…for electionsAnd here we were taught that courts were established to settle conflict and differences and deliver justice to the wronged party!! But on this NCM fiasco, we’ve now learnt that they can be used to drag out conflict to such an extent that the party initiating the conflict becomes the victor by default. And the wronged party is left holding wood! This usually happens when folks who have no regard for the rule of law and its conventions are involved. They misuse the rules of the court to wage a guerrilla war to subvert justice from being done.The PNC has now said they’ll be appealing the Chief Justice’s ruling on the legality of the H2H brought by one of the plaintiffs in her first ruling on the NCM. The latter case went to the Appellate Court on plea of the PNC and then the CCJ – and the H2H was introduced as a delaying tactic to subvert the spirit and letter of Art 106 (6) and (7). That the Cabinet and President SHALL resign immediately and elections be held within 3 months.So if the CJ doesn’t rule in their favour of H2H, and the PNC goes the appeal route in will come the Appellate Court on the PNC’s second plea and then onto the CCJ in a never-ending merry-go-round!! In the meantime, the bases of the two parties are becoming increasingly polarised and testy. So it’s quite possible that the PNC might not take that road – but the one more travelled by them over the years: violence by their street forces in Georgetown.Right now, the latter are so stirred up by the “perfidy” of the PPP, AG Basil Williams blurted out to the diplomatic corps and the business community that mayhem will be almost certainly be unleashed on the PPP’s constituency’s bodies and businesses. This warning would’ve almost certainly been noticed by Justice George, so will she factor in the “societal” impact of her decision to trump the legal imperatives?? It would’ve also been heard by Justice (retired) Claudette Singh from her new perch as GECOM Chair. Will the threat also have a chilling effect on her??The Opposition Leader has gone the extra mile in heeding the CCJ’s advice for the political stakeholders to show some integrity and reach consensus on the way forward. He met Granger and not only reached agreement on the GECOM Chair, but met him again on his elections intransigence.However, the PNC’s threat to appeal an adverse court decision on H2H – or engage in violent protests in 1997 – does not demonstrate them being possessed in the slightest degree of that quality.Brute force and ignorance time?…for Cabinet v Government statusDavid Granger and his PNC cohorts have been playing the fool on Article 106 (6) – contra posing the “President and Cabinet” – which has to resign after the NCM’s passing— and Art 106 (7) which says the “government” continues until a new one in sworn in after elections. Some say they’re linguistically challenged – as they were mathematically with their “63 not the majority of 65”! But your Eyewitness wouldn’t have any truck with that!Having participated in crafting that Article, the PNC knows as well as anyone else that we’re following hundreds of years of tradition in the parliamentary tradition of Britain. The Cabinet and President/Prime Minister resigning “immediately” all have to do with the fact that elections follow as soon as possible – almost always less than three months.On March 28, 1979, the Labour Govt of James Callahan was defeated by a NCM… he immediately resigned; Parliament was dissolved on April 7, and elections held on May 3!!Therefore, there’s no “vacuum” in Government – which doesn’t skip a beat!!…for rainsWhen he was a callow youth, your Eyewitness learnt that while we never had a summer, the mid-year rainy season was in “May-June”.So why in August, the raindrops keep falling on his head? read more

29 May 2003Wines of South Africa (WOSA) presented diplomas earlier this month to the first group of students to complete a new custom-made wine course for black hospitality industry operators in Cape Town. The two-month course was created by the Cape Wine Academy (CWA), and the 15 students were sponsored by WOSA.According to Su Birch, CEO of WOSA, the course will help bridge the divide between the traditional wine community and emerging tourism operators.It is intended as a vehicle to promote Cape wine tourism while providing operators with the necessary skills to offer tourists an informative and entertaining experience.To meet the differing needs of both restaurant owners and tour guides, the group was divided in two. After the preliminary classes those in the restaurant trade focused on wine service, storage and wine and food combinations, while the course for tour guides concentrated on the different wine regions and varietals.Both groups did several tastings and tours to gain practical experience, and at the end of the course of about two months sat for a formal CWA examination.Birch sees the course as a big step towards creating new wine ambassadors for South Africa and contributing to the Cape wine experience of international tourists.“We also like the idea of working with established operators who have a vested interest in learning about wine to enhance their service levels and the profitability of their businesses”, Birch added.WOSA will present the course on a regular basis, with the second starting later this year.Western Cape Tourism CEO Mike Fabricius commented: “The days of two separate tourism industries – township and mainstream – are over. We are entering a new phase, where visitors will be offered a seamless tourism experience, and the wine industry has a vital role to play in building bridges in this regard.”Senzeni Ndebele, marketing manager at WOSA and course co-ordinator, said that various new business ideas came out the course.“Paula Gumede of One City Tours is going to use expand her beer garden in Mandalay into a fully-fledged wine shop, and Jeannie Fletcher has formed Yamme Investments (‘yamme’ is Sotho for ‘my mother’s’), a women’s investment group that will start marketing wine under their own label towards the end of the year.”Source: Wines of South Africa read more

Tags:#enterprise#news Related Posts david strom IT + Project Management: A Love Affair Massive Non-Desk Workforce is an Opportunity fo… 3 Areas of Your Business that Need Tech Now How much can an add-on QuickBooks app generate in terms of a prize? If you guessed $25,000, you would be right on the money. As part of an event earlier this week, Intuit gave out several checks to app developers, including the first prize to CoreConnex’ Corelytics Financial Dashboard, an app that allows small business owners to track key indicators and trends in their QuickBooks financial data.Intuit conducted the contest as an incentive to get its own app program off the ground, and more than 160 developers applied. From this pool, 30 finalists were chosen: you can download their apps here. Four finalists were chosen, with each winning $25 grand apiece. The others included Bill.com’s paperless bill paying service, Postcard Services’ direct mail tools, and Profitably, another analytics app. Anyone can download any app in the Intuit App Center once they register. Apps are for enhancing Quicken and QuickBooks products, both desktop and online versions. Cognitive Automation is the Immediate Future of… read more

Get away from the hustle bustle of daily life this month, and prepare to be pampered at the region’s best spas and wellness centres. From relaxing Swedish massages that soothe tired muscles to herbal oils trickling down your back at Ayurvedic centres, and from rigorous workouts to sessions on healing,Get away from the hustle bustle of daily life this month, and prepare to be pampered at the region’s best spas and wellness centres. From relaxing Swedish massages that soothe tired muscles to herbal oils trickling down your back at Ayurvedic centres, and from rigorous workouts to sessions on healing with music, Punjab’s wellness centres have varied options to keep your body and mind in good health.Hotel Cabbana Spa and AyurvedaThis spa offers a wide range of beauty treatments- and there’s also reflexology and shiatsu, which work on the body’s acupressure points to balance the body’s energy. Set in lush, sprawling 17 acre premises, the Cabbana Spa is the one-stop-shop in the state for a complete spa experience. With a selection of treatment rooms, friendly staff and a variety of options for massage therapies, Cabbana is bound to leave you spoilt for choice. The services offered here include a beauty salon, a health bar and an outdoor Jacuzzi for your postmassage relaxation needs.Highly skilled therapists and personal trainers offer bespoke therapies and health programmes. Choose from therapies like marma abhyanga, deep tissue sport massage and Indian head massage. While marma abhyanaga therapy stimulates the energy centres of the body with synchronised strokes; deep tissue massage is customised according to your needs and it promises to relax sore muscles and it is sepcially recommended for sportsmen. The bestseller, however, is the Indian head massage that improves blood circulation to hair follicles, which helps stimulate hair growth.We recommend: Indian head message and marma abhyanga.Expert touch: All therapists are trained in-house for a few months before they go onboard.Where: Phagwara-Jalandhar Highway, NH-1.Cost: Rs 5,500- 9,500.Tel: 01824 505060; hotelcabbana.comUSP: Experienced masseurs, beauty booster, energiser packages and health programmes.-Puja RainaadvertisementSpa at IstaA sense of peace fills the air as soon as you enter Ista. From the white uniforms of the staff to ample natural light and lots of greenery, everything at the Spa at Ista is perfect, making for a calm and tranquil environment. Spread across the first floor of the hotel, it offers a bouquet of Ayurvedic as well as international treatments apart from yoga and meditation sessions.Inspired and created by IHHR Hospitality Private Limited (the group behind the world renowned Ananda in the Himalayas), the Spa at Ista is recreating its magic in the bustling city of Amritsar. The gorgeously carved stone motifs make the space look extremely rich and beautiful as well. Before any treatment starts, the feet of the client are washed and then an aarti is performed. This is followed by mantra chanting by the masseurs. This ritual is believed to calm the senses. When at Ista, the Shirodhara treatment is a must try. Three litres of lukewarm ghee are poured in an even stream on your forehead, which is followed by steam and a hot shower. This helps you reach a blissful and meditative state. Other favourites here are aromatherapy and crystal therapy. Choose from invigorating, detoxifying or spice-blended oils, which are applied using lymphatic and pressure point massage techniques for aromatherapy. The crystal therapy works on your chakras (centres along the spine) to achieve equilibrium and balance.We recommend: Shirodhara, aromatherapy, facials and crystal therapy.Expert touch: All the masseurs are trained at The Ananda Spa Institute, Hyderabad.Where: Ista Hotel, GT Road Amritsar. Cost: Rs 1,500 onward.Tel: 0183 2708888; istahotels.comUSP: Treatments offered in a luxurious setting with the added draw of welltrained therapists.-Ekta MarwahaQuan SpaHead to Quan Spa if you’re looking for a customised spa treatment that can enhance both your wellness and beauty quotients. Located just three kilometres from the city centre, Quan Spa offers its guests an oasis of healing and rejuvenation. A Chinese word meaning “the source of pure water”, Quan draws on the restorative properties of water and natural products sourced from sea minerals.The stress starts melting away as soon as you step out of the elevator and walk into the aroma oils-infused spa section. One can either indulge in the specially-crafted Ayurvedic treatments like abhyanga, shirodhara and spice bundle or try out Oriental and European deep tissue massages. A unique concept here are the “Quan journeys” that use theraputic oils which provide relief to your sore muscles. Or you can also indulge in the ‘indoceane journey’, which is a three-step relaxation treatment. Another highlight is their mer and sens ritual, which helps you unwind with aroma therapy oil blends. If you’re interested in experiencing the effects of the ancient herbs and timeless treatments, then try the kumkumadi therapy.We recommend: Saffron facials and vichy shower.Expert touch: All therapists are trained in-house by experts from reputed spa academies.Where: JW Marriott, Sector35, Chandigarh. Cost: Rs 1,500 onwards.Tel: 0172 3955677; marriott.comUSP: The ‘Quan journeys’ that use theraputic oils to provide a body renewal experience.-Monita SharmaadvertisementStrands Salon and Spa Treatments take a whole new dimension when they are being administered at this fast growing spa chain in India. The biggest selling point here is the vast variety of treatments on offer.Strands, in association with L’oreal and Matrix, offers a vast number of skin, hair, spa and beauty treatments by trained experts from L’oreal, Matrix, Aroma Treasure, Krylon and H2O. Take your pick from 11 types of body massages apart from a variety of body scrubs and packs. Some of the more popular packages here include the Bali discovery tour (Balinese massages), Chocolate Spa and the Wine Spa. Be sure to try the volcanic earth clay, which is a refreshing body mask treatment. It is great for those with tanned skin and other common skin problems. Your body will be re-mineralised, detoxified and energised with the application of the clay mask.Their facials are also popular and can help resolve problems like pigmentation, ageing, and wrinkles. They also have specialised masseuses for acute cervical and back problems.We recommend: Virtual earth clay ritual.Expert touch: All therapists are diploma holders and trained from reputed spa academies.Where: SCO 421-22, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh. Tel 0172 4248006; SCO 233, Sector 20, Panchkula.Cost: Rs 1,000- 5,000.Tel: 0769 6707742; strands.inUSP: One of the few spas to have special masseuses for acute cervical and back problems.-Puja RainaCleopatra Day SpaWhat started as a hotel spa in 2003 has become a chain that spreads beyond the Tricity to Jalandhar, Mumbai and recently, Delhi. Cleopatra Day Spa, housed in Hotel Bella Vista wants to take the concept of spa to a new level.Done up in earthy colours with Buddha motifs all around, the music, ambience and mild aroma of lemongrass is instantly soothing. As you choose your spa treatment, the experts analyse your skin to tell you about your skin texture and the kind of products required to keep it healthy. Agarwal personally monitors the treatments and often gives a tip or two to suggest the right diet for you. The highlight here is the one-and-a-half hour body polish ritual that opens the pores and breathes life into your skin, giving it a perfect sheen. Brides-to-be can indulge at their outlet in Sector 44, Chandigarh which is a three floor Bridal Spa. The bangles hanging from the ceilings and colourful duppattas running from one end of the spa to the other set a creative wedding ambience.We recommend: Body polish ritual and facials.Expert touch: The staff is trained at Cleopatra’s academy in Jalandhar.Where: Hotel Bella Vista Sm-8, City Centre, Scetor 5, Panchkula.Cost: Rs 1,500 onward.Tel: 0172 506 4848; cleopatradayspa.comUSP: Personalised treatments followed by a skin mapping session and a dedicated Bridal Spa.-Ekta MarwahaadvertisementForest Spa, Kikar LodgeA two hour bone-cracking drive from Chandigarh takes you to a beautiful private forest reserve that makes the journey worth the effort. The Kikar Lodge, spread over 1,800 acres allows you to pamper yourself at the fully functional Ayurvedic spa that is being run in conjunction with Kairali. Be sure to try their hotseller, akhada malish-a traditional oil malish given by a masseur from a local akhada. No fancy and fragrant oils are used for this massage. In fact, pungent mustard oil is used because of its therapeutic properties. “The idea behind introducing this in the spa menu was to promote Punjabi culture,” says Amrinder Singh Chopra, CEO, The Kikar Lodge. After your massage, there is the steam room to look forward to; from here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the property through huge glass windows.We recommend: The akhada malish.Expert touch: The spa has two trained Ayurvedic practitioners from south India along with a traditional Punjabi malishwala.Where: Village Kangar, Nurpur Bedi District Ropar. Cost: Rs 300 to Rs 1,500.Tel: 01887 252218; thekikarlodge.comUSP: One of the best destination spas that offer soothing treatments amidst lush green forests.-Ekta MarwahaPuneet’s Dance and Fitness HubWhen you walk into Puneet’s Dance and Fitness Hub, you will find the usual dance or exercise forms missing. Don’t be surprised if you see a yoga class being conducted on hip hop beats. That’s Yogahop for you. Puneet Jewandah, the owner of the hub whose passion lies in dance aims to offer dance workouts that are designed to alleviate the tedium of exercise and combine fun tunes with common asanas. She herself experienced her first Yogahop class at Asia Fitness Convention 2010 in Bangkok. While Yogahop promises to heal muscles and increase your heart rate, this is not the only innovative workout that Puneet has in store for you. There’s bhangra aerobics too. The lively, foot-tapping rhythms of Punjabi folk find a place in her dance and fitness regimen.Quality is something Jewandah doesn’t compromise on. Therefore, she doesn’t enroll more than 15 students in each class. Hailing from an army background, Jewandah was among the few Indians who performed at the closing ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.We recommend: Bhangra aerobics.Expert touch: Jewandah is a certified teacher and fitness expert from New York. The other instructors are trained by her.Where: 34C, Chandigarh; puneetshub.comCost: Rs 2,000 onward.USP: The only fitness centre to offer bhangra aerobics, Zumba, power yoga and Bollywood dancing.-Ekta MarwahaMoksha Himalaya SpaBefore the summer heat takes its toll on you, head out for a weekend of complete relaxation away from the dirt and grime of the city at the Moksha Himalaya Spa in Parwanoo, just an hour away from Chandigarh. The 62-suite wellness sanctuary is well equipped with yoga and meditation rooms where guests can practice under expert supervision.The main draw here though, is their luxurious spa. Set in the lush Shivalik valley, at the base of the Himalayas, this spa offers elaborate rituals that are a great way to detox your body as well as provide muscular relief and relaxation. Try the three-hour Moksha signature journey in which local garden herbs are used to massage your body, followed by a bath in tea blends and a deep tissue massage with hot herbal ball compress. Other highlights include outdoor heated infinity lap pools, infrared sauna, Ayurvedic treatments rooms, a trendy nail bar, hair salon, and Thai massage stations.We recommend: Moksha Signature Journey.Expert touch: Experienced therapists, all trained by renowned spa academies.Where: Moksha Himalaya Spa Resort, Parwanoo. Cost: Rs 5,000 onward.Tel: 086790 32340; mokshaspa.comUSP: A luxurious spa experience in a beautiful, private sanctuary of wellness in Shivalik valley.Burn GymBarely two years old, Burn Gym has revolutionised the concept of gymming in Punjab. Spread over 7,500 square feet, it is not just the largest gym in Panchkula but also the biggest in the Tricity.Brainchild of Pankaj Kasrija, the health and fitness club provides state-of-the-art gym and spa equipment for the region’s wellness enthusiasts. The selling point here is the idea that created a health club where all sorts of services could be availed of under one roof. With people working out to the tunes of Punjabi pop music, the energy levels inside the gym are quite high. From yoga and pilates to kick boxing and abs workouts- you name it and you can get it here. What’s unique is their concept of Burn Olympics- a holiday package or spa voucher given to the person who loses the maximum weight.The gym has more than 12 trainers who are always ready to assist you. A nutritionist is there to suggest the appropriate diet chart for you. For those who want to snack on titbits while working out can feast on protein shakes and low-calorie sandwiches at Abdiets cafe, a tiny health cart, right outside the gym area.We recommend: The personal training sessions, which chart a holistic wellness plan.Expert touch: All certified health trainers are hired by the gym. Their spa boasts of 12 fully trained masseurs.Where: Sector 11, Panchkula.Cost: Annual membership is priced between Rs16,000-Rs 23,000.Tel: 09780612000; burngym.inUSP: One of the few gyms with a health cafe that offers protein shakes and low-cal dishes.-Ekta MarwahaHeadmastersThis spa is proof that true luxury isn’t always damaging to your wallet. Spread over a whopping 20,000 square feet across four levels, Headmasters is one of Asia’s largest salon-cum-spas. With simple but chic interiors and plenty of natural light, the ambience soothes you instantly.From the plethora of massages offered, Cloud 9 is particularly recommended. A 60 minute full body massage followed by fifteen minutes on the hot floating water bed, it surely sets your worries floating away. Follow this with a steam and hot shower, and you are rejuvenated for the day.And while you pamper yourself in their most luxurious rooms, your children can spend time at a special salon created for them. They can either go for a cool haircut, attend a story telling session or hang out in the play area with seats designed as rockets and fighter planes.We recommend: Cloud 9 therapy.Expert touch: Each therapist is trained in-house.At: Sector 8 C, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh. Cost: Rs 1,500-15,000.Tel: 9988880327.USP: Free organic juices, tea and coffee and other refreshing drinks at the juice bar in the spa.-Ekta MarwahaSeven Seas Spa “The Seven Seas spa” brings together, Ayurveda, Oriental therapies, mineral exquisites from the dead sea and various western spa therapies. The spa follows the traditional massage therapies and is completely a no-machine zone.Their in-house experts are friendly and helpful; they recommend treatments and give post massage consultation as well. Before undergoing any spa treatment, the customer undergoes a clinical check-up, where their medical history is examined and the most suitable treatment is recommended. In addition to the spa, they also have a well-equipped Oxygym. The elaborate set-up here offers several fitness facilities-a multispeciality gym, a poolside spa, an aqua pool plus a variety of other services ensuring that there is something for everyone. Well-equipped with the latest fitness equipments, Oxygym offers all kinds of cardio and advanced weight training facilities under expert supervision.We recommend: Shirodhara.Expert touch: All therapists are diploma or degree holders and also undergo in-house training.Where: Hotel Mountview, Sector 10, Chandigarh. Cost: Oxygym Membership for Rs 32,000; Treatments for Rs 1,000 onward.Tel: 0172 4670640-41.USP: Green surroundings; a spa and a swimming pool along with the gym provide an edge.-Monita Sharma read more

This Saturday’s Homecoming game features a a red-hot West Virginia team which has snuck into the Top 10 in both the AP Poll (No. 10) and the Amway Coaches Poll (No. 9).The Mountaineers are currently favored by four points even though they opened as a 2.5-point for their trip to Stillwater this weekend.Holgorsen’s team is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference, holding each Big 12 team under 20 points. That includes holding Texas Tech to 17 in Lubbock and TCU to 10. Oklahoma gave up 59 to the Red Raiders in a win on the road Saturday night!The Mountaineers are only allowing 17.8 points per game which is second in the Big 12, while still scoring 33.0 points per game themselves.Oklahoma State will have to show up for four quarters and shore up things on defense if they want to get Mike Gundy his 100th win as a Homecoming present. While you’re here, we’d like you to consider subscribing to Pistols Firing and becoming a PFB+ member. It’s a big ask from us to you, but it also comes with a load of benefits like ad-free browsing (ads stink!), access to our premium room in The Chamber and monthly giveaways.The other thing it does is help stabilize our business into the future. As it turns out, sending folks on the road to cover games and provide 24/7 Pokes coverage like the excellent article you just read costs money. Because of our subscribers, we’ve been able to improve our work and provide the best OSU news and community anywhere online. Help us keep that up. read more

Stillwell!The last time I saw a scoring drive without a pass was probably when I covered Stillwell High School during my junior year of high school— Dekota Gregory (@dekotagregory) November 5, 2016Yesssss.Now I’m dreaming of Vincent Taylor making a perfect option pitch to Darrion Daniels. This has to happen. #okstate— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) November 5, 2016Crucify him.Rudolph’s streak of 163 passes without an INT ends on a pick-six to give K-State a 23-21 lead.— Kendrick Marshall (@KD_Marshall) November 5, 2016Hahaha!K-State had a good game plan today pic.twitter.com/Qb5ldexQuS— Blake Zimmerman (@bpzim) November 5, 2016Lol.This Kansas State loss is a big blow to those of us hoping to see a tie atop the Big 12 between eight 7-5 teams.— David Ubben (@davidubben) November 5, 2016Yes.This team should be 8-1 and in top 10 discussion. Crazy considering it doesn’t feel like that.— Adam Lunt (@AdamLunt817) November 5, 2016Dat man.Mike Gundy’s hair is spectacular. pic.twitter.com/GSvBLWq3sz— Will Manso (@WillManso) November 5, 2016 Mike Gundy’s hair literally sways back and forth when he turns his head now.— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 5, 2016 That’s mean. https://t.co/jx7ZpJhnDo— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 5, 2016TweetsYeah, boy.OKST QB Mason Rudolph is improving every week – he may end up a 1st rounder. Some draftniks and teams will love his big frame, arm, accuracy— Chris B. Brown (@smartfootball) November 5, 2016Todd!Now just 99 away from 200! pic.twitter.com/pY7L3g1Py9— Todd Monken (@CoachToddMonken) November 5, 2016Kyle!Try “Rushed for 345 yards and still lost.” See if that works. #OKstate pic.twitter.com/eES24cICVC— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) November 6, 2016Duing.Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth or outschemed by a wizard— Dave Hudson (@okc_dave) November 5, 2016 It always felt a little forced to include these in the notebook (which I wrote here) so I’m just dropping my favorite plays (via Vine — RIP Vine) and tweets from other people in here. The plays are not meant to be an exhaustive list. Just some leftovers from what we didn’t look at in the 10 Thoughts or notebook. Hope you enjoy.PlaysGreat angle here.Jordan Sterns picks off K-State QB Jesse Ertz to seal #okstate’s victory in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/XIcsrsb4EF— Brady Moore (@BradyMoore405) November 5, 2016This got overlooked, but it was awesome.Gundy. Badger. Don’t. Care. https://t.co/dXTG15hrAU— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 5, 2016This was an absurd pick.Insane play by D.J. Reed for Kansas State, and that might do it. https://t.co/VE3SIFJsdM— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 5, 2016Dimes on dimes on dimes.Rudolph to Jarwin (again!) https://t.co/hpah90SNqc— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 5, 2016More on dimes.This pass from Rudolph to Seales was amazing earlier in the TD drive. https://t.co/mERZ8uarv4— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 5, 2016[Covers eyes]Rudolph thinks he’s Michael Vick. https://t.co/25ZtyzVRDj— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 5, 2016You don’t see this very often. While you’re here, we’d like you to consider subscribing to Pistols Firing and becoming a PFB+ member. It’s a big ask from us to you, but it also comes with a load of benefits like ad-free browsing (ads stink!), access to our premium room in The Chamber and monthly giveaways.The other thing it does is help stabilize our business into the future. As it turns out, sending folks on the road to cover games and provide 24/7 Pokes coverage like the excellent article you just read costs money. Because of our subscribers, we’ve been able to improve our work and provide the best OSU news and community anywhere online. Help us keep that up. read more

If you were a fan of Oklahoma State football in 1991 when OSU went a 0-10-1, you’ll be shocked at what I’m about to tell you OSU is doing in 2017.In the past month, Oklahoma State has landed commitments from two of the top 10 prospects in the state of Oklahoma. And the coaching staff hasn’t done it by fishing out under-the-radar guys like it has been known to do in the past. Big-time recruits are choosing the Cowboys early in the process in a way that is nearly stunning to see happen in real time.CJ Moore, a Tulsa Union wide receiver and four-star prospect, picked Oklahoma State on Monday over Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Alabama …. the list goes on. Bryce Bray, a Bixby High School offensive guard, picked OSU after a short courting process by the local Oklahoma Sooners. It was a straight up pick. OU wanted Bray. Ohio State, among a slew of other big name schools, wanted Moore. OSU got both.What is happening?Right now, OSU’s 2018 class has gone from just outside the top 30 nationally, to a top 15 class. And the Cowboys have done so by going toe-to-toe on the recruiting trail — and winning — against the bluebloods in the state (OU) and even nationally (Ohio State, Alabama).Here’s a look at the top 15 recruits in Oklahoma, via 247Sports. By count, Oklahoma State has three. Oklahoma has three. Texas has two. And Ohio State has one. tOSU won’t offer every top rated Oklahoma kid, mind you, but even one recruiting battle win over Urban Meyer is a big deal and perhaps a sign of strengthened recruiting prowess and respect locally.OSU’s 10-man class isn’t complete just yet, and it could add more from the state of Oklahoma down the road. Of the five uncommitted prospects, let’s take a look at each and predict where they might fall.Jalen Redmon — Midwest City defensive endRedmon recently released a list of his top schools and excluded Oklahoma State from his consideration. Arizona State, Kansas State, Memphis, Nebraska and Oklahoma are all contenders, but I think he stays close.Prediction: OklahomaSean Shaw Jr. — Jones wide receiverShaw is a big target at 6-foot-5 and has the leaping ability to become a red-zone magnet at the next level. But neither OSU or OU have offered, and I don’t think that happens soon. He could be a late addition for one of the state schools, but I think he’ll go outside the state to play. Like Tyler Lockett, both state schools might regret that decision later. If OU offers, he’ll be a Sooner.Prediction: Iowa StateOwen Condon — Bishop McGuinness offensive tacklePeople tell me Condon wants to go west coast, but I’m not sold on it. I think he will stay local — either Arkansas, Oklahoma State, or even SMU being big contenders. He’s got 17 offers and plenty of options, and even though OSU has four offensive linemen committed in 2018, I think Condon becomes No. 5.Prediction: Oklahoma StateJames Palmer — Westmoore tight endOSU was first to the party for Palmer, and so far the only Power 5 offer for the 6-foot-4 Westmoore standout. With OSU landing Nic McTear in 2018, I get the feeling OSU has cooled on Palmer. Colorado State and Arkansas State are in the mix. But I think an offer that comes in the future catches his eye. If OSU wants him later in the process, I think he could teeter that direction.Prediction: TulsaWayne Jones — Owasso safetyIf not for Josh Proctor at Owasso, people would be drooling over Jones, who has equal talent as Proctor and perhaps a bigger upside. Jones is a 6-foot safety and Michigan State, Illinois, K-State and Memphis are all vying for his commitment.  I think he lands with Oklahoma State, who became one of his first offers early in the process.Prediction: Oklahoma State While you’re here, we’d like you to consider subscribing to Pistols Firing and becoming a PFB+ member. It’s a big ask from us to you, but it also comes with a load of benefits like ad-free browsing (ads stink!), access to our premium room in The Chamber and monthly giveaways.The other thing it does is help stabilize our business into the future. As it turns out, sending folks on the road to cover games and provide 24/7 Pokes coverage like the excellent article you just read costs money. Because of our subscribers, we’ve been able to improve our work and provide the best OSU news and community anywhere online. Help us keep that up. read more

While you’re here, we’d like you to consider subscribing to Pistols Firing and becoming a PFB+ member. It’s a big ask from us to you, but it also comes with a load of benefits like ad-free browsing (ads stink!), access to our premium room in The Chamber and monthly giveaways.The other thing it does is help stabilize our business into the future. As it turns out, sending folks on the road to cover games and provide 24/7 Pokes coverage like the excellent article you just read costs money. Because of our subscribers, we’ve been able to improve our work and provide the best OSU news and community anywhere online. Help us keep that up. The Reload is PFB’s recruiting recap, catching you up to speed on the latest news and rumors regarding Oklahoma State recruiting.JUCO DT Emmit Gooden visiting Oklahoma StateJust a day after naming Oklahoma State in his top schools, junior college defensive tackle standout Emmit Gooden announced he’ll be on campus in Stillwater this weekend for an unofficial visit.Gooden is a former four-star defensive end who signed with Mississippi State out of high school but failed to qualify academically. He remained committed to the Bulldogs until January, where he opened up his recruitment and has since garnered offers from OU, Georgia, Arkansas, TCU, OSU and others.Gooden has transformed his body from a defensive end into a 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive tackle who is entering his final year of eligibility at Independence Community College in Kansas. He’s on track to graduate in December.Louisiana safety showing strong interest in OSUOSU is moving in on its targets at safety, and it’s time to officially keep a close eye on Bossier City safety Israel Mukuamu. The three-star 2018 recruit is high on OSU and has a developing relationship with Dan Hammerschmidt.“When I first got to Louisiana I followed the safeties coach, Coach Hammerschmidt on Twitter and I inboxed him and sent him my film and he liked it right away,” he told Rivals. “I went up there for a junior day and he said he was going to be at my spring practice and before spring they offered me and I was surprised because it was out of nowhere. Since then they have really been on me. Coach Hammerschmidt really likes me a lot and I really like them as well.”Mukuamu has 14 offers from the likes of South Carolina, Ole Miss and SMU, but his relationship with the head mullet could be a major factor.“When I talked to [Gundy] I went to his office and he said they really liked the way I played and that their safeties coach would have a position for me no matter what and they’re just waiting for me to commit. He said he believes that I’m the guy for them and he feels that I’m going to graduate and in three or four years I can be the next face of the program.”OSU signed multiple safeties in the 2017 class, however, the 2018 class is void of commitments at the position unless you count Kolby Peel.2019 WR Garrett Wilson offeredLake Travis is loaded with talent, and 2019 wide receiver Garrett Wilson might be the cream of the crop. The four-star prospect now has a double-digit offer list highlighted by Ole Miss, Baylor, TCU, Wisconsin and Arkansas. He’s one of only two returning starters for Lake Travis on offense headed into the 2017 season, so his numbers are likely to explode.Along with Wilson, OSU also has offers out to 2019 top-100 wide receivers Devonta Lee and Jordan Whittington, among others. Wilson recorded 699 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his breakout sophomore campaign.2018 LB/DE Tyree Wilson offeredMike Gundy is reaching his hand in Mike Leach’s cookie jar with his latest linebacker offer to Tyree Wilson of West Rusk, Texas, who is committed to Washington State. He’s the ninth East Texas offer from OSU. Wilson is an outside linebacker and 2018 prospect who has picked up multiple offers this week alone.Wilson is a late riser on the recruiting trail who had 74 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, one interception (TD), and two forced fumbles in his junior season. He also holds offers from Tulsa, Memphis and Tulane.2020 ATH Kelvontay Dixon offeredThings just got more interesting for 2018.OSU’s latest athlete/running back offer for 2020, Kelvontay Dixon, is the younger brother of blue-chip tailback Keaontay Ingram, OSU’s No. 1 target for 2018. Dixon plays running back and cornerback for Carthage.OSU does not hold a commitment at running back for 2018, however a commitment from Ingram, a four-star prospect with 20+ offers, would do wonders in rounding out the class. Although Dixon, for his part, is obviously a can’t-miss prospect, OSU is looking to sell a package deal to the talented brother duo from Carthage. We’ll see how this plays out. read more

The winner of the Biletnikoff Award will be presented on December 7 at the College Football Awards Show on ESPN. 2013Brandin CooksOregon State YearWinnerSchool 2000Antonio BryantPitt 2012Marqise LeeUSC 2004Braylon EdwardsMichigan 2005Mike HassOregon State 2003Larry FitzgeraldPitt 2001Josh ReedLSU 2007Michael CrabtreeTexas Tech 2006Calvin JohnsonGeorgia Tech 2015Corey ColemanBaylor James Washington and Jalen McCleskey have been named to the 2017 Biletnikoff Award Pre-Season Watch List, it was announced on Tuesday.The dynamic Cowboy receiving duo, which shall henceforth be referred to as the “Killer J’s,” combined for 2,192 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns last season and enter 2017 with high expectations behind the arm of senior quarterback Mason Rudolph.Washington opted to spurn a chance at an early exit and NFL entry by returning for his senior season, and as a result, he likely enters the 2017 season as a front-runner to win the award. He leads all active receivers from Power Five conferences with 2,923 career receiving yards and a remarkable 19.2 yards per reception average through three seasons, and would join former OSU receiver Justin Blackmon as the only Cowboy to win the award.Here’s a look at each winner since 2000. 2011Justin BlackmonOSU 2014Amari CooperAlabama 2010Justin BlackmonOSU 2016Dede WestbrookOU 2009Golden TateNotre Dame 2002Charles RogersMichigan State 2008Michael CrabtreeTexas Tech While you’re here, we’d like you to consider subscribing to Pistols Firing and becoming a PFB+ member. It’s a big ask from us to you, but it also comes with a load of benefits like ad-free browsing (ads stink!), access to our premium room in The Chamber and monthly giveaways.The other thing it does is help stabilize our business into the future. As it turns out, sending folks on the road to cover games and provide 24/7 Pokes coverage like the excellent article you just read costs money. Because of our subscribers, we’ve been able to improve our work and provide the best OSU news and community anywhere online. Help us keep that up. read more

Let’s take a look at some news from around the league over the last week or two.Title Game ConundrumCollege football fans (generally) win with the current setup of the Big 12 title game: the top two teams will play each other. But coaches feel differently for good reason.ESPN reported on Friday that the league’s coaches voted 7-3 in favor of divisions.Adding divisions would have been an easy fix to avoid situations like 2015. Cross-division games could come first on the schedule and be played by the end of October. A round-robin schedule guarantees a rematch, but divisions assured that the games would take place at least a month apart, most likely more.The No. 1 vs. No. 2 plans could have offered the game much of college football wanted to see in 2014, a rematch between Baylor and TCU with a possible College Football Playoff berth on the line. However, a win wouldn’t have guaranteed either a spot, and in the event of chaos, it also would have eliminated any chance the Big 12 has of putting two teams in the playoff as long as these rules are in place. [Sports On Earth]AdChoices广告For the sake of the league putting a team in the playoff, the lack of divisions is a killer by adding potentially unnecessarily difficult obstacles.The Fifth PowerA power ranking of the five top conferences is fluid—but the Big 12 is on alert.The Big 12 has slipped to fifth-wheel status in a sport that rewards the top four conferences. It may be cyclical, it may be reversible – or it may be the beginning of the end as we creep toward new media-rights contracts and the possibility of another realignment spasm sometime next decade. [Yahoo Sports]The general feel of a league doesn’t really depend on how beefy its middle is (see: Big Ten and ACC) but rather the highs the top tier can aspire to.Lone RangersWest Virginia’s awkward (geographic) fit in the Big 12 is even worse when you consider the alternatives.West Virginians must feel a little discouraged when checking out United States maps. It’s 871 miles from Morgantown to Ames, Iowa, WVU’s closest Big 12 neighbor. Of the 43 schools in the Big Ten, SEC and ACC, 37 of them are closer to Morgantown than is Ames. Twenty of those 43 are less than 450 miles.West Virginia is in the heart of the expanded Big Ten and ACC, and is on the SEC fringe. Yet the Mountaineers are in the Big 12. [NewsOK]The article dives into potential new rivals but points to the Mountaineers contentedness as what makes them the best fit.Scholarship SolutionsBig 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby proposed a solution to the funky scholarship situation at hand: real and conditional scholarships to recruits.“If you wanna get the recruiting process over, the institution can issue a letter of intent. You’ve got 14 days to sign it. And maybe the window runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15, or maybe it runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 1, and you get it over before the postseason. I don’t know why there can’t be a window where you offer the scholarship. If the student-athlete wants to conclude the recruitment process and the institution knows they’d like to make a decision, they go ahead and do it.”Bowlsby said he’s heard a statistic that the average FBS team issues 233 verbal scholarship offers in a given year. I can’t say if that’s correct, but it definitely sounds correct. Signing class sizes max out around 25, and there’s no question that teams offer scholarships to many times more players than they have slots. That leads to a culture where there are “real” scholarship offers and others that aren’t “committable.” [SB Nation]It’s interesting to hear the head of a league taking a stance like this – in that some would benefit (early offer schools) and others wouldn’t (brand names holding out for big dogs).Quick ThoughtsTulsaWorld’s Bill Haisten is buying in on Tom HermanBaylor’s Matt Rhule is impressively owning up and helping Baylor move onBig 12 is still withholding Baylor’s revenue for cooperationBill Snyder is recovering well from cancer and insists his son takes over when he’s doneBaylor’s leading returning rusher may miss significant time this year While you’re here, we’d like you to consider subscribing to Pistols Firing and becoming a PFB+ member. It’s a big ask from us to you, but it also comes with a load of benefits like ad-free browsing (ads stink!), access to our premium room in The Chamber and monthly giveaways.The other thing it does is help stabilize our business into the future. As it turns out, sending folks on the road to cover games and provide 24/7 Pokes coverage like the excellent article you just read costs money. Because of our subscribers, we’ve been able to improve our work and provide the best OSU news and community anywhere online. Help us keep that up. read more