Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Releases First New Album In Five Years [Review/Stream]
Virtuoso saxophonist, flutist, singer-songwriter, and a bandleader extraordinaire, Karl Denson is already walking this earth a living legend. In addition to two-plus decades with the trend-setting Greyboy Allstars and his own KDTU project, his album credits include Allman Brothers Band, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette and Fred Wesley, Slightly Stoopid, Gov’t Mule, Soulive, and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few. It’s no secret that in 2015, Denson was drafted to replace the dearly-departed Bobby Keys on saxophone for the titanic Rolling Stones touring band. That kind of high-profile placement has transmitted into a fervent renewed interest in Denson’s solo endeavors, and with that Karl arrives at a new beginning of sorts.From an album perspective, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe has been quiet for a few years, but Karl D. and company return to the jazz-funk zeitgeist with Gnomes and Badgers, the first release on his own imprint Seven Spheres Records. The man they affectionately call “The Diesel” regards the recent effort as a special brand of blues, but also a conceptually-political record, too; Denson has said he was inspired by Stevie Wonder’s iconic Hotter than July when conceiving and recording Gnomes and Badgers. Denson told the San Diego Tribune,I’ve always thought the idea behind my music was to make people happy, because that’s what it does for me,” he explained. “And so this record, it’s kind of a blues record. There are some love songs, some political songs (and) some songs just about humanity. And hopefully, with that introduction, I get to talk about things that are important to me and, you know, just us becoming more evolved as people — and dancing while we do it.Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe’s lineup is currently comprised of longtime brass-foil Chris Littlefield (trumpet/flugelhorn), guitarists DJ Williams and Seth Freeman, Greyboy Allstars rhythm section Chris Stillwell (bass) and Zak Najor (drums), rounded out by veteran keyboardist David Veith. To complement the members of KDTU, Denson is joined on the 11-track LP by the likes of Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk and The Neville Brothers), Lukas Nelson, keyboardists Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones) and Kenneth Crouch. Karl teams with previous collaborator Anders Osborne, who co-writes two songs on the album with his old friend. Gnomes and Badgers’ curious cover art speaks to what was in Denson’s heart when composing the material heard on the record; the illustration features an angry gnome and a fuming badger, each donning a staid suit and tie and both pointing at one another in an argumentative fashion.The bandleader explained to the San Diego Tribune,I immediately thought this is a really good concept for us to roll out,” Denson explained. “I’ve been feeling that, as Americans and as human beings, we’re not having enough civil dialogue. We’re becoming too tribal. So the idea of the gnomes and badgers was to create a little world where these (beings) are completely different from each other, but they manage to talk about things and have meaningful discussions about important things without becoming rude or intolerant or degrading.The album’s opening salvo comes out determined to establish a strong vibe; “What If You Knew” is a driving groove machine with a fatback bottom end, chicken scratch guitars and a shimmying rhythm rumble. Next up is a swaggering take on “Gossip”, a beloved 1969 Cyril Neville tune written by The Meters’ Leo Nocentelli. KDTU uncorks the slow and dirty funk, while Denson mashes up on the Uptown Ruler’s raucous vocal. The song keeps its Bayou charm intact, and is performed pretty faithful to the Meters-backed original.Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – “Change My Way”“Change My Way” is the lead single and video from Gnomes & Badgers, a Denson writing collaboration with celebrated New Orleans bluesman Osborne. The guitarist/singer-songwriter is a veteran of the Crescent City scene and boasts a deep history and familiarity with KDTU going back to when Anders went on the road with KDTU to perform the Rolling Stones classic LP Sticky Fingers back in 2011. “Change My Way” is another dirty, bluesy dirge with staccato pianos, a Gospelized chorus, as guitarist DJ Williams blaxploitation riffage keeping the vibes right on time.Another single released to the public before the record itself, “I’m Your Biggest Fan” leaps out the gates with chunky, dueling guitars and a healthy slab of attitude, somewhat of a nod to the frenetic funk of KDTU jams past. Same for the multi-faceted, halcyon 70’s throwback “Can We Trade”, which finds the Diesel taking one of few precious alto-saxophone solos found on Gnomes and Badgers. Of note is subdued slide guitar from Arkansas-born Seth Freeman, and the glistening chemistry between Denson and longtime trumpet/flugelhorn maven Chris Littlefield. Established over two decades of sharing sound and space on the crowded KDTU stage, Karl’s cohorts each make themselves known on “Can We Trade”, a slammin’ number that has monster jam potential whenever introduced to their fiery live set.Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – “I’m Your Biggest Fan”“Millvale” is a joint that’s been in the KDTU rotation for a few years now, it’s studio rendition a syncopated strut with bubblin’ tenor sax and some whistling Hammond B3 organ. The high-energy song is topped off by a bouncing percussion section on which “Millvale” rides off into a blustery jaw-harp/saxophone conversation that takes the listener down South without sacrificing even a modicum of groove. “Something Sweet” is more of the aforementioned bluesy-trip, this more late-60’s crunch then 70’s smooth, with somewhat of a N’awlinz detour on the sax solo and some super-clean Keef-meets-Isaiah Sharkey type twang from DJ Williams’ axe.“Falling Down” is the second Osborne collaboration, and it sees Karl once again soar atop an uptempo, Latin-tinged rhythm, his R&B vocal completed by a lusty flute melody. “Time to Pray” reveals another Gospel-drenched chorus, even more flute-down magic and healthy helping of dueling bluesy guitars. “Time to Pray” chugs along like some early 70’s soul with yet another strong lead vocal performance from Denson. Gnomes and Badgers finishes strong with“Smart Boy”, a rocker that owes a debt of influence to the Glimmer Twins but still funks hard enough for the Diesel train. The final composition is the LP’s most sprawling and ambitious number, as “Just Remember” covers quite an expanse of geography despite its minimalist approach, an ethos harking back to the Blue Note rare groove era. The song delivers a massive Hammond B3 bully sesh, a decidedly more sultry slide from Freeman, and a bright, fantastic vocal arrangement to drive “Just Remember” home. The nine-minute opus serves to wrap up Gnomes and Badgers, a tremendous return to form from Denson, KDTU, and the plethora of collaborators who helped cook this up in the Diesel’s kitchen.I’m really happy with the whole record. I think, overall, it feels like my most complete statement in terms of the songs, from ‘What If You Knew’ and ‘Time to Pray’ to ‘Change My Way’ and ‘Can We Trade.’ Those are kind of like the ‘message songs’ on the record. And then ‘Falling Down’ and ‘Just Remembered’ are a couple of ‘dream songs’ — like, I actually dreamed those songs. So having those come to life is really rewarding, too. Denson said to the San Diego Tribune.Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – Gnomes & Badgers – Full AlbumKarl Denson’s Tiny Universe is on tour throughout March and April, in support of Gnomes and Badgers. The band will also appear several times in NOLA during Jazz Fest, returning to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival proper for the first time since 2005. Head to the band’s website for more information.[words: B.Getz]
Insufficient amounts in early childhood tied to cognitive, behavioral problems Related Sleep deficiency in the U.S. estimated at 70 percent, with $410 billion price tag Study flags later risks for sleep-deprived kids Calculator shows hidden costs of fatigued workforce This weekend’s change to daylight saving time means an extra hour of light in the evening. The shift is a milestone on the way to barbecues and beach trips, but adjusting to the loss of an hour’s sleep can be difficult, especially because so many of us don’t get enough rest in the first place.Jeanne Duffy is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a sleep researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She took a break from a study exploring how sleep and metabolism interact — inadequate sleep has been tied to obesity and diabetes — to shed light on the growing body of research linking our sleep habits and our health, and to offer suggestions on the best way to bounce back from losing an hour when we “spring ahead.” Q&AJeanne DuffyGAZETTE: I’ve heard health called a three-legged stool, with the first two legs being diet and exercise and the third being sleep. What has science shown us about the importance of getting adequate sleep?DUFFY: We used to think that sleep just made you feel better mentally — you’re better able to pay attention or to focus. But as more and more research has been done on sleep, we now recognize that it’s important for many aspects of both physical health and mental health. And whether you have a sleep disorder or you’re not getting enough sleep because of lifestyle choices, a lack of sufficient quality sleep can eventually cause you to have medical problems. Insufficient sleep has even been shown to lead to psychological problems.GAZETTE: Does a lack of sleep only make underlying conditions worse, or can it have direct health effects on its own, regardless of whether there’s an underlying condition?DUFFY: There’s some evidence that lack of sleep may cause you to take longer to recover from a particular medical problem that you may already have. But there’s also a lot of evidence now that lack of sleep can directly cause certain medical conditions. For example, if you’re chronically not getting enough sleep or not getting quality sleep, that can lead to obesity and metabolic problems like diabetes. It can lead to cardiovascular disease. There are some sleep disorders that are very strongly related to people developing cardiac disorders, such as heart attacks or strokes. And getting inadequate sleep makes your immune system less efficient. So if you’re exposed to a virus, you’re more likely to catch that virus, to catch a cold or the flu.,GAZETTE: I’ve been hearing a lot about sleep and memory formation. Is there a very strong connection there?DUFFY: There is. You’re hearing a lot about it for two reasons: because of the aging population, and also because research in that area only started happening maybe 10 or 15 years ago.It’s really rapidly developing. Sleep and memory research is converging with dementia research. There are some interactions that we don’t understand yet, but it is looking like quality sleep of sufficient duration is important in preventing or delaying the onset of dementia. There is also now evidence that treating undiagnosed sleep disorders may slow the rate at which cognitive changes occur in people with cognitive impairments or dementia.For people without cognitive problems, there’s a lot of evidence that you need sleep for two aspects of memory. You need to be alert enough when you’re taking in new information to actually be able to encode that information. Then you need to have slept after you encoded the new information to retain it better so that you can retrieve that newly learned information.GAZETTE: How are we doing as a nation? Are we sleeping enough?DUFFY: We’re generally not sleeping enough, and most of the surveys show that about half of adults are not getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep on a regular basis. What’s even more concerning is that a lot of teenagers and children are not getting enough sleep. They’re at the point in life when their brains are developing — they’re learning, and they’re in school, so it’s an even more important issue for them not to be getting enough sleep.GAZETTE: Let’s talk about the current study. What are the specific questions that you’re looking at?DUFFY: This is a follow-up study to one that we did a few years ago. The main question that we’re looking at is how disruptions to sleep and the biological clock — the circadian timing system — impact metabolism. There’s evidence that if you don’t sleep enough, you can gain weight and have metabolic changes that could eventually lead to diabetes. That’s one of the things that we’re studying.We’re taking healthy individuals who have been getting enough sleep. Some of them are randomized to have their sleep shortened for several weeks and we do assessments of how their metabolic system responds when they eat a meal. We look at how that changes in the group whose sleep has been shortened versus the group who sleeps a normal amount. Also, we are looking at whether any metabolic changes in the sleep-restricted group worsen over the course of the three weeks. Then we have a third group that is given enough opportunity to sleep, but on a schedule that will disrupt their biological clock, kind of like having chronic jet lag. There’s now some evidence that if you’re eating at the wrong times of day, that could cause you to have similar negative metabolic changes to that from insufficient sleep.GAZETTE: We’re coming up on the springtime change, where we get a little more daylight in the afternoon but lose an hour’s sleep. People complain about this every year. How big a deal is an hour’s shift in our sleep schedule?DUFFY: It is something that we should normally be able to adjust to within a few days. The problem is that we as a society are so sleep-deprived that when we lose that additional hour of sleep, it really throws us. In fact, there have been studies done both here in the U.S. and in the U.K. that show that on the Monday after that time zone change, there’s about a 10 percent increase in automobile accidents. That does not happen in the fall when the clocks change the other way and we get an extra hour of sleep. People are kind of at their limit in terms of chronic sleep deprivation, and that extra hour of lost sleep flips them over the limit and makes them more vulnerable to things like getting in an accident.GAZETTE: Any recommendations on how best to manage it?DUFFY: The best recommendation that we have is to try to get more sleep on the nights leading up to the daylight saving time change so you are carrying less chronic sleep debt. Then that hour of lost sleep will hopefully have less of an impact on you than it otherwise would. In addition, recognize that you are much more vulnerable to having an accident due to inattention from sleep loss, especially those first couple of days. Drink an extra cup of coffee or, if you can, take the train to work, and go to bed a little earlier as well.
Based on Levinson’s 1982 film, with direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall, a book by Levinson and music and lyrics by Crow, Diner tells the story of burgeoning adulthood and friendship. Christmas, Baltimore: 1959. A circle of childhood friends reunite for the upcoming wedding of one of them. Well, only if his fiancée passes a football trivia test. From the comfort of their all-night diner, the men, now in their early-twenties, confront the realities of adulthood: marriage, careers, money and the ever-mysterious opposite sex. But no matter where life takes them, they know they’re welcome back at the diner, the one place they’ll always belong. The production will feature set design by Derek McLane with scenery adapted by James Kronzer, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, sound design by Lane Elms and music direction by Lon Hoyt. Along with Thomas as Fenwick and Klena as Boogie, the ensemble cast will include Whitney Bashor (Bridges of Madison County) as Barbara, Bryan Fenkart (Memphis) as Modell, Aaron Finley (Rock of Ages) as Billy, Adam Kantor (Rent) as Eddie, Tess Soltau (The Addams Family) as Elyse, John Schiappa as Older Boogie (Rocky), Josh Grisetti as Shrevie and Erika Henningsen as Beth. The cast is rounded out by Nova Y. Payton, John Leslie Wolfe, MaryLee Adams, Mitch Marois, Maria Egler, Colleen Hayes, David Little, Ben Lurye, Lou Steele and Russell Sunday. Matthew James Thomas (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Pippin), Derek Klena (Wicked, The Bridges of Madison County) and more will star in the previously reported world premiere of the Sheryl Crow-Barry Levinson musical Diner. After initially being Broadway-bound, Diner will play December 9 through January 25, 2015 at Virginia’s Signature Theatre. View Comments
Singer, songwriter and performer Prince died recently, saddening fans across the globe. Reports estimate his estate to be worth approximately $300 million, and he died “intestate,” or without a valid will.The passing of the “Purple One” saddened me, and I began to think about the number of people who do not have a will. My estate is not even in the ballpark of $300 million, but I do want to ensure my assets are distributed to my loved ones according to my wishes.You may not have an estate like Prince’s, but you probably still need a will. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension encourages Georgians to consider the following information, and to plan ahead.Some Americans think that only super-wealthy individuals need wills, but truthfully, a will should be created by anyone who meets the required age limit, owns assets and wants to determine who receives their assets after their death. Dying without a valid will can cause emotional and financial headaches for those left behind, regardless of the value of your estate.In addition to allowing you to decide who will receive your assets, a will also allows you to name a person to manage and oversee the distribution of your assets, called an “executor.”There are four stipulations needed to meet the legal requirements for a will in Georgia: You must be at least 14 years old.You must be of sufficient mind and memory when you create the document.The will must be signed by you and witnessed by at least two people who are not named beneficiaries in the will.The will must be in writing.Before you run out and scribble a will on a napkin, please keep in mind that a will not drafted by a lawyer may contain loopholes that can be contested in a court of law.So what happens if you die without having a will? When a person dies intestate, state intestate laws govern how and to whom property is distributed.You can also die intestate when you have a written will, as the will may be deemed invalid if you encountered life-changing circumstances – got married, had a child, adopted a child – but didn’t update your will. When a person dies intestate, it usually takes longer to settle the estate.I have personally witnessed families pulled apart by fighting over estates. I have seen those battles last for years, with substantial estate assets wasted on legal fees. While there are a number of online resources for writing your own last will and testament, avoid pitfalls by hiring a lawyer to draft your will.
ShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr Think about the last product or service you bought. What drove your decision? If a combination of price, speed, and simplicity was the key—with a heavy emphasis on the simple—you’re in good company. A 2018 study found that 55% of consumers surveyed were willing to pay more for simpler experiences and 64% said they’re more likely to recommend a brand because it provided simpler experiences and communications.1 Unfortunately, “simple” can be hard to find. A 2019 report found consumers ranked simplicity as one of their most important needs and that “brands are under-delivering on simplicity, with about half of consumers saying brands are not meeting their needs.”2Simple doesn’t mean less valuable. When LIMRA released the annual Insurance Barometer in April 2019, one of its top findings confirmed simplicity matters in the world of insurance too. Almost half of those surveyed (47%), said they’re more likely to buy life insurance using simplified underwriting—which tends to be shorthand for get it faster and without a medical exam.3 The average credit union member needs the security life insurance can deliver for the people they care about most. But finding the product can feel anything but simple—and overwhelmed members are all too likely to opt out of the process and the product. continue reading »
HealthLifestyleLocalNews Cancer-related deaths in Dominica ‘significant’ by: – August 17, 2018 Sharing is caring! Tweet Share Share
481 Views no discussions Health Educator Mignon Rolle -Shillingford is urging lifestyle changes among the population to help reduce the number of cancer-related deaths on the island.She revealed that six hundred and ninety-seven (697) persons died from cancer-related deaths for the period 2011 to 2016.“In 2011 we had one hundred and thirty three deaths, in 2012 a hundred and ten, in 2013 one hundred and twenty eight, in 2014 a hundred and six, in 2015 one hundred and thirty two and in 2016 eighty-eight,” Mrs. Shillingford informed.“So, for the past six/seven years, we had a total of six hundred and ninety-seven persons dying from cancer,” she added.Shillingford noted that with a small population “and even so much so we had a decrease in the number of persons living here now because of [Hurricane] Maria that is significant”.Shillingford, who was speaking during the launch of the annual ‘Walk for Cancer Care’ on Wednesday 13 August 2018, informed that breast and prostate cancer are the leading diagnosis among males and females.She informed that between 2010 and 2017 “we had a hundred and eighty-five persons being diagnosed with breast cancer” and that this “is the cancer that kills most of our females”.During that same period, she added, eight-four (84) females were diagnosed with cervical cancer and one hundred and two (102) males were diagnosed with prostate cancer.She reminded the public that there are four main risk factors associated with cancers and other non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) which are unhealthy eating patterns or habits, alcohol use, tobacco and physical inactivity.“So if we eat better, remain physically active, decrease our alcohol use, and tobacco use we will be a healthier nation,” Shillingford said. “Of course we know some cancers may come across even if you have done all that, but one of the key things is early intervention. Do your screenings today,” she added. Share
Every summer, heartbreaking and preventable deaths occur when children are unintentionally left alone in hot cars. (Image: Paulo Otavio Diniz Rodrigues/Flickr.)There’s much talk about the Georgia father suspected of knowingly leaving his nine-month old son in his truck, but every summer parents accidentally forget their children in the car.It’s an action that can lead to heatstroke and in some cases death.Registered nurse Phyllis Larimore says children left in cars can suffer fatal hyperthermia in just minutes, even when the outside temperature is mild.She says a change in routine is often behind these tragedies.“Children have stopped going to school, and so there’s something new,” she explains. “Or someone else is taking them to the day care.“These things happen across all socioeconomic strata. All types of parents.”Earlier this year a Colorado mother – Heather Jensen – was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of her sons. Jensen was found guilty of child abuse after she left her sons in her car to have sex with her boyfriend.According to KidsAndCars.org, nearly 400 children in the United States have died in hot cars in the last decade.The summer heat and humidity can also spell trouble for children who spend time outdoors, since a child’s body heats up much faster than an adult’s.Dr. Eric Kirkendall at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center says that makes children more susceptible to heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heatstroke.“And that includes hot, flushed skin typically associated with high fevers, over 104 degrees,” he explains. “And that’s when kids will also start to have altered mental states.“So, they’ll start getting really confused, and in some of the worst cases can have seizures.”Kirkendall says to protect against heat-related illnesses, parents need to make sure their children stay hydrated and that their exposure to the sun is limited.
New Delhi: For the first two months of 2019, Indian cricket team was undergoing the ultimate high. They had won a bilateral series in Australia for the first time while they eliminated 10 years of pain to win in New Zealand. Having conquered the southern hemisphere, India headed back to home comforts. In the series against Australia, India were expected to continue the domination. They had not lost at home since 2015 and had not lost a series to Australia in their own backyard since 2009. In the first two ODIs at Hyderabad and Nagpur, it all went to plan as India secured wins. After the Nagpur win, things spectacularly unraveled. Virat Kohli’s century did not help India win in Ranchi, the dew in Mohali rendered his spinners helpless as Australia achieved the highest chase by a visiting team in ODIs while in Delhi, a determined and inspired unit helped Aaron Finch’s side win the five-match series 3-2 for the first time after trailing 0-2. What changed in three games? What were the factors that undid some of the good work of the Indian cricket team following the success in Australia and New Zealand? One, there was the constant rotation at the problematic number four spot. Ambati Rayudu, who had success in New Zealand, managed just 33 runs in three games. KL Rahul came in at Mohali but he failed and was dropped for Delhi. Rishabh Pant was tried but he too failed. The team misread the conditions in both Ranchi and Mohali. In Ranchi, they expected dew but it did not come. In Mohali, they were told there would be no dew but there was excess. When Australia targeted Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and rendered Kedar Jadhav expensive, India had no plan B to fall back on. Jasprit Bumrah was treated with respect but in this series, he could not achieve penetration in the death overs, which is traditionally his forte. Despite these setbacks, Kohli was clear on what they wanted to do but he said a very important thing when it came to the World Cup. “As a side, combination wise, we are pretty sorted condition based. We just have to take better decisions in pressure situations to go far in the World Cup,” Kohli stated. Significant dependance on DhoniThe final statement of taking better decisions in pressure situations is an indicator on one thing. Kohli’s captaincy is majorly dependant on MS Dhoni. This was in evidence during the Nagpur ODI. India were facing the conundrum of which bowler will bowl the final over. Mohammed Shami, Bumrah had bowled out and they were left with Kedar Jadhav and Vijay Shankar. Kohli turned to Dhoni and Rohit Sharma and it was Dhoni who suggested that Vijay Shankar bowl the final over. The all-rounder responded and took two wickets to secure a win. In the past, Dhoni’s captaincy has been given the ultimate praise. “With him being around, there is a sense of calmness in the group, which is very important. His presence around the group is a massive factor for us,” Rohit had said. In Mohali, with Dhoni being rested and with Australia attacking, Kohli struggled to figure out the right field placings for Kuldeep and Chahal. When Dhoni was behind the stumps, he would chat with the bowlers and suggest them to bowl the type of delivery for which the field was set. At the PCA stadium, with India caught between attack and defence, Kohli’s captaincy came undone and Australia achieved the highest chase by a visiting side in ODIs. Enterprising Dhoni When it came to captaincy style, Dhoni took risks and then fell back to allow things to happen. During his tenure, there was no chopping and changing. There was settlement. Under Kohli and Ravi Shastri, the horses for courses approach is yielding one potential negative side effect. Batsmen vying for the middle order are suffering a loss in confidence while the bowlers are getting undone by the ‘misreading’ of the conditions. With Dhoni, the conditions did not matter much as his captaincy style and the resources he had in his disposal meant he had to take the wait and watch approach. Dhoni is the one who maneuvers the field. He is the one who tells the bowlers what to bowl and where. He is the one who eases the burden for Kohli to become a wonderful batsman. Make no mistake about it. Kohli needs Dhoni more than ever. The Indian team and his captaincy will never be the same once Dhoni exits the scene. Shastri hit the nail on the head when he said, “Nobody is good enough to criticise MS Dhoni. If you talk about him, do you even know anything about cricket? Dhoni is like Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar. These guys come once in 30-40 years.” For World Cup success, the Australia series loss has proven to be an eye-opener for Kohli. The picture in front of him is that he and India need Dhoni more than ever. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed by the author in this article are personal. News Nation does not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the organisation or its members. highlights Australia won an ODI series in India after 2009.MS Dhoni was rested for the final two ODIs.India will play their first match in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 against South Africa on June 5. For all the Latest Sports News News, Cricket News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Overall: BFresno State head coach Pat Hill called the game the biggest home game in his program’s history. Wisconsin must not have been listening. The Badgers went into Bulldog Stadium and earned the big win against a non-conference opponent they had been lacking since coach Bret Bielema took over in 2006. As they entered halftime with a 10-0 lead, things seemed to be going UW’s way. But then the offense sputtered, and the defense gave up a few big plays to let Fresno State right back into the game. It wasn’t until Bill Rentmeester rumbled his way to an eight-yard gain that the Badgers could breathe comfortably. UW fans got a scare when quarterback Allan Evridge left the game in the second half with cramp, but Dustin Sherer filled in for the rest of the night.Offense: B-In typical Wisconsin fashion, the offense was hinged around the running game. P.J. Hill carried the ball 26 times for 112 yards, but his two backups — Zach Brown and John Clay — were limited to just three carries apiece. Evridge failed to replicate the performance he had against Marshall last weekend, as he finished with just 143 yards on 12-of-24 passing. Tight end Travis Beckum played for the first time all season, snagging four catches for 51 yards.Defense: B+It was the tale of two halves for the Badger defense. After Matt Shaughnessy tipped a Tom Brandstater pass in the first quarter, linebacker DeAndre Levy was able to come up with the interception, which led to the only Wisconsin touchdown of the game. But the unit was caught off-guard in the second half, giving up a 47-yard touchdown pass to Devon Wylie, which cut the lead to three. They also gave up a 61-yard screen pass from Brandstater to Ryan Mathews.Special teams: CA blocked punt and a missed field goal ruined an otherwise a decent performance by the special teams unit. Punter Brad Nortman fumbled a snap in the third quarter that led to the blocked punt. Fresno State recovered on Wisconsin’s 37 but failed to score after kicker Kevin Goessling missed one of his three field goals. David Gilreath was relatively quiet in the return game, returning two kickoffs for a total of 27 yards.Game ball goes to:DeAndre Levy9 total tackles, 1 interception, 1 sackNo one player particularly stood out for Wisconsin statistically, but Levy seemed to be all over the field Saturday. He was able to collect a batted pass in the air for an interception that set up a touchdown pass from Evridge to Garrett Graham and recorded a sack of Brandstater to go along with nine tackles.Next up: MichiganBret Bielema and company have the weekend off before entering Big Ten play in Ann Arbor in two weekends, when they’ll face off against Michigan and new head coach Rich Rodriguez. The Wolverines are coming off an embarrassing loss to Notre Dame, but like the Badgers will have a weekend off before the two teams meet. The last time UW traveled to the Big House, it came up short in its only loss of the 2006 season.
Comments Published on March 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm Facebook Twitter Google+
When judging a pitching staff, catcher Lacey Kohl has the best view of any player on the diamond. And from what the backstop has seen this season behind the plate, she said this year’s group of hurlers is easily the deepest staff she has worked with in four years at Syracuse.‘Mainly because every single one of them can have the potential to start a game and throw seven innings on their own, and I don’t think we’ve had that in the past,’ Kohl said. ‘Maybe one or two that can do that, but we’ve never had three.’Senior Jenna Caira, junior Stacy Kuwik and freshman Lindsay Taylor have provided pitching depth for a Syracuse (17-8) team that rolled through its competition with a clean sweep of its four games last weekend. While Caira is the clear ace of the staff, Kuwik and Taylor have both been viable second and third options for SU head coach Leigh Ross thus far.Caira already has 13 wins and almost 100 innings under her belt, but the contributions from Kuwik and Taylor certainly can’t be overlooked. Kuwik is an experienced No. 2 pitcher and has an ERA of 3.23. Taylor has pitched well ahead of her years with a 1.34 ERA.But at the start of the season, the pitching staff wasn’t rock solid. In February, Caira was still battling a bout with illness – an illness that gave everyone on the team a scare.AdvertisementThis is placeholder text‘Jenna (being sick) was kind of like scary for the whole team because she’s been the ace pitcher,’ Taylor said. ‘So I think people were a bit nervous at first, but I think we handled it well.’Once Caira regained her health, the pitching staff really got on track. Taylor thinks the pitching staff is the strongest it has been at this point in the season. Since the start of March, Syracuse has thrown five shutouts and only allowed more than three runs in two games.Caira has not lost a game since Feb. 26, mowing down hitters as Ross expected her to. The head coach said Kuwik has also proven to be one of the best No. 2 pitchers in the country after it took her a little bit to get into her groove.As for Taylor, Ross said she surprised at how well the freshman has come along.‘She’s right away proven that she can handle the innings right now,’ Ross said.What makes the pitchers so lethal is how well the three complement each other. Caira primarily throws off-speed pitches and boasts a devastating changeup. Taylor and Kuwik are power pitchers who have curveballs and rise balls in their repertoire.Caira said it’s a perfect combination. Caira pitches down with a changeup, and Kuwick and Taylor pitch up with a curveball to depend on.Ross said that difference makes it hard for batters to adjust when she goes to the bullpen in the middle of a game.‘If we feel that Jenna’s changeup isn’t being as effective with a team then we can always switch it up and go Lindsay Taylor’s curve and rise,’ Ross said, ‘It just gives you different options.’With a bevy of options at Ross’ disposal, she knows she’s lucky that all the pressure doesn’t rest on the shoulders of Caira to pitch multiple games. And that rest for the ace will pay off later in the season when the games get bigger.And Caira admits while she never feels a burden no matter how often she has to take the circle – for Syracuse to reach College World Series – she can’t be the only dependable arm in SU’s arsenal.And that’s why the senior has zero reservations when she hands the ball over to SU’s two other trusted arms. Caira knows they can both get the job done.‘Being able to know that if I only can go five innings, I never have any doubt in my mind knowing that if Lindsay or Stacy go in there they’re going to do a great job,’ Caira said. ‘They’ve proven themselves over and over again throughout this whole, entire year.’dgproppe@syr.edu