The Craft Center, located on the ground floor of the EMU, provides students and community members with glass, ceramics, woodworking, painting, jewelry, fibers, darkroom photography and metalsmithing art studios. Previous experience, an orientation or the purchase of materials may be required to use some studios. Faculty and community members can also use the space, but are required to create a membership and pay a fee.

This fall the Craft Center will be offering a variety of workshops, hosting a visiting artist and more.Read below to learn about the opportunities available to you.

How to use the space

The Craft Center’s studios can be used during open-studio hours with previous experience. Some spaces may require an orientation, which familiarizes users with proper procedures and the location of materials.

Walker Hicks, a senior majoring in business, began using the Craft Center during his sophomore year. He said that diagrams showcasing tools available help reduce some of the stresses he felt as a new-crafter. While materials often have to be purchased at the front desk, these tools can be checked out at no additional cost.

Those who do not have previous experience can use the studio spaces by attending a workshop. Additionally, workshops can sometimes count as orientations, allowing students to use the space after the completion of the workshop.

Hicks’ first time at the Craft Center was for a handbuilding ceramics workshop. At that workshop he learned the basic skills necessary to work with clay. Since then, he has been attending open studio hours, taken two more ceramic workshops and has even made some friends in the process.

“At first it definitely was intimidating,” Hicks said. “It is just kind of getting over that first wave of initial anxiety about it. But once you keep going everyone starts to recognize you, and it’s definitely a welcoming space.”

This term, the Craft Center will be offering a multitude of workshops in all studios. These workshops range in price and length and are available for purchase on the EMU’s website.

Special this fall

In addition to its regular workshops, each term the Craft Center offers seasonal workshops. This term is no different, with offerings including holiday winter solstice box and glass pumpkin workshops.

Erika Rier, a multidisciplinary artist based in Portland, Oregon, will also be offering specialty workshops as part of her role as this term’s visiting artist.

Art has always been part of Rier’s life. She has been drawing ever since she was a child, learned to sew and weave as a teenager and started out her full-time career as an artist 10 years ago by making and selling dresses.

Five years ago, Rier took a ceramics handbuilding workshop at a studio. Since then, she has fallen in love with the craft and now teaches ceramics classes.

“There’s no way around being a beginner,” Rier said. “Just dive into the process and get obsessed with the process.”

Rier will be offering a two-part clay handbuilding workshop. This class is suitable for beginners, according to Rier, and requires no previous experience. Attendees will learn basic techniques for working with clay and “will leave with a monster,” she added, referring to the figurines they will create.

In addition, Rier will be teaching a zine making workshop where she will go through the entire process of planning a zine. A zine is a small-batch publication, which can include a collection of essays, photos or artworks. She recommends attendees come prepared with some ideas.

If you want to learn more about Rier and her artistic journey, you can attend her artist talk, which will be held on October 18, or visit her artist display on the EMU’s top floor.

For more information about ways to get involved at the Craft Center, studio hours and to sign up for workshops visit the EMU’s website or stop by the Craft Center at the EMU.

Joined by a panel of experts on health care policy, two University of Utah professors discussed their new book, “States of Health: The Ethics and Consequences of Policy Variation in a Federal System.”  The book is authored by Leslie Francis, professor of law and philosophy, and John Francis, professor of political science. It explores the morality of states having vastly different policies on healthcare, which impacts the quality of American citizens’ lives between state lines. The event took place at the S.J. Quinney College of Law on Sept. 27. 

“We want to argue and explore both the strengths and the weaknesses of federalism and to think about whether we put certain kinds of decisions in … the right places,” Leslie Francis said. 

Policies Across States

The book explores various policy decisions, from the federal government’s and states’ roles in funding healthcare to differences in licensing requirements.

“There are huge [licensing] differences among the states that you wouldn’t think,” Leslie Francis said. “A nurse practitioner can practice independently in Illinois, [but] if they move across the river to Missouri, they can’t.”

Phillip McMinn Singer, associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the U, said the “States of Health” brings ethics into the forefront of healthcare policy.

“What I loved the most about this [book] was the overlaying … ethics of it and thinking about … what the price of federalism is, not in dollars and cents, but in the lives [and] the well-being of the citizenry,” Singer said.

Leslie Francis said one key theme of their book are that healthcare policies between state governments can diverge so dramatically that they become intolerable. The second key theme is that the interconnectedness of every state makes us all concerned with each community’s well-being. 

She pointed to Mississippi to illustrate this. Mississippi’s average lifespan is nine years lower than Hawaii’s average life expectancy.

“And Mississippi is the largest net taker in federal funds … so we all have an interest in what’s going on in Mississippi,” Leslie Francis said.

Freedom of Movement

Despite the country’s stark health disparities, the authors do believe federalism has advantages. They argue that it allows for policy experimentation and allows citizens to move freely to states whose policies align with their worldviews. 

In an op-ed published in Newsweek, Leslie Francis and John Francis wrote that the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which granted states the ability to ban abortions, showed federalism’s benefits but also its drawbacks. They raised concerns about recent threats to restrict citizens’ freedom of movement, notably with the enactment of “abortion trafficking” laws.

“Federalism has the advantage that states may agree to disagree, but this advantage will be lost if states can impose their will on what their residents do elsewhere,” they wrote.

Abortion and the freedom of movement in a federal system were significant topics of discussion for the panel.

On Sept. 4, Texas sued the federal government in an attempt to obtain the medical records of women who receive abortions out-of-state. Leslie Francis described this as a “very frightening” challenge to a state’s ability to protect medical privacy.

Kif Augustine-Adams, Ivan Meitus Chair and law professor at Brigham Young University said challenges to the right to travel would be a “core issue as we move forward in time.” She noted that 171,000 women went out of state for an abortion in 2023. 14,000 of those were from Texas alone.

Singer said the women going out of state for an abortion are “not randomly assigned.” They have the means to take time off work and travel for the procedure.

“One of the strong points in the book is the kind of inequities and disparities federalism magnifies,” he said. “And I think a post-Dobbs world really magnifies this.”

g.radtke@dailyutahchronicle.com

@GiovanniRadtke

The post U Professors’ New Book Deals with the Ethics of Healthcare first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Well rested and ready to go, ODU came off their bye week and traveled to Ohio to take on Bowling Green on Saturday. After a hard-fought game, where touchdowns were traded for touchdowns, the Monarchs would leave Doyt L. Perry Stadium victorious with a final score of 30-27, earning their first this season.

With five lead changes and two instances of a tied score, the Monarchs held on in a highly competitive game in front of over 19,000 fans. Despite a change at quarterback and little time to regain their lead as the game neared its end, the offense was able to find their spark and connect to come out with a win.

In the opening stages of the game, the Monarchs initiated an impressive eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Quarterback Grant Wilson’s 30-yard run on their sole third down of the possession sparked the drive to life. Subsequently, a 17-yard run by running back Aaron Young and a 10-yard reception by wide receiver Isiah Paige set the stage for Wilson to find tight end Pat Conroy in the end zone, culminating in a successful PAT.

Notwithstanding, Bowling Green managed to get on the scoreboard with thirty seconds remaining in the first quarter. Quarterback Connor Bazelak connected with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for an 18-yard touchdown. However, the Monarchs concluded the quarter with a 75-yard receiving touchdown from Conroy.

The Falcons commenced the second quarter with determination, orchestrating a nine-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that consumed nearly five minutes. After converting on fourth down at ODU’s 48-yard line, Bazelak connected with wide receiver Rahkeem Smith for 28 yards, followed by a 17-yard touchdown run by running back Jaison Patterson.

ODU’s kicker, Ethan Sanchez, successfully scored a 53-yard field goal on the Monarchs’ subsequent drive. Nonetheless, the second quarter concluded with both teams missing consecutive field goal attempts, leaving ODU in the lead at halftime with a score of 17-14.

During the Monarchs’ initial possession of the second half, Wilson was sacked on third down by Bowling Green’s defensive lineman Ali Saad and sustained an injury. RS freshman Colton Joseph assumed the quarterback position for the remainder of the game. However, the only points scored in the third quarter were by the Falcons, as Bazelak connected with Fannin Jr. for a 59-yard touchdown.

Trailing 21-17 entering the fourth quarter, ODU gained momentum after safety Jahron Manning intercepted Bazelak, placing the offense in the red zone. Joseph subsequently rushed for a 14-yard touchdown, although Sanchez missed the PAT.

With under four minutes remaining in the game, the Falcons attempted a 51-yard field goal to regain the lead. Although Bowling Green’s kicker, Jackson Kleather, missed the attempt, a personal foul called on ODU cornerback Angelo Rankin Jr. awarded the Falcons a first down. Two plays later, running back Terion Stewart scored a 13-yard touchdown, giving the Falcons a 27-23 lead following an unsuccessful two-point conversion.

As the Monarchs took the field with less than three minutes remaining, their momentum only picked up after the two-minute warning. Joseph’s 15-yard reception to Conroy on fourth down secured the first down and more. Following several rushes for minor gains, Joseph’s 21-yard run set up a first and goal, enabling Young to rush for 4 yards into the end zone, propelling the Monarchs to a 30-27 lead. Bowling Green failed to respond in their final possession as time expired.

ODU displayed an enhanced passing game compared to their previous performance. However, Bowling Green surpassed them with 303 yards to ODU’s 144. Notably, ODU demonstrated dominance in the offensive line of scrimmage, amassing 189 rushing yards against Bowling Green’s 96. Despite departing the game midway, Wilson contributed 118 yards and two touchdowns with a completion rate of 6 out of 14. Conroy also secured two touchdowns with three catches and nearly reached triple digits in total yards with 99.

Head coach Ricky Rahne and quarterback Colton Joseph reflected on a pivotal moment for Old Dominion University’s football program. After a tough stretch of losses, Rahne emphasized the importance of playing for the love of the game, urging his players to channel the passion they felt as kids. Joseph, stepping into the spotlight during a crucial drive, embraced the pressure and delivered a performance that highlighted the power of collective effort. Their insights capture the heart of what it means to overcome challenges and rise to the occasion.

“Colton didn’t play anywhere near his best football tonight and that’s what I think is so special,” Rahne said, praising his quarterback’s determination. “He comes in and finishes it like that. It was just so very special.” Rahne recounted how he reminded his team to connect with their childhood dreams of playing football before the decisive final drive, encouraging them to embrace the moment.

Joseph, reflecting on that last drive, revealed his mindset: “I was energized, but not nervous. I knew we had to score to win the game… I knew the ball was in my hands. I had full control of that situation.” His confidence and the unwavering support from his teammates ultimately led to a memorable victory, underscoring the spirit of unity that defines the team.

This hard-earned victory was pivotal for both players and coaches, particularly following two close losses at the start of the season.

Next Saturday, the Monarchs will travel once again, this time to Conway, South Carolina, to face Coastal Carolina in their Sun Belt Conference opener. Although Coastal Carolina suffered a defeat against UVA in their first game of the season before their bye week, their initial two games were won with a significant average margin of 23 points. ODU currently leads the series 2-1.

With over 23,000 University of Oregon students and 5,600 employees, there are multiple boards and positions at the university that contribute to student representation, including the Dean of Students and the Board of Trustees.

In interviews with the Daily Emerald, several UO administrators spoke on how they represent students and how they strive for student success with their work. 

Dean of Students

Jimmy Howard, interim dean of students, said that some of his goals for students are promoting the resources on campus and elevating student voices.

“I really want to make sure that [the] student voice is continuing to be elevated,” Howard said. “I want to make sure that we’re [UO] currently an institution, trying to meet the needs of our students.” 

UO provides a variety of resources that students have access to, including the Basic Needs Program and the Multicultural Center. 

Howard said that some ways he continues to support and represent students are by listening and being transparent. 

“It’s about being open to listening and always being surprised about what students need, and never assuming that I know a student’s story,” Howard said. 

Howard said that he finds it “easy” to represent students at UO. 

“I’ve never found it hard to support a student or advocate for a student,” Howard said. “I think the challenge is where the needs confront the values of the institution and our perspective, our values and expectations as a community.”

Board of Trustees 

For the past three academic years, Steve Holwerda, chair of the UO Board of Trustees, has been a member of UO’s governing board. 

The Board of Trustees is made up of 15 members, including UO President John Karl Scholz and 14 volunteers who were appointed by Oregon’s governor. Each trustee holds a fiduciary responsibility for the university.

Some of the responsibilities as board chair include fostering transparency and facilitating productive discussions. 

“There are prescribed duties that are formal and specific, but at the end of the day, my job is to listen to fellow trustees, foster transparency, facilitate productive discussion and keep our board within the guardrails of policy and oversight,” Holwerda said in an email statement to the Daily Emerald. 

Holwerda said that he also supports students by making sure the university “remains fiscally solvent and viable.” 

“I support the students by making sure their university remains fiscally solvent and viable, provides value for the cost of their education, remains safe, clean and accepting for all students,” Holwerda said. 

Holwerda said that some of his values that he upholds when supporting and representing students are freedom of speech and inclusivity. 

“I believe in making the university safe and inclusive for students from all races, genders, religions and sexual orientations,” Holwerda said. “I also believe in curiosity about opposing viewpoints, and I am committed to freedom of speech.” 

According to Holwerda, there are times when the board’s decision conflicts with student support, such as when tuition increases. 

“We know college has gotten meaningfully more expensive, and unfortunately the primary lever we have to pull to manage our rising costs [salaries, benefits] is tuition,” Holwerda said. “We are balancing the sustainability of the university with the value proposition of the educational experience based on cost.” 

Considering how universities are full of various opinions, Howlerda said he welcomes a variety of perspectives. 

“We welcome a variety of perspectives, and we want to hear them.”

UO Senate

The UO Senate is a partner in shared governance at UO. With over 40 members, ranging from professors in the UO College of Design to administrators, the Senate is responsible for furthering the mission at UO. 

Alison Schmitke, president of the UO Senate, said that a commonality between each member is wanting to make “a difference” for instructors and students.  

“[What everybody] has in common, who does their Senate service, is that they really want to make a difference, and this is a really direct way to do that because…we engage in shared decision-making that impacts academic life for instructors and students,” Schmitke said. 

According to Schmitke, the Senate supports and represents students by including a variety of student perspectives in their decision-making process. 

“But one of the reasons why we [the Senate] don’t move quickly is because we want to gain all kinds of different perspectives,” Schmitke said. “So when an idea or a policy that we’re asked to review… begins in a committee [and] where it begins looks very different than where it ends, and that’s because of all these places of input that people are able to give.” 

The Senate gives students the chance to share their opinions and perspectives during their office hours or public meetings. 

Undergraduate Education and Student Success

The Division of Undergraduate Education and Student Success oversees the undergraduate culture of academic excellence and engagement, access and success. Among the many individuals who oversee undergraduate success are academic advisors. 

Jesse Nelson, assistant vice provost for advising and accessibility, said that the primary responsibility of an advisor is to help navigate students to get their degree. 

Some other responsibilities of an academic advisor include guiding a student to student success and getting a perspective “on what students are experiencing.” 

“Advisors have the job to say, ‘Here’s the roadmap, and let’s help you as a student to be able to navigate so that you can reach your dreams,’” Nelson said. 

Considering the various backgrounds and perspectives at UO, Nelson said that advisors must be able to “hear” and “listen” to meet the individual “needs of a student.” 

“The most critical piece is for an advisor to be able to hear and to listen to each individual student and say, ‘What are those students’ needs? What are the interest areas for each particular student?’” Nelson said.

Dean of the School of Music and Dance 

Sabrina Madison-Cannon, dean of the School of Music and Dance, is responsible for one of the smaller colleges at UO. 

But with nearly 300 performances each year and over 750 music and dance majors and minors, the school “rarely feels small,” Madison-Cannon said in an email statement to the Emerald. 

Madison-Cannon also said that supporting students at the School of Music and Dance means everything from, “working with students on the specifics of a performance to supporting them with all the behind-the-scenes efforts of scheduling venues and coordinating staff and volunteers to assist during performances.” 

She also said that the “best thing” she can do in attempting to represent students at the school is to “amplify the work they [students at the School of Music and Dance] are creating, performing, writing and presenting.” 

Despite the size of the school, Madison-Cannon said that the School of Music and Dance differs from other schools and colleges on campus by the number of events and recruitments. 

“We have a large event presence on the campus,” Madison-Cannon said. “We also put a lot of energy and resources behind recruiting undergraduate students directly to the School of Music and Dance.”

After consecutive losses on the road to Texas Tech and BYU, the University of Utah Women’s Soccer team (4-4-4, 1-2-2 Big 12) returned to Salt Lake City for their next series. On Thursday, the Utes took on the Iowa State Cyclones for their fourth Big 12 conference match of the year. Then, on Sunday, the Utes battled with No. 23 Oklahoma State at Ute Field.

Iowa State

The first ten minutes of Utah’s match with Iowa State was composed of two distinct offensive battles. For the first five minutes, the Cyclones’ offense was looking to produce early. Strong defense from the Utes and a save from Kasey Wardle prevented a scoring opportunity. 

Then, for the later five minutes of the stretch, the Utes had their own offensive attack set-up. A shot from Lillah Blum was Utah’s first of the game, but was stopped by the Iowa State goaltender. Despite the Utes best efforts, they were unable to score early during their offensive strike.

Later, after further development, a Ute foul earned the Cyclones a free-kick. The chance looked promising, but the kick was defended well by Utah. Iowa State earned a subsequent corner kick, which was batted into the net by a Cyclone player. The goal, which would have given Iowa State the lead, was waved off due to offsides.

The half continued to dwindle on with back-and-forth battle. Both teams had their fair share of scoring opportunities, but neither could ultimately find the back of the net. Heading into halftime with the game still scoreless, the teams were anxious to be the one to get on the board first.

Despite both teams’ scoring intentions, the defensive nature of the first half carried over into the second. Just over a minute into the second half, Utah’s Blum earned a yellow card, the first of the game. Then, three minutes later, Magdalena Keck earned the Cyclones a yellow card of their own.

The Cyclones earned a second yellow card in the 74th minute, and both teams earned two corner-kick opportunities of their own in the half. The Utes went on to put-up six shots in the period, two more than Iowa State, but neither team ultimately got on the board.

With the final whistle, the game ended in a 0-0 draw. In the back-and-forth battle, both teams had a collective 24 fouls and were equal in shots with ten each.

No. 23 Oklahoma State

Coming off the draw with Iowa State, the Utes took on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, ranked No. 23 in the nation. As the first half kicked-off, both teams looked to get on the board first and gain the early advantage.

The Cowgirls found themselves with plenty of opportunities early on. In a seven minute span, Oklahoma State earned five straight corner-kicks. The Utes stood strong though, playing solid defense and not allowing a shot.

In what was a mostly quiet period of play, the two teams put up a collective four shots. Furthermore, a total of eleven fouls were committed in the half. Without a goal, both teams went into halftime with the game knotted-up at 0.

Early in the second half, the Cowgirls found themselves with an excellent opportunity to score. The initial Oklahoma State shot was deflected by Wardle, but they quickly earned the rebound with an open net. Thankfully for the Utes, the subsequent shot was high, landing on top of the net.

In the 54th minute, Blum created an excellent opportunity for the Utes, fighting past defenders. Her shot rolled just right of the goal, spoiling the chance to give Utah the lead. Later in the half, a hard foul from Devi Dudley earned the Utes the first yellow card of the game.

Little development occurred as the remaining time sank below fifteen minutes. Utah found another great scoring chance in the 80th minute, as Taliana Kaufusi set up Bella Woods, but her shot sailed high and missed the net. In the final ten minutes, Kaufusi had three close-range shots, but each shot either missed or was knocked away.

The final seconds ticked off the clock, with neither team finding the back of the net, resulting in Utah’s second consecutive 0-0 draw. The Utes finished the match with three saves and ten shots, four of which were shots-on-goal.

Up Next

Following the back-to-back draws, the Utes will head on the road for their next three games. On Friday, they will travel south to Tempe to face the Arizona State Sun Devils. Then, on Oct. 10, the Utes will take on the Kansas State Wildcats.

j.marriott@dailyutahchronicle.com

@jonahmarriott

The post Utah Soccer Earns Scoreless Draws with Iowa State, No. 23 Oklahoma State first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

A recent collaborative study done by BU’s Institute for Global Sustainability and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that lower-cost electric vehicle models and wider charging access are integral for wider EV implementation in the U.S.

Gophers football gave themselves too much of a mountain to climb in the second half as Michigan staved off their furious comeback and won 27-24.

Minnesota trailed 21-0 in the first half, but in the final 32 minutes, the Gophers outscored the Wolverines 24-6 making the final minutes dependent on an onside kick, recovered by the Gophers but ultimately ruled offsides.

Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich teed up the kick. The ball, hit with perfection and bounded by every Wolverine, was recovered by the Gophers, but there was a flag.

Offside was called on Gopher Matt Kingsbury, erasing a game-changing play. The Wolverines recovered the second kick and ran the clock out to end the game.

The Fox broadcast rules analyst Mike Pereira disagreed with the offside call.

“If you take a look at the high shot, like the all-22, I don’t think he’s breaking the plane,” Pereira said. “It’s so technical, but to me, he’s not.”

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said he was 10 yards downfield where the ball was recovered.

“I didn’t hear anything except he was offsides,” Fleck said. “I didn’t see it. We practice that every day, time it up right there on the edge because you have to be if you’re going to recover one of those.”

The Wolverines dominated most of the game, but a sliver of hope entered the hearts of Gophers fans with two minutes left to play. Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer rifled a pass to the back of the endzone where a spinning Daniel Jackson pinned the ball to his chest and got a foot down for the touchdown to bring the score within three.

The Gophers’ second-half surge ended there but began with a frantic final two minutes in the opening half. 

Minnesota maneuvered down the field on third-and-23 near midfield and Brosmer launched a hail mary toward the endzone that tight end Nick Kallerup grabbed.

The 44-yard connection left two seconds on the clock which stopped for a first down allowing Minnesota’s field goal unit to sprint onto the field. Kesich had enough time to set up and drill the field goal and cut Michigan’s lead to 21-3 at the half.

Michigan methodically moved the ball down the field, but Minnesota held the Wolverines to a 53-yard field goal to open the second half, reclaiming their three-touchdown lead.

After a three-and-out, Michigan aired the ball out. Following a first down, Wolverines quarterback Alex Orji targeted Colston Loveland down the seam, but Gophers cornerback Ethan Robinson ripped the ball away for an interception.

The Gophers offense responded with a 12-play, 76-yard drive finished with Darius Taylor’s three-yard rushing touchdown.

Minnesota’s defense forced a three-and-out and handed the ball back to the offense.

Freshman Koi Perich took things into his own hands on the punt. Perich found a seam, sprinted straight through it and scampered inside the Michigan red zone for a 60-yard return. 

Minnesota scored three plays later, gashing the Wolverines’ lead trailing 24-17 with 11:05 in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota’s defense stood tall against the Wolverines’ drive and forced another field goal, but Michigan killed six and a half minutes and pushed their lead to 10 points.

The Gophers could not recover the second onside kick and the Wolverines won despite a late surge from Minnesota.

Wolverines Head Coach Sherrone Moore said he was not happy with his team’s performance, especially in the second half.

“We got a lot of cleaning up to do as a team as a group to get better,” Moore said. “They came out with a lot of energy and we didn’t.”

The Gophers fell to a 2-3 record Saturday (0-2 in the Big Ten). Minnesota hosts Southern California for the University’s parents’ weekend on Oct. 5. The Gophers are still searching for their first Big Ten win.

On Saturday, the Arizona Wildcats proved to be the opponent to bring No. 10 Utah their first Big 12 loss of the season. The unranked Wildcats cut through the Utah defense with unmatched efficiency, something the Utes could not make up for on the offensive side.

First Half

The first half of this game was a defensive slugfest, as both teams were unable to keep their offenses on the field. Arizona was able to gain the slight edge, however, finding the end zone with 3:17 remaining in the second quarter. A game in which many thought would be a high-scoring affair saw just 13 total points with the Wildcats taking a 10-3 lead into halftime.

The Utah offense was able to move the ball seamlessly down the field throughout the first half but could not find the end zone, failing to convert twice on fourth down and settling for a field goal on their third trip to the red zone.

Drive number one saw Utah move the ball down the length of the field all the way to the Arizona 10, but a run up the middle on fourth down halted the Utes momentum and allowed the Wildcat defense to get off the field.

After an Arizona field goal late in the first quarter, the Utah offense trotted back onto the field, looking to provide an offensive spark. An 11-yard pitch and catch from Isaac Wilson to Dorian Singer, followed by another 18-yard connection from the duo, set up the Utes in Arizona’s territory heading into the second quarter. Despite Utah’s ability to move the ball, another failed fourth down attempt, this time from the two-yard line, halted yet another promising Ute drive.

Utah was finally able to get on the board as Cole Becker knocked in a 23-yard field goal with 7:01 to go in the half, but Arizona’s offense had an answer. An 8-play 75-yard Wildcat drive capped off by a touchdown helped push Arizona in front, 10-3.

Both teams got the chance to possess the ball in the final three minutes and change, but neither could score any points, allowing Arizona to take a 10-3 lead into halftime. Utah would need to make some major halftime adjustments in the second half in order to avoid the upset.

Second Half

The offensive woes continued into the second half for Utah as a Wilson interception shortly after a Wildcat field goal allowed Arizona to tack on yet another field goal, taking a 16-3 lead with 06:33 remaining in the third quarter.

Utah’s inability to do anything of significance on offense was the common theme in the first half and continued to plague the Utes into the third quarter. Another Utah fourth-down conversion, this time from the Arizona 44-yard line, was unsuccessful once again, allowing the Wildcats offense to set up with great field position.

After the game, an emotional Micah Bernard had this to say about the offensive execution in the red zone: “We got the play calls; we just gotta go on the field and execute; we’re not doing that. I think that’s going to be the emphasis for the next few weeks … It should be an emphasis because this is unacceptable.”

Fortunately for Utah, a Tao Johnson interception in the end zone would give the Utes life once again. After failing to reach the end zone for three quarters, a 20-yard dart from Wilson to Caleb Lohner helped the Utes cut into the Arizona deficit, now trailing 16-10.

The Wildcats offense would not stay away for long, however, as an unbelievable 8-play 87-yard drive capped off by a 35-yard touchdown gave Arizona a commanding 23-10 lead with 8:13 to go in the game.

Utah attempted to mount a comeback, but the Wildcat defense held strong, forcing another Wilson interception and closing this one out on another failed fourth down conversion by the Utes. After a couple of Arizona kneels, Utah would drop this one 23-10 and fall to 4-1 on the season.

Analysis

Overall, it was an abysmal day for the Utes on both the offensive and defensive sides. Though Wilson managed to throw 280 passing yards, only around half were completed, making it difficult for Utah to run the ball.

From strictly a statistics perspective, Arizona and Utah made similar offensive plays, going 61-358 and 69-364, respectively. Although fans from both sides alike will say that the Wildcats were inarguably more efficient, with Arizona making good on both of their Red Zone opportunities while Utah went two for four.

On a brighter side, Bernard was able to have a positive night, marking 91 rushing yards with no losses. Singer also had the most impressive performance on the offensive side, claiming 155 yards of his own in receiving.

“All is not lost, I don’t want to paint the picture that it is,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a post-game press conference. “We have a really good football team, we just need everybody to recommit, rededicate themselves, so that we can finish the season strong.”

a.thomas@dailyutahchronicle.com

@abbey0thomas

k.garrison@dailyutahchronicle.com

@Kylegarr23

The post Utah Suffer First Loss of the Season Against Arizona first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Junior defensive lineman Carlos Allen walks off the field alongside head coach Willie Fritz after losing to No. 18 Iowa State. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

In the Big 12 home opener, the Houston Cougars were once again shutout as the No. 18 and undefeated Iowa State Cyclones controlled the game, followed by a late outburst from their offense in a crushing 20-0 defeat at TDECU Stadium.

The UH offense did not generate and failed to score for two consecutive games, the first time since 1994.

The Cougars’ defense put together a good performance and allowed the fewest passing yards and first downs in a Big 12 game for UH but did not receive any help.

“You have to play sharp and crisp and we didn’t do that. We played hard, but we didn’t play smart,” head coach Willie Fritz said. “We’re not good enough to have untimely penalties or miss a guy blocking wide and get a sack. We have to play a lot smarter.”

Houston came in with a game plan for using a quarterback platoon between senior Donovan Smith and sophomore Zeon Chriss.

Junior running back Stacy Sneed had a 37-yard rush on the opening drive to the Iowa State 38-yard line.

The Cougars could not come up with points, as the two-yard pass from Smith was short on fourth and four.

The Cyclones went on an 11-play first drive but ultimately had to settle for the 23-yard field goal from kicker Kyle Konrardy after a stop from the UH defense on their own five-yard line.

Houston trailed 3-0 in a defensive first 15 minutes at the end of the first quarter.

The Cougars’ defense continued to hold strong as they forced an Iowa State punt, which set up the offense with great field position at their own 42-yard line.

Chriss had a 39-yard run, which was called back due to a penalty.

The halftime score remained 3-0 in favor of the Cyclones.

It was a strong defensive performance from both sides as Houston had 119 total yards compared to 143 for Iowa State.

The Cougars had some success with quarterback-designed runs and Sneed on the ground with 105 rushing yards but did not reach the red zone.

On the first drive of the second half, Houston got a huge stop with the first sack of the game by sophomore defensive lineman Anthony Holmes Jr. It resulted in a missed 42-yard field goal from the Cyclones.

The Cougars’ offense opened up with a trick 16-yard run to junior wide receiver Mekhi Mews, followed by another great 19-yard run from Sneed.

Once again, the offense did not gain a first down in the opponent’s territory.

Iowa State responded with a huge 80-yard drive that resulted in a 12-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht to senior wide receiver Jayden Higgins. At the end of the third quarter, the Cyclones had a 10-0 lead.

On the next Houston drive, junior wide receiver Stephon Johnson fumbled at UH’s 47-yard line after picking up the first down.

The Cyclones took advantage and added three more on a 34-yard field goal.

UH had their most promising drive of the game, a nine-play 72-yard march, but turned it over as Smith threw an interception in the endzone.

The Cyclones essentially put the game away on the ensuing drive as sophomore running back Abu Sama III ran for a 77-yard touchdown as the lead extended to 20-0.

Houston’s offense had three turnovers and only converted one third down the entire game. Neither starting QB for the Cougars had a convincing performance.

“We’re looking for a guy to step up and be the guy. We’re giving two guys the opportunity. If one guy shows it, then he will be the guy. Until that happens, we’re probably going to keep rotating,” Fritz said.

UH will look to improve in their next game Friday at TCU.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston football shutout by No. 18 Iowa State, team fails to score for two straight weeks” was originally posted on The Cougar

The infamous city of Gotham is one that viewers have been intimately familiar with for decades now. Gotham City has been portrayed in comics, movies and TV-shows for years. Most fans would associate Gotham City with arguably its most famous citizen Batman, but “The Penguin” takes a different approach. Ozwald “Oz” Cobb is the former lieutenant to the late Carmine Falcone, the city’s former crime boss. The first episode follows Oz as he struggles to take over his former boss’ hold on the city and become a crime boss in his own right. 

A Gotham Show Unlike Any Other 

“The Penguin” is unlike any other show set in Gotham City, and this is because it is not a superhero story but it is not a supervillain story either. It is a crime story. Although the show takes place in the immediate aftermath of Robert Pattinson’s “The Batman” (2022), Batman is nowhere to be seen in the first episode. According to Colin Ferrell, the actor who stars in “The Penguin,” Batman will not be making an appearance in any of the subsequent episodes either. 

The show follows Oz Cobb as he tries to fill the power void that was left in the city after the assassination of criminal kingpin Carmine Falcone, his former boss. He struggles for power as he fights Falcone’s family and former rivals. The show picks up where “The Batman” left off but takes a completely different approach to the story. The series bears much more similarities to the legendary mob movie “The Godfather” or the famous gangster series “The Sopranos” than it does to any other story told in Gotham City, like “The Batman,” “The Dark Knight” or even “Joker.” While the show may not be what viewers were expecting when it comes to a Gotham City story, that does not mean that it is not worth watching. 

A Gangster Story Done Right 

Even though “The Penguin” takes a different approach to Gotham City than viewers have grown accustomed to, that does not mean that it was done poorly. It cannot be argued that “The Penguin” is not a show about superheroes, it is a show about crime bosses and gangsters. Although, it is one that was done really well and it is certainly worth the watch. It is filled to the brim with impulsive murders, the disposing of bodies, visits to former rivals in prison, drug rings and assassinations. It has all the elements of a classic mob story, and is not lacking much in terms of action, gore and power struggles.

Oz Cobb is a perfect example of a dark, moody and complex character that keeps you rooting for him even after witnessing his twisted actions and sinister motives. Ferrell does a great job of keeping the character grounded and real even with the ridiculous amount of prosthetics that the character is donned in. 

Overall, “The Penguin” plays a different tune compared to past Batman and Joker installments, but it is certainly a crime show worth the watch. With just one episode released, the story has already gotten so intricate and gripping that it will certainly keep audiences on the edge of their seats as they watch the rest of the series. 

j.heaton@dailyutahchronicle.com

@jansenheaton1

The post Gotham City Returns With ‘The Penguin’ first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.