Total Skills, LLC’s Post

Why It Matters:

Never count out the underdog - especially when they’re making a comeback This past weekend wasn’t just a win for the Huskies - it was a defining moment for Northern Illinois University. For the first time in its history, NIU defeated a top-10 team, defeating No. 5 Notre Dame in their own stadium. The Huskies were 28-point underdogs, and no one expected them to win. But in true Huskies fashion, they showed that resilience, preparation, and teamwork can defy even the toughest odds. NIU has long been a Mid-American Conference (MAC) powerhouse, but recent years have been tough. When Coach Thomas Hammock - a former NIU running back - returned in 2019, the team struggled, including a winless 2020 season. However, Hammock rebuilt the program with resilience and determination. By 2021, they claimed the MAC Championship, and in 2023, won their first bowl game in over a decade. Now, their upset of Notre Dame shows the underdog can rise again This Boneyard Victory - a term for NIU’s wins over power five conference opponents - was earned through grit and relentless effort, not luck. As Coach Hammock emphasized, “We didn’t need luck; we just needed to play our best.” He called it a program-changing win, a milestone that proves what belief, hard work, and unity can achieve. As an NIU PhD graduate and long-time fan, this victory hit home for me in more ways than one: At Intel, we too are on a journey to reclaim our leadership and prove ourselves once again. Like NIU, we have a legacy of excellence, and we’re meeting challenges that require resilience, innovation, and belief in ourselves. Coach Hammock’s story is a powerful reminder that the best victories are hard earned through perseverance, teamwork, and the refusal to give up. Watching him in this moment and is pride in his team makes me believe that tough battles can be worth it. Congrats and Go Huskies! 🎉🐾 #NIUHuskies #GoHuskies #Resilience #Leadership #IAmIntel https://lnkd.in/gt2Fx7Am

South Carolina won, with a perfect 37-0 record and new fans of women’s basketball continue repeating the tired refrain that “Caitlyn single-handedly revolutionized women’s basketball.” This discourse seems to suggest that commercials, interviews, magazine covers, sponsorships and promos invest in themselves. CC is an exceptional offensive talent, but the overinvestment in her brand is what made women’s basketball more watchable. Clark literally cannot do that herself. Just because you never watched women’s basketball before does not mean there was no prior electrifying talent worth the same investment Clark is now receiving. The fact that so many people are spending more time playing defense for Caitlyn (something she doesn’t do very well), and less time celebrating South Carolina’s 37-0 victory, shows me how and why CC has the fandom she does: we are more invested in racial narratives (about Black girls as “ghetto,” “mean,” etc. and white girls as “classy”) than we are in the beauty of the sport itself. To be clear: talking about race does not take away from Caitlyn’s greatness. It just exposes the lie that greatness never existed before her.

USC's Shocking Rankings: Have They Fallen From Grace? Explore USC's dramatic fall from grace in this insightful discussion! Discover the reasons behind their current unranked status and how it impacts their season. Join us as we analyze the team's performance and upcoming challenges against top contenders like Penn State. #USCFallFromGrace #CollegeFootball #USC #SportsAnalysis #PennState #FootballRankings #TeamPerformance #NCAA #SportsDiscussion #FootballCommunity

Why It Matters

The importance of inclusion in the reporting of historic events, etc.. ☮️

Here I have covered a story on, Anna Fery and Her Resemblance with Brock Purdy. The story has multiple aspects like, Who is Anna Frey? Is Anna Frey Related To Brock Purdy? What is Anna Frey's Age? #annafrey #brockpurdy #nflnews #nfl

Week 2 of my Duke Men’s Basketball: Race, Sport & Education is in the books! I absolutely love teaching this course. I created it to think deeply just how much Duke Men’s Basketball over the last century is filled with racial questions and histories. For example: What does Tobacco Road mean? Who performed the labor? Why did Jalen Rose call Grant Hill and other Black players “Uncle Toms”? Why are we enfactuated with the “White Villain” on Duke’s teams? What is Duke’s integration story? There are many more. What questions do you have about Duke Men’s Basketball? The students are dope too. Most of them are Duke Men’s Basketball fans, Cameron Crazies, tenters, and walking encyclopedias on Duke Basketball. They take it serious and add to the discussions. Also, the Men’s basketball players add so much to the class because it’s about them! Their engagement is essential to the course because most times they are talked about and talked at. I want them to speak for themselves about what their talent allows. #duke #dukembb #raceandsports

Love this from the Fairfield University women's hoops crew. Reminiscent of the ad posting Topgolf put out into the world after Tiger Woods' official split from Nike in terms of its simplicity and "old school" feel. It's a good reminder. PR doesn't have to be expensive. Creating buzz doesn't always mean an event. High production costs aren't necessarily a pre-requisite. Sometimes, you just need to be a little clever in delivering the message. Well done, Stags. Go get that ranking. #brandmarketing #communications #pr