Soil Compilation

Music
Craig Finn Interview

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After discovering The Hold Steady at Riot Fest, Logan Melia sits down with Craig Finn to discuss his new solo record Always Been, the evolution of narrative songwriting, and finding meaning in modern American life. From faith and mental health to baseball heartbreak, the conversation spans far beyond music.

Online Content
Dancing Differently

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For nearly 40 years, Jhe Russell needed to be perfect. After all, his dance career demanded it. But when injuries and the chaos of life took him in a different direction, he found peace in a job he never expected.

Sports
Chase Hannen

Hawkeyes Sputter, Fall to Blue Demons at Home, 93-78

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Image Rights: 247Sports DePaul jumped out to a 19-2 lead and never looked back as an electric offense downed the outgunned Iowa Hawkeyes, 93-78. Junior forward, Paul Reed, led the line with a double-double, gathering 25 points and 12 boards on 10-of-14 shooting. The 6-foot-9 Blue Demons frontman buried three of his four attempts from deep, setting the tone for a white-hot shooting display for DePaul. The Blue Demons, whose last out-of-conference road win over a power-six basketball school came against Northwestern in December of 2013, started five-for-six from beyond the three-point line and finished the evening with an 11-for-20 … Continued

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Five New-Look Teams for the 2018 Major League Soccer Season

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Image per mlssoccer.com After months of waiting, Major League Soccer is on its way back. CONCACAF Champions League has already begun and the United States’ domestic league returns on Mar. 3. Plenty of teams have received a complete facelift over the three-month break with coaches and players shuffling in and out. There are five teams highlighted in this article that managed to revamp their rosters for March. Keep in mind that there is a summer transfer window in which all teams can buy and sell players for the rest of the season, so these lineups certainly won’t be completely intact … Continued

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Stefon Diggs for Gold: The Minneapolis Miracle

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Stefon Diggs in the west end zone after topping the Saints on Sunday (Star Tribune) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – On all fours in the west end zone, he needed a moment or two to catch his breath. Not one of the 66,612 in U.S. Bank Stadium could blame him. After all, he did just save the season. — Stefon Diggs wasn’t supposed to be here. The six-foot wide receiver out of Maryland was drafted in the middle of the fifth round back in 2015 and came into a 7-9 Minnesota Vikings squad as the sixth receiver on the depth chart. He … Continued

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Why Iowa Basketball Can Be Spooky By March

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Natives of Iowa City have always mixed their love for Halloween with their love of the Hawkeyes (Iowalum)   It’s now October 31st, meaning Halloween is upon us and college basketball is right around the corner. Exhibitions are being played across the nation, used to size up the talent of all 347 Division I college basketball teams in the country before the regular season is in full effect. In the middle of it all, Iowa City is now teeming with excitement around this year’s Hawkeyes: a team that bolsters youth and emerging talent with the recent graduation of star guard … Continued

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USMNT World Cup Absence is Multi-Faceted, Yet Still Inexcusable

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Christian Pulisic is tackled by Shane Sandy in the USA’s 1-2 loss to Trinidad & Tobago (Denver Post)   For the first time since 1986, the United States will not be participating in the World Cup. Coming off of a shock 2-1 defeat at Port of Spain to Trinidad & Tobago, both Panama and Honduras earned upset victories over Costa Rica and Mexico, respectively, to leapfrog the Yankees in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. While crazed emotions finally settle along with the crushed hopes of American supporters, it’s now necessary to take a step back and see just how the USMNT managed … Continued

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Big Ten Football in Full Swing

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In the realm of college football, the Big Ten is often considered one of the best top-to-bottom conferences in the nation. It is home to 13 Heisman trophy winners, 22 national titles, six NFL starting quarterbacks and currently holds four of the top 11 teams in the AP Poll.   This storied conference is rich in past glory, but the teams continue to make history every year. All fourteen teams are in a constant battle for supremacy in the conference and the 2017 Big Ten season is just getting underway.   Rutgers – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A … Continued

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Premier League: Matchweek 6 Preview

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Jamie Vardy is enthusiastic after winning a penalty versus Huddersfield (Daily Mirror)   First team to beat Manchester City wins. Go!   Matchweek 5 Review: Sep. 15, 2:00 PM CST / Vitality Stadium Bournemouth 2 1 Brighton & Hove Surman (67′) Defoe (73′) (55′) March   Bournemouth secured its first win on the year after a disappointing first four. These three points are all thanks to the heroics of 21-year-old Jordan Ibe. After being subbed on in the 65th minute, he assisted goals in the 67th and 73rd minutes to give his squad the lead for good.   Brighton played … Continued

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An Unconventional Victory for the Hawkeyes

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Akrum Wadley high-steps his way to a negated touchdown (HawkCentral)   IOWA CITY, Iowa – This was not your typical Iowa football game.   Iowa received the ball to begin the game and Nate Stanley led an initially impressive opening drive, capped off by a disappointing fumble into the back of the end zone by Nick Easley. This resulted in the Mean Green of North Texas getting the ball, leaving Iowa stunned with nothing to show for its 12-play, 77-yard effort.   On the sixth play of the ensuing drive, Jeffery Wilson of North Texas scampered for a 41-yard score with … Continued

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Premier League: Matchweek 5 Preview

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Eric Chuopo-Moting scored a brace in Stoke’s 2-2 draw versus Manchester United (BleacherReport) There was plenty of action across English soccer this week, with the PL resuming and both Champions League and Europa League getting started. Matchweek 4 provided 28 goals in this set of league fixtures, tying the opening weekend for the most thus far.   Matchweek 4 Review:   Sep. 9, 6:30 AM CST / Etihad Stadium Manchester City 5 0 Liverpool Aguero (24′) Jesus (45′ +6, 53′) Sane (77′, 90′ +1) Otamendi (6′) Fernandinho (28′) (19′) Alexander-Arnold (37′) Mane (80′) Can     I couldn’t have been … Continued

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Premier League: Matchweek 4 Preview

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Raheem Sterling seconds after scoring to beat Bournemouth – and minutes before being sent off. (The Independent)   The international break is complete and players across the globe are making their way back to work. With the September round of the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers wrapped up, we can now delve into the thick of the Premier League season.   Matchweek 4 Preview:   Sep. 9, 6:30 AM CST / Etihad Stadium Manchester City  1 2 Liverpool   After a thrashing of Arsenal at Anfield two weeks ago, Liverpool sit atop my PL Power Rankings. This may come as a … Continued

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