Even though we struggled offensively to shoot the ball, we gave ourselves a chance.” “Physically, we competed a lot better defensively.” The Sixers outscored the Bulls 54-30 in the paint and outrebounded them 56-35. Embiid’s presence was the difference. He started the game shooting 0-for-7 before going on an 8-for-11 tear to close the first half, helping give his team a 12-point advantage as they headed for the locker rooms. Rookie Matas Buzelis earned significant minutes in the second half, playing a 15-minute stint between the third and fourth quarters. “It surprised me a little, but I’m always ready for the opportunity,” Buzelis said. “I’m always ready to compete. I was fine today. I just missed some shots. Defensively, I was really solid, got in transition for our guys, and rebounded well. That stretch was pretty good to me, but I’ll rewatch the film.” LaVine led the Bulls with 30 points on another efficient shooting night, going 10-for-21 from the field. Josh Giddey added 13 points and Lonzo Ball finished with three points and two assists. Ball was part of Donovan’s closing lineup after his minutes restriction was upped from a hard cap of 18 minutes per game to 20.EFF confident of winning Phala Phala case in ConCourt

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The so-called “offseason” in college football is one of the sport’s biggest dilemmas. It’s a problem that lacks a clear solution. The latest effort to fix it, or at least improve it, arrived this week: Making the early signing period even earlier. Michael Lev is a senior writer/columnist for the Arizona Daily Star , Tucson.com and The Wildcaster . It used to land on the third Wednesday of December. Now it begins on the first one. "It's the worst recruiting calendar that's ever been made," Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters earlier this season. When I talked to Arizona coaches and General Manager Gaizka Crowley at the Wildcats’ National Signing Day event Wednesday, I expected to hear similar complaints. None were forthcoming. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi, shown vs. Clemson on Nov. 16, believes the current December logjam in college football has created "the worst recruiting calendar that's ever been made." It might have something to do with the DNA most college football coaches and front-office personnel possess: They’re workaholics. The only gripe came from running backs coach Alonzo Carter, who lamented the mandatory recruiting “dead period” that runs from Dec. 2-8 — preventing coaches from going on the road to visit prospects and attend high school championship games. In other words, more work. The flaw in college football’s so-called offseason schedule is that, for the majority of the schools, it occurs while the season is still going. Eighty-two of the 133 eligible FBS teams still have postseason games to play, starting with this weekend’s conference title tilts and running through the national championship game on Jan. 20. Meanwhile, the early signing period ran from Dec. 2-4, and the first transfer-portal window — the most important one — runs from Dec. 9-28. What other sport conducts its offseason during the season? School ties The main reason the calendar falls this way is that inconvenient impediment known as school — specifically, the desire for incoming freshmen and transfers to enroll in winter so they can get used to their new surroundings, start training and participate in spring football. If the early signing period were nixed and we went back to the old ways — a singular National Signing Day on the first Wednesday of February — it wouldn’t be possible for freshmen to enroll in time. Likewise midyear transfers. (In Arizona’s case, the spring semester starts Jan. 15.) College football analyst Max Browne, via social media , suggested a “grace period” that would enable newcomers to enroll in February and make up the schoolwork they missed. It’d be clunky but not impossible, especially with so much instruction now available online. As Browne also suggested, school administrators “need to get on board with the changing times.” Football players (among others) are about to be paid directly by schools via revenue-sharing. Yet they’re still considered student-athletes and subject to the same rules as the rest of the student body. Veering away from that would put college athletics on an extremely slippery slope. One could argue we’re already there. Arizona coach Brent Brennan celebrates a review that eventually ruled Texas Tech had fumbled and the Wildcats recovered in the third quarter of their Big 12 game on Oct. 5, 2024, at Arizona Stadium. UA coach Brent Brennan views midyear enrollment as a “catch-22.” On the one hand, players such as receivers Isaiah Mizell and Gio Richardson — who signed Wednesday and will be arriving in January — get a several-months-long head start on classwork and weight training, plus 15 spring practice sessions. On the other hand, they and countless others miss out on senior prom and other activities that make the last semester of high school “magical” (Brennan’s word) and memorable. Could college football survive without midyear enrollment? Of course. It didn’t used to be a thing. But I doubt it’s a sacrifice that coaches would be willing to make. In a conversation with UA linebackers coach (and former New Mexico head coach) Danny Gonzales, I suggested moving at least the portal period back to either the day after the national championship game or after spring football. Gonzales quickly shot that down. Arizona linebackers coach Danny Gonzales, far right, shown during spring football practice in March 2024. “If you have to keep a kid until February that you absolutely know is not going to be on your roster, you're not serving anybody,” Gonzales said. “If they know they're not gonna be somewhere, and they have to stay somewhere, you're gonna create a ton of problems, both amongst your current team (and) with guys that are half-in, doing nonsense. Kids that age, when they're bored, what do they do? They get in trouble. So now you're gonna have to deal with those issues, as well.” Point taken. Gonzales did offer an alternative to the early signing period: Staging it before the season. Other sports, such as baseball and softball, do it this way. But it’s problematic for football, where players — in particular linemen — often develop at their own pace. Two of Arizona’s late additions were products of senior-tape evaluation: offensive lineman Jaxon Griffin and defensive back Kason Brown. “The senior eval to us will always be a critical piece,” Crowley said. “We evaluate every one of our commitments and tons of guys who are not committed. Miller Moss (7) is one of two USC quarterbacks to enter the transfer portal, leaving the Trojans with only one scholarship QB for their upcoming bowl game. “You'll be surprised how many guys are like that that turn out to be really good players.” Crowley said moving the signing period to August “would be like if the NFL drafted kids a year before they were done playing.” So yeah, scratch that one. Acceleration situation In lieu of preseason or postseason options, we have this multicar pileup where game prep, the early signing period and the portal overlap and cause all sorts of issues. For example: USC’s second- and third-string quarterbacks have entered the portal, leaving the Trojans with only one scholarship QB , Jayden Maiava, for their bowl game. Or how about this hypothetical: Let’s say Desireé Reed-Francois had decided to move on from Brennan. Doing so likely would have nuked Arizona’s signing class, leaving the Wildcats without a full class for two straight cycles — a devastating proposition for a school like the UA, even in the portal era. Gus Malzahn, shown during warmups before the UCF-Arizona game on Nov. 2, recently resigned, leaving the Knights without a head coach for the early signing period. Two Big 12 schools have head coach openings. One of them is UCF, where Gus Malzahn resigned to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State. The Knights have the fewest commitments and signees of any school in the conference. Any coaching maneuvers require an accelerated timeline because of the portal, which is akin to speed dating. Just as Arizona, in the interest of keeping the roster together, had to act fast to hire Brennan in January, so too does Brennan in hiring new coordinators with the portal floodgates about to open. The ironic twist for programs such as Arizona that didn’t qualify for postseason play is that they’re actually at an advantage this time of year: They don’t have games to worry about. “We've already had a full week of nothing but scouring some tape and having a plan ready for when Dec. 9 and 10 comes,” Gonzales said. It’s almost like pro sports, where the worst teams get the highest draft picks. Meanwhile, other teams will be playing deep into January under the new CFP format. Any portal activity could result in bruised egos and locker-room angst among current players expecting to return next season. Of course, Arizona isn’t striving for a less-cluttered calendar. The goal is to compete for championships or, at a minimum, to play in bowl games. Multitasking beats the alternative. Besides, as Crowley pointed out, recruiting is never-ending. It has no offseason. “We talk about that all the time in the office: You can't coach or recruit; you can't recruit or coach; you gotta do both,” Crowley said. “(It) doesn't matter whether you're in the summer, in July, when you got a couple days off. Recruiting doesn't stop.” Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com . On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @ michaeljlev.bsky.social Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sports Reporter/Columnist