Anonymous Big Ten assistant has thoughts on Gophers football

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An opposing Big Ten assistant coach shared some interesting comments about the Gophers football program for Athlon Sports’ preview magazine, wondering about coach P.J. Fleck’s commitment last offseason and whether new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s scheme will translate to the Big Ten.

The coach, granted anonymity to speak more freely, also was intrigued by the addition of New Hampshire transfer quarterback Max Brosmer.

Here are the coach’s statements put into context:

“I think P.J. chased UCLA and some other jobs pretty hard to get out of there, and that didn’t happen for him.”

In an interview last winter, Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle confirmed the Bruins’ interest in Fleck was “real.” As for the supposed “other jobs,” that remains a mystery.

When Fleck was connected to UCLA in February, Coyle and Fleck had “long conversations” that weekend, and that led to Fleck professing his commitment to the Gophers on social media. Then in March, Fleck received an amended contract with annual retention bonuses worth a total of $5.7 million over the six years left on his contract.

At Big Ten Media Days late last month, Fleck appeared to reference this situation again.

“I think in 2024 it’s OK to love where you’re at,” he said at the podium at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. “It is OK to love Minnesota. It’s OK to love the position that you’re in, and I think (Coyle and I) share that.”

Fleck added that he and wife, Heather, are building a new home and plan to move into it this month.

Over his seven years in Dinkytown, Fleck has not has consecutive losing seasons at Minnesota, but will that shared “love” remain if the U meets Vegas’ low expectations of another under-.500 season this fall?

“The transfer quarterback from FCS could be a really exciting player in that offensive system. He’s already a captain for them, so they really believe he can be a game-changer for their offense.”

As a sixth-year senior with a pre-med education, Brosmer has come across as a smart and polished leader in interviews, saying all the right things since he joined the team during Quick Lane Bowl prep in December and through the start of fall camp.

Brosmer was second in FCS with 3,449 passing yards last season, making him a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Fleck pointed out that being in the running for the Payton Award, given  annually to the FCS player of the year, was especially hard because New Hampshire went 6-5 a season ago. The QB acknowledged his own adjustment to FBS competition in practices, and he still needs to prove he can not only cope but thrive against the size and speed of the Big Ten.

Just as important, Fleck will need to trust Brosmer to make plays through the air, and if things don’t go according to plan, not retreat to the comfort blanket of running the ball.

Offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said last week he trusts Brosmer with every call in the playbook. That’s a departure from predecessor Athan Kaliakmanis.

“The new defensive coordinator is known for a big attacking scheme from when he was an FCS coordinator. It will be interesting to see how that translates to this league. Minnesota doesn’t have the kind of personnel that can allow you to blitz like that.”

Hetherman built that aggressive reputation during his tenure at James Madison from 2019-21. Former Dukes defensive end Ron’Dell Carter told the Daily News Record in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2019: “It’s super aggressive. You blitz every play.”

At Minnesota, Hetherman has been asked about his defense’s calling card and his style as a coach, but like a sly linebacker or covert defensive back, he just might have disguised how often he will blitz at the U.

“We want to create explosives on defense,” Hetherman said before spring practices in March. “We want to take the football away. We want to create takeaways, change the field.”

Hetherman said he wants to throw multiple looks at offenses, and that will include moving versatile defensive linemen around to different alignments. Like pretty much every DC, he wants to make opponents one-dimensional by stopping the run and forcing them to throw the ball. That can include sacks to get opponents behind the sticks.

“How do we make it so they have to throw the football and they are not in charge of dictating to us what the play type is going to be?” Hetherman said.

The anonymous Big Ten assistant is right to question Minnesota’s personnel. From safety to cornerback and linebacker, inexperienced players within each group will need to prove they are up to the task that can include more man coverage.

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Best toaster

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Which toaster is best?

Toast is a wonderful thing — white or whole wheat, store-bought or homemade, slathered in butter or topped with avocado — and the right toaster makes it easier to get your fix at any time. You deserve better than toasters that don’t fit a standard slice of bread or give shockingly uneven results.

Finding the right one is easier than you might think once you know what to look for. If you want a reliable four-slice toaster, the Cuisinart Metal Classic 4-Slice Toaster is an excellent choice.

What to know before you buy a toaster

Two-slice toaster vs. four-slice toaster

You can divide toasters into two broad categories: two-slice and four-slice. As you might guess, two-slice toasters can toast up to two slices of bread simultaneously, while four-slice toasters can toast up to four slices of bread simultaneously. Which is best for you depends on the toast needs of your household. If several people eat breakfast together, you’ll probably need a four-slice toaster, while a two-slice model will suffice for those who usually eat alone.

The great thing about toasters is that they’re far more compact than toaster ovens, so even a four-slice model will have a smaller footprint. If you opt for a four-slice toaster, consider buying one with two sets of controls so you can easily toast one or two slices without wasting energy.

Slot size

Consider both the length and width of the slots. Extra-long slots can fit two standard slices of bread next to each other or one oversized slice of bread. If you bake your own bread regularly or buy artisan loaves, extra-long slots are the way to go. You may also want extra-wide slots as they can more easily fit bagels, English muffins, burger buns and other thick baked goods.

Toast shade selection

Most toasters have a simple dial that lets you select the desired shade of your toast, from barely warmed at one end of the scale to blackened at the other. These settings differ between toasters, so err on the side of caution until you’ve mastered your new toaster. Four-slice toasters may have two shade selection dials, so you can make one pair of slices more well-toasted than the other. This is ideal when different household members have different shade preferences.

What to look for in a quality toaster

Defrost

The defrost setting adds some extra toasting time so you can toast bread directly from frozen. This is useful to have if you often freeze loaves.

Bagel setting

The bagel setting is designed for any breads that are thicker than average, such as bagels and English muffins. It extends the toasting time while lowering the temperature, so bagels and other thick breads are warmed through without getting burned on the outside.

Cool-touch exterior

Toasters with a cool-touch exterior don’t get hot on the outside during use. This keeps users from accidentally scalding themselves and is great if you have kids in your household who use the toaster.

How much you can expect to spend on a toaster

Basic two-slice toasters start at around $10, while high-end four-slice toasters can cost up to $75.

Toaster FAQ

What are the best toasters for large slices of bread?

A. It’s frustrating when large slices of bread won’t fit in the toaster. You’re forced to either cut part of the slice off or turn the slice during toasting which results in the center of the slice being more toasted than the top and bottom. The best toasters for oversized slices are four-slice toasters with two extra long slots rather than four standard side-by-side slots. These can fit wider or taller slices of bread than other types of toaster. You might only be able to fit two slices in a four-slice toaster, but at least they’ll be evenly toasted.

Why doesn’t my toaster toast evenly on both sides?

A. If your toaster toasts extremely unevenly, it might be old and needs replacing. However, uneven toasting is a common complaint with toasters. If you buy a quality toaster, you shouldn’t have any notable unevenness. That said, a little unevenness is expected due to heat fluctuations and bread shape. If this bothers you, rotate the bread during toasting.

What’s the best toaster to buy?

Top toaster

Cuisinart Metal Classic 4-Slice Toaster

What you need to know: This roomy toaster toasts four slices at once, making it perfect for families and serious toast lovers.

What you’ll love: Each pair of slots has independent controls, which is great when making toast for two people with different shade preferences. It has bagel, defrost and reheat settings and an attractive brushed stainless steel finish.

What you should consider: It has trouble fitting taller-than-average, rectangular slices of bread.

Top toaster for the money

Hamilton Beach Extra-Wide Slot Toaster

What you need to know: An affordable two-slice toaster with extra wide slots perfect for bagels and English muffins.

What you’ll love: It’s simple to use with a shade selection dial and auto-shutoff when your toast has reached the desired shade. You can choose either red or black versions, and both colors feature stainless steel sides.

What you should consider: It’s a solid toaster for the price, but it doesn’t have any extra settings, such as bagel and defrost settings.

Worth checking out

Elite Cuisine Long Slot Cool Touch Toaster

What you need to know: The long slots make it ideal for toasting homemade bread and other oversized slices.

What you’ll love: It can toast four standard slices or two extra-large slices. The slots are extra wide to easily fit bagels and similar items. You can choose from black, white or stainless steel finishes, and the reheat and defrost settings are handy.

What you should consider: It toasts darker than you might expect, so be conservative with your shade settings.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Duluth police clear downtown homeless encampment; two arrested

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DULUTH, Minn. — Squad cars arrived at downtown Duluth’s Priley Circle shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday, blocking the entrance to the Civic Center and surrounding a homeless encampment.

Jon Otis, Duluth’s assistant fire chief of life safety, said that encampment residents were given a week’s advance notice that they would need to leave the site due to mounting health and public safety concerns. In July, police and fire personnel responded to 138 calls for service at Priley Circle, including reports of drug overdoses, disruptive behavior, assault, a tent fire, as well as incidents of public urination and defecation, resulting in unsanitary conditions.

Two people were arrested Wednesday morning “for the charge of obstructing,” according to a police department news release.

“We worked with our partners to communicate when we were coming and what our expectations were,” Otis said. “We returned yesterday at the expiration of that order. And now we’re coming back to enforce it.

“Our process has been collaborative, using city resources from different departments and working with our community nonprofit partners, obviously, because we can’t do this all on our own,” he said.

Yet James Wiseman, one of the displaced residents of the now-closed encampment, said he didn’t know where he and his also-homeless girlfriend would land.

“They’re not saying anything about making any arrangements for us,” Wiseman said. “They came in this morning and told us to just pack and leave. I have no idea what we’ll do.”

Mike Strum, another resident of the encampment, was suffering from a back injury that he said made it difficult to walk. He said officers had no patience for his slow pace, however, even when he explained his physical disability.

“They just tore down my tent and threw everything out,” he said.

Michael J. Evans began to consolidate his belongings on a sidewalk as the encampment was dismantled. He said he hoped to sell or give away some of his possessions, acknowledging they would be difficult to carry on foot.

As for where he might find a place to stay, Evans said he planned to make the rounds to local charities later to see whether they could offer any help.

Francois Medion, a homeless advocate living at the encampment, said, “We sort of saw this coming.”

In anticipation, Medion advised fellow residents to pull their belongings together Tuesday in case police decided to crack down on the encampment, as they did Wednesday morning.

City Administrator David Montgomery said they’ve been working with local service providers “to find a transitional solution while we work toward a more permanent housing solution for people experiencing homelessness.”

As for the early hour of the sweep, Montgomery said the timing was motivated primarily by an interest in ensuring the safety of the public, city staff and encampment residents.

Montgomery commended city police and fire staff for delivering a clear, firm message and providing people with ample opportunity to voluntarily comply, even after the deadline to leave the encampment arrived the previous day.

He noted that city staff were met with some hostility and foul language Monday but kept their cool, working to de-escalate confrontations.

“I need to give our folks huge kudos for dealing with a difficult situation and treating people with such dignity and grace,” Montgomery said.

Staff disposed of tents, tarps and other items Wednesday.

Montgomery said the site will be fenced off for an indefinite time as city staff reestablish damaged grounds and gardens.

The encampment was established a few months ago by pro-Palestine protesters calling for the local passage of a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Israel and Gaza. Over time, however, the encampment attracted others looking for a place to pitch tents temporarily, and the number of pro-Palestine protesters diminished.

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Best Moroccan oil

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Which Moroccan oil is best?

Moroccan oil is a hot commodity for hair and skin care. Hailing from Morocco, the nutrient-rich oil is deeply nourishing and packed with vitamin E, antioxidants and essential fatty acids.

The oil is thick and ideal for taming and conditioning frizzy, curly or thick hair. Its fatty acid content hydrates the driest of skin and helps with oil control. Despite being a heavy oil, Moroccan oil won’t make your skin break out. For hair care, Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil is the top choice from the very brand that popularized the oil globally.

What to know before you buy a Moroccan oil

Ingredients

The main ingredient in Moroccan oil is argan oil, which comes from the nut of the argan tree. The oil is considered a luxury product in its native Morocco and is processed by grinding the nuts. Outside the country, argan oil has been incorporated into cosmetic oils and mixed with other ingredients such as linseed extract (from flaxseed), fragrance and other chemical additives and renamed Moroccan oil.

Hair care uses

The most popular use for Moroccan oil is on the hair. You can apply a few drops onto your scalp thirty minutes before you wash your hair as a nourishing, anti-inflammatory scalp treatment. For styling, add a few drops to wet hair to detangle it before you blow dry. You can also use the oil as a finishing product to smooth flyaways and frizz, especially after straightening your hair. The oil adds shine to damaged, coarse or dry hair but may be too heavy for fine or thin hair types.

Skin care uses

For hydrating the skin, use Moroccan oil that’s pure argan oil. You don’t want to use a Moroccan oil formulated for the hair on the skin. Apply a thin layer to your body after getting out of the bath or shower while your skin is still damp. You can also use noncomedogenic oil on your face instead of a moisturizer. Before bedtime, rub a few drops into your skin to gently and moisturize dry or acne-prone skin.

What to look for in a quality Moroccan oil

Weight

Moroccan oil is a heavy oil and offers deep hydration. It’s ideal for coarse, thick, color-treated, dry and curly hair. However, if you have thin or fine hair, you don’t have to miss out on the benefits of this oil. Select manufacturers make a lighter version of the oil that will add shine to your hair without weighing it down or making it greasy.

Color and texture

Moroccan oil is typically light to deep gold in color. If you’re using pure argan oil, often labeled Moroccan argan oil, it may be pale in color if it’s refined. Unrefined pure argan oil is dark gold and may contain some sediment. You want a Moroccan oil that’s smooth in texture, even if it contains other ingredients.

Organic

Even though most Moroccan oils are not formulated for consumption, you still want to pay attention to what you’re putting on your body and scalp. Organic Moroccan oils come from argan trees grown without using agrochemicals, which can be toxic to your health when absorbed through your skin.

Scent

Pure argan oil has a nutty scent, which isn’t what most users want to smell like. This is why most Moroccan oils are mixed with essential oils or added fragrances for a pleasant or sweet-smelling scent. However, the added fragrance is often chemical and can cause allergic reactions in sensitive users. If this is you, find a Moroccan oil that’s fragrance-free or pure argan oil.

How much you can expect to spend on Moroccan oil

A bottle of Moroccan oil that holds around 3 ounces can cost anywhere between $6 to $48.

Moroccan oil FAQ

Can I cook with Moroccan oil?

A. We don’t recommend cooking with Moroccan oil unless it’s pure argan oil. Moroccan oil may contain cosmetic additives that are not safe for consumption. To be on the safe side, purchase culinary argan oil instead of a cosmetic-grade oil for cooking.

How should I store my Moroccan oil?

A. Moroccan oil generally comes in a brown or amber-colored bottle. Light exposure compromises its nutrients and can turn it rancid. It’s always best to store your Moroccan oil in a clear or dark-colored bottle in a cool, dry, dark place, such as a medicine cabinet or drawer, with the bottle tightly closed.

What’s the best Moroccan oil to buy?

Top Moroccan oil

Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil

What you need to know: Combining argan oil with linseed extract, this wildly popular Moroccan oil is worth the price.

What you’ll love: This hair oil boasts superior performance and is a game changer for people looking to smooth challenging frizz or coarse texture. It leaves hair soft and shiny. The scent is pleasant and much loved by Moroccanoil’s loyal fan base.

What you should consider: The formula contains silicone, which can build up on the hair over time.

Top Moroccan oil for the money

OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil

What you need to know: This low-cost, high-performance oil is lightweight and instantly increases hair shine.

What you’ll love: This is a great leave-in oil that you can use both as a styling primer and after using heat tools. A little goes a long way. It doesn’t make hair look greasy or weigh it down, and the scent is nice.

What you should consider: There are more fillers in the product than in argan oil.

Worth checking out

US Organic Moroccan Argan Oil

What you need to know: This multipurpose oil is pure argan oil without added ingredients or fragrance.

What you’ll love: The oil only contains one ingredient, organic argan oil, and is nontoxic. You can use this thick oil on the hair and body. The glass dropper makes it easy to dispense. It’s fantastic for use on cuticles.

What you should consider: The authentic oil is not fragranced and the natural smell is not for everyone.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.