The opening weeknight of the college football season saw the defending national champions kickoff off its quest for a repeat with an easy conference win.

That would be Central Florida, which added another notch to its winning streak with a 56-17 victory against Connecticut. Through one game, the Knights are still rolling behind new coach Josh Heupel.

Thursday night’s action also saw the debut of Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M. The Aggies started the Fisher era with an easy win against Northwestern State.

Here are Thursday’s winners and losers as college football makes its full return after a long offseason:

WINNERS

Central Florida. The Knights showed no hangover from last year’s undefeated season and the offseason change from Scott Frost to Heupel in a convincing win against the Huskies. Yeah, UConn is going to occupy one of the lower rungs in the American Athletic Conference. UCF still looked the part. So did its quarterback: McKenzie Milton kicked off his Heisman Trophy push with 346 yards and five touchdowns.

Texas A&M. Things went as expected: A&M took a 35-0 lead into halftime and cruised against an inferior opponent. It’s all good so far for Jimbo Fisher as he looks to build the Aggies into a Southeastern Conference contender. But we’ll know more after next Saturday, when Fisher and A&M play host to one of college football’s elite teams in Clemson.

Northwestern. The Wildcats looked the part of a borderline top-25 team in netting a 31-27 win on the road against Purdue. It took a second to adjust to seeing two foes from the Big Ten Conference meeting in the season opener. The defense had no answer for Purdue’s Rondale Moore, the game’s breakout star, but Northwestern drew a strong performance from running back Jeremy Larkin and saw enough from quarterback Clayton Thorson to ease concerns over how well he’d bounce back from last year’s knee injury.

Wake Forest. A non-conference win against a Group of Five opponent is not always cause for celebration, especially when it takes overtime. But Wake Forest’s 23-17 win came on the road against a solid Tulane team that should end up in bowl play. The victory also came with a true freshman quarterback in the starting lineup. Dave Clawson and the Demon Deacons will take it.

MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

LOSERS

New Mexico State. Last year’s bowl berth made the Aggies one of the feel-good stories of the 2017 season. It’s too early to write off the team’s odds of making a return trip, but two losses in a row to kick off the year — the latest by 38 points to Minnesota — has NMSU off to a sour start. The Aggies have scored just 17 points across two games.

Purdue. The Boilermakers turned the ball over three times and committed nine penalties for 95 yards in the loss to Northwestern. Oops. The good news is that the Boilermakers were sloppy on offense and ineffective on defense yet only lost by a single possession. In other words, these one stings but there’s likely a bowl game in Purdue’s future should the Boilermakers take care of the details.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.

 

Associated Press
Published 12:58 a.m. ET Aug. 31, 2018 | Updated 1:00 a.m. ET Aug. 31, 2018

Colin Kaepernick’s ‘collusion’ case against NFL team owners can go to trial after a request by the league to dismiss the complaint was rejected.

The ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback believes owners are conspiring not to hire him because of his protests against racial injustice in the USA.

Kaepernick started protests by kneeling during the USA national anthem.

The 30-year-old has been without a team since opting out of his 49ers contract in March 2017.

Kaepernick’s lawyer Mark Geragos has posted a statement from system arbitrator Stephen B Burbank denying the league’s request to dismiss the case.

The ruling means there is sufficient evidence to allow the case to go to trial.

Kaepernick first protested by sitting during the national anthem in August 2016, before opting to kneel instead.

Other players followed suit, leading to criticism from President Donald Trump.

Players who refused to stand during The Star-Spangled Banner have said the protests were against police brutality of African Americans and racial inequality,

Earlier in August, several NFL players who protested during the anthem before pre-season games were criticised by Trump.

The NFL says plans to fine players for anthem protests have been put on hold, while it holds discussions with the NFL Players Association.

Image: david kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The U.S. Open has a lot of thoughts about tennis — and women’s boobs.

On Wednesday, French tennis player Alizé Cornet walked onto the court of the U.S. Open and realized that her shirt was on backwards. Instead of running to the women’s locker room, Cornet took off her shirt in public and then put it on the right way.

Umpire Christian Rask then charged her with a code violation, prompting necessary amounts of outrage. 

At the time of the incident, temperatures at the U.S. Open in New York hovered in the mid-nineties. It’s possible that Cornet didn’t want to expend additional energy running off to the locker room.

Alternatively, it’s possible she just didn’t care about a couple of randos seeing her in a sports bra.

Either way, the incident sparked an outcry. Per CBS News, only the Women’s Tennis Association has a rule dictating where their players can and cannot take off their shirts. Men aren’t subject to the same regulations. Apparently, female nipples are such a threat to the general public that they need to be governed by a professional body.

UPDATE: Aug. 29, 2018, 3:31 p.m. PDT According to a statement from the WTA, the organization has “no rule” against of a change of attire on the court and said “Alize did nothing wrong.” 

The organization also said the violation came under “Grand Slam” rules, and notes the United States Tennis Association has since changed its policies. 

Here’s what Twitter had to say about it:

Earlier in the week, the French Tennis Federation ruled that Serena Williams couldn’t wear a black catsuit at the French Open. The catsuit was designed so that Williams, who has struggled with circulation problems since becoming pregnant, wouldn’t suffer any blood clots.

Sigh. Whether it’s on the court or off, people still love to regulate the female body in 2018. Meanwhile I saw, like, twenty exposed scrotum sacs while on a New York City beach last week, and nobody had a damn thing to say about it.

Let’s get to a place where all bodies can co-exist in peace.

Sen. John McCain will be honored at the U.S. Capitol on Friday and Saturday at two memorial services. 

Speakers include two former presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and current Vice President Mike Pence. McCain’s children and several notable political leaders are planning tributes or readings. 

Here are the details and how to watch the events live:

Friday

McCain will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol with a ceremony honoring his life and service on Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time (8 a.m. Arizona time). The service will be live-streamed at azcentral.com.

Speakers include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and  Pence. 

Following the ceremony, people can pay their respects in-person from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time as he lies in state. 

Saturday

On Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (5:30 a.m. Arizona time) a motorcade will carry the senator’s body from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington National Cathedral.

On the way, the procession will pause at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where Cindy McCain will lay a ceremonial wreath honoring those who died during the Vietnam War. The public is welcome to line the procession route along Constitution Avenue to pay respects to the senator. 

An invitation-only national memorial service celebrating the senator’s life will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time (7 a.m. Arizona time) at Washington National Cathedral. The event will be live-streamed at azcentral.com.

Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will give tributes.

McCain’s daughter Meghan will give a tribute and daughter Sidney will give a reading. McCain’s son, Jimmy, will read the poem “The Requiem.”

McCain’s close friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will read from the gospels. 

Bush was McCain’s rival in the 2000 presidential race. The senator withdrew after losing a series of primaries to Bush on Super Tuesday. McCain later supported his former adversary.

As the GOP nominee in 2008, McCain lost to Obama. In McCain’s concession speech at the Arizona Biltmore, he graciously spoke of the significance of Obama’s win, as the first African-American to hold the presidency.  

READ MORE ON JOHN McCAIN:

Read or Share this story: https://azc.cc/2BVdIAx

Throughout Aretha Franklin’s life, her faith was a central part of her identity, influencing and guiding her journey to stardom.

On Friday, her spiritual grounding in the black church will be on display to the public as her funeral at Greater Grace Temple is broadcast, showcasing noted singers and the traditions of Baptist funerals that are about both mourning and joy.

“In a Baptist funeral, there is duality,” explained Rev. Kenneth E. Flowers, pastor of Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Detroit. “It’s a time for celebration; it’s a time of sadness and tears. But there will also be a celebration of life, we can celebrate, our faith tells us.”

“… We call them a homecoming celebration because that means you’re going to be home with God.”

Flowers spoke Monday at a tribute to Aretha Franklin at her home church, New Bethel Baptist Church, which was led by Franklin’s late father, the influential preacher and civil rights advocate Rev. C.L. Franklin. Flowers said he would sometimes text with Aretha Franklin, sending her messages of support and quotes form the Bible to give her a lift as she battled pancreatic cancer and personal challenges.

“I would text her, I’m praying for you Queen, told her to keep the faith,” Flowers said. 

The funeral will feature well known performers, but also elements that can often be seen at Christian funerals in Detroit. 

“Tears of sadness, but also shouts of joy and dancing, a time of celebration and jubilation to thank God for the Queen of Soul, that she is out of her suffering, out of her pain and going home to be with God,” Flowers said. “We can be sad and at the same time flip it around and be happy and joyous because we know where she is. She’s gone to be with God.”

More on Aretha Franklin:

Grace, pressure for bishop officiating Aretha Franklin’s funeral

Aretha Franklin funeral performers: Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, more

Detroit’s ritual for Aretha Franklin becomes a family reunion

Franklin was rooted in a Baptist church while the funeral will be held at Greater Grace Temple, an Apostolic church that’s part of a Pentecostal denomination. Its pastor, Bishop Charles Ellis III, the head of Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, will co-lead the services along with Rev. Robert Smith Jr. of New Bethel Baptist.

The denominational differences don’t really matter too much given how Franklin broke across musical and religious barriers with her art, said local pastors. 

“She transcended musically and our denominations are not stuck the way they were 25 to 30 years ago,” said Rev. Robert D. Lodge Jr. pastor of People’s Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit. “We’re not locked into denomination, but we’re locked into the body of Christ.”

Rev. Lodge said “the most important thing is she loved the Lord and she loved the people of Detroit. She always represented Detroit well, and she was an Ambassador for the city of Detroit as we’re going through this renaissance again.”

“We’re thankful for all Aretha Franklin has done for this city and the people of church,” Lodge said. 

Pastor Edward L. Branch of Third New Hope Baptist Church in Detroit used to be an associate minister at Franklin’s home church, New Bethel Baptist, serving under her father, the late Rev. C.L. Franklin. 

“For Mr. Aretha, as with many believers, faith is a central part of their lives,” Rev. Branch said. “Faith was always the foundation of her life, with all of her family.”

“To actually see her faith in day-to-day things was always amazing and refreshing because she truly believe in God, and believe in the church.”

During her concerts, Franklin would take “the audience to church because she would include gospel music and include songs of prayer,” Branch said.

Franklin’s first album, Songs of Faith, was a gospel recording made at New Bethel Baptist Church.

“She would attract not only those who enjoy music on a secular level, but also church people who attend church on Sundays,” Branch said. 

“In whatever genre of music she sang, you could feel it from deep within,” said Rev. Flowers. “Her faith in God came out through her music.”

“She got her start in the church as a little girl and so all of her music — whether classical, jazz, soul, rock music … she always put the church in it.”

“The gospel spirit was always in all of her songs,” Flowers added. “She could sing anything and people could be touched by it. … that comes through the power of the spirit of God.” 

Flowers and other pastors remembered how she would give back to the community, including an annual gospel celebration at New Bethel Baptist Church with free soul food.

Pastor Flowers said Franklin’s faith was important not only for her music, but for her personal life, as she dealt with the deaths of her father, who was in a coma for years before his death in 1984, and other family members. 

Flowers said: “She had a strong faith, a deep love for God.” 

 

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or 313-223-4792. Follow him on Twitter @nwarikoo

Read or Share this story: https://on.freep.com/2PRH0mA

Ex-England opener Geoffrey Boycott says the Test team have “gone backwards” and called their batting “rubbish” after another collapse against India.

India, who cut England’s series lead to 2-1 with a 203-run win at Trent Bridge, had the hosts 86-6 on day one of the fourth Test at Southampton.

Sam Curran’s 78 helped England to 246, before India reached 19-0.

Boycott told BBC Test Match Special: “It’s not a solid batting line-up. You just don’t have confidence.”

After England chose to bat, Keaton Jennings suffered a horrendous fourth ball lbw dismissal in the third over. Root and Jonny Bairstow also fell cheaply.

“If you can’t bat, you are always up against it,” said Boycott, returning to the TMS commentary box after heart surgery. “You are climbing against the wind all the time.”

England have made 100 or fewer at the loss of their fourth wicket in 32 of their past 63 innings, over the past three years.

They have gone 15 innings since last making 400, against Australia in Melbourne in December.

It needed a career-best from Curran – left out of the team at Trent Bridge – in a partnership of 81 with Moeen Ali, who made 40, to help them to 246.

“Cook’s form is getting worse, not better; Jennings is not cutting it,” Boycott said.

“We have dropped our young kid at four, Ollie Pope. We are no further forward in finding batsmen. The selectors would be better at county matches trying to find somebody.

“It’s puzzling because they have a batting coach – I’m not just blaming [Mark] Ramprakash – but they have a head coach [Trevor Bayliss] who is supposed to be a batsman – he played for New South Wales. And you wonder what they are doing.

“Isn’t it a poor reflection on county cricket’s batsmen that a wicketkeeper/batsman has to bat four?”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said number eight Curran, who has made 225 runs in his first five Test innings, is the “best technician” in the England side this summer.

“He looks naturally the best defensive player that England have had in this series,” Vaughan said. “The rest of them still jab at the ball even in defence.

“Alastair Cook looked OK but he is a concern for me at the top of the order. I still don’t think he looks in.

“When he is in quality form, it’s the mind that plays so well and it has always been so strong. To see him deflect it to third slip, like fielding practice, I’ve not seen that from him.

“I don’t think Joe Root wants to play at three, he wants to bat at four. If he continues to play with that head falling to one side, it doesn’t matter where he is batting – he is going to get out.”

Surrey all-rounder Curran, 20, in only his fourth Test, said: “I was disappointed to miss out on the last Test but you can’t drop someone who has got a hundred [Chris Woakes].

“I saw it as a positive and luckily I’m back in the team.”

Image: Robert Alexander/Getty Images

Just a day after taking to Twitter to complain that Google search results are biased against him, President Donald Trump is once again going after the search engine, as well as Twitter and Facebook.

This time, he’s citing his very personal experience of having lost followers on social media as evidence of a broad scale anti-conservative bias.

While talking to reporters at the White House today, President Trump was asked a question concerning his tweets from Monday. He’d accused Google of offering “RIGGED” search engine results to anyone looking up the phrase “Trump News.” The president complained that Google was deliberately censoring “Republican/Conservative media” and showing search results that were critical of him from what he called the “Fake News Media.” 

“I think that Google and Facebook and Twitter, I think they treat conservatives and Republicans very unfairly,” said Trump before explaining how this hits close to home: “I could tell you that I have personal experience. I have a lot of people on the various platforms.” 

How many?

“160 million people. I have numerous platforms. That’s a lot of people,” said Trump upon being informed by White House social media director Dan Scavino of his total follower count across his accounts on various social media platforms. “But I can tell you when things are different. And all of a sudden you lose people and you say, ‘Where did they go?’ They’ve taken off.”

“Now, I don’t know if it happens to the other side,” he said. The president then specifically called out Google, Facebook, and Twitter for this alleged anti-conservative bias.

Leaving aside the fact that Trump is conflating a search engine with social media platforms, from personal experience, we can say without a doubt that yes, people on the “other side” — Democrats, liberals, progressives, leftists — have lost Facebook and Twitter followers at one point in time. 

Not only can people choose to follow and unfollow whomever they want on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms at anytime they like, we also have a very good example of this happening “to the other side” earlier this summer during the Twitter purge, when the site removed inactive accounts and fake profiles from users’ follower counts. When all was said and done, Barack Obama actually ended up losing many more followers than Donald Trump.

However, conservatives, backed up by the president of the United States, continue to accuse tech companies of unfounded bias. It’s something that’s really taken off in recent months, and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. 

In fact, at the time of this post, Donald Trump tweeted out this latest criticism of Google.

In case you were wondering, no, Google did not censor Trump’s State of the Union addresses.