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This week’s AEW Dynamite was Summer Blockbuster as Will Osprey faced Swerve Strickland, and a Kenny Omega-Kazuchika Okada contract signing. It was the second straight week where AEW presented a 4-hour show. It was Dynamite and Collision back to back for four hours of content. I was watching the NBA Finals on Wednesday. I’m only […]

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The John Report

This week’s AEW Dynamite was Summer Blockbuster as Will Osprey faced Swerve Strickland, and a Kenny Omega-Kazuchika Okada contract signing.

It was the second straight week where AEW presented a 4-hour show. It was Dynamite and Collision back to back for four hours of content. I was watching the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

I’m only going to review the Dynamite portion because that’s what I review every week. I don’t review Collision, but I’ll put the results in at the bottom of the review. The shows aired on TSN2 here in Canada.

For this review, I’ll go summary style for most of the show and play-by-play for one or two matches.

This was AEW Dynamite episode #297 from the Moda Center’s Theater of the Clouds in Portland, Oregon. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

There was some backstage pre-show walking of Toni Storm arriving with Luther. “Hangman” Adam Page talked to Christopher Daniels, who told Page that Page has friends in the locker room and Daniels encouraged Page despite their history. As Page walked in, Jon Moxley and the Death Riders were shown keeping an eye on him.

It’s Wednesday night, and you know what that means. The commentary team was Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, and Taz.

The big match is starting the show with Will Ospreay up first, followed by Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana. The fans love both guys and they are two of my favorites as well. The NBA Finals Game 3 on ABC started at 8:30 p.m. ET, so putting this match on before the game started was a smart move.

Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana)

The reason the graphic at the top of this review says “2” is that they had a great match at Forbidden Door in June 2024 that Swerve won, so this is their second match.

They shook hands at the start of the match. They started out doing some moves like headscissors, but both guys landed on their feet and they had a staredown after that. Swerve decked Will with an elbow to the jaw. Will was bleeding from the mouth or nose early on. Will hit a hurricanrana, body slam and a standing Sky Twister Press. Will chopped Swerve a few times, Swerve no sold it and Swerve decked Will with an elbow smash. Swerve hit an uppercut to Will’s back. Swerve hit a jumping flatliner and a suplex for two. Taz said that hooking the leg on a pin is overrated. Yeah, but Taz, it’s a pro wrestling commentator cliché to put over how important it is to do that. Just saying we’ve been hearing it our whole lives. Swerve hit a backbreaker for two. Will hit a chop to the throat and a corkscrew kick. Will jumped off the top rope with a springboard elbow. Will did a handspring dive over the top onto Swerve on the floor. Good job by Swerve to step up and catch Will because otherwise it would have missed. They went to a picture-in-picture break.

(Commercial)

Will was in control after jumping off the top with a forearm to the back. Will went for an Oscutter off the ropes, but Swerve avoided it and hit a Cutter. Swerve hit a neckbreaker. Will got a backslide pin for two. Swerve kicked Will against the ropes and hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Swerve put Will across the top rope and Swerve jumped off the top with a double foot stomp to the back for two. Will and Swerve avoided big moves. Swerve did an up kick to Will, but Will came back with an elbow smash to the jaw. Swerve avoided a slam and hit a powerslam. Will countered Swerve and hit a Stundog Millionaire. Will jumped off the ropes, but Swerve caught him and applied a short arm scissors on the left arm. Will managed to get back up to his feet and slammed Swerve hard into the turnbuckle. Will trapped Swerve against the turnbuckle and hit a superkick. Will hit a Reverse Rana to spike Swerve on his head. Swerve hit a forearm, but Will came back with a Spanish Fly for two. Will jumped off the ropes and hit an Oscutter for two, as usual, with that move. Swerve did a back body drop that sent Will over the top to the floor. Swerve tried a leap to the floor, but Swerve was selling a left knee injury. Will hit Swerve with the Hidden Blade on the floor. The fans were chanting “Holy s**t” for that. Both guys were down on the floor, which led to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

The two men were standing as Will hit two superkicks to the jaw that didn’t knock Swerve down. Will hit two more kicks to knock Swerve down to his knees. Will went for the Hidden Blade elbow, but Swerve ducked and Will hit the turnbuckle. Swerve got a hold of Will’s left arm and did an arm drag off the top rope. Swerve applied the short arm scissors on the left arm again. Will got out of it, went for a Styles Clash and Swerve hit the Deadeye that Hangman Page does. That move always looks more painful for the guy doing the move. Swerve went for the Swerve Stomp, but Will avoided it and Will hit a Hidden Blade for a two count while doing a cover where he was laying with his back on Swerve. The fans were chanting, “This is awesome,” as the wrestlers had a staredown. Excalibur noted it was about 25 minutes into the 30-minute time limit. Will and Swerve exchanged elbow strikes, Will kicked Swerve in the leg and Swerve did an arm-wringer takedown followed by a House Call kick. Swerve went up top and hit a Swerve Stomp on Will for a two count. Swerve stomped on Will’s left arm as well. Swerve charged, but Will was back up with an elbow smash. Will hit the Stormbreaker for just a two count. Taz noted they had about two minutes left in the time limit. Will teased a Tiger Driver, Swerve avoided it and Swerve hit a Vertebreaker, which is a cool looking move. Swerve hit a House Call kick to the head as well went to the apron and Swerve was too tired to make a cover. Will was seated on the apron while Swerve went up top and the bell rang to end the match. The fans booed that. It was a 30-minute time limit draw.

I feel bad for the fans in the arena because they never announced that they were close to the 30-minute time limit. With two minutes left, the ring announcer should say that they are 28 minutes into the match. It would get the fans more into the match.

Match Result: 30-Minute Time Limit Draw

Analysis: ****1/2 Awesome match as expected by Swerve and Will, who are two of the best wrestlers in AEW. The draw finish was done to show how even these guys are and prevent them from taking a fall, so it keeps them both strong. It will also likely set up a rematch between them, which will be highly anticipated because of how talented Will and Swerve are. There was some incredible counter wrestling throughout the match. Will hit his Hidden Blade and Swerve hit his Swerve Stomp, but they weren’t able to win with them. Will also hit a Stormbreaker that was only good for a two count. A lot of big moves were hit, but they kicked out of everything until they got to the 30-minute mark for the draw. I’m not a huge fan of time-limit draw finish endings, but I get why it’s done not to have either guy lose.

Swerve Strickland did a promo saying that he’s in so much pain, right? Swerve said that they just showed they are the best because AEW is where the best wrestle. Swerve said the only way to prove you’re the best is to win matches. Swerve talked about how they are both messed up, but he knows that Will wants to try to beat Swerve. That led to Swerve saying, “Sudden death.” Swerve wanted overtime, but it wasn’t happening.

The Death Riders music hit as AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir made their entrance from the back part of the arena. The Young Bucks went into the ring and attacked Swerve from behind. The Bucks hit the BTE Trigger double knee attack to the head. Nicholas Jackson superkicked Prince Nana to knock him off the apron to the floor. The Bucks handcuffed both of Swerve’s wrists to the middle ropes. The Bucks hit multiple superkicks on Swerve while nobody tried to help Swerve. The Bucks put on shoes that had thumbtacks on the bottom of them. Will stepped in front of Swerve and the Bucks superkicked Swerve as he took the superkicks with the tacks in them. The kick that Nick did looked better than the kick that Matt did. Will sold it great while Dr. Samsson checked on Will. The fans were chanting “F**k the Bucks” at the EVPs. Will was getting checked on by the doctor and referees.

Analysis: A good angle showing Will respected Swerve because he stepped in front of him to take the bullet, so to speak. I thought the angle was well done. It feels like All In Texas is going to have The Young Bucks against Swerve and Ospreay. There isn’t another obvious match for Swerve or Ospreay, so doing a tag team match makes sense. They could make it a Street Fight kind of match to allow them to be more violent during the match.

The AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada was interviewed by Renee Paquette, who mentioned his All In Texas match against Kenny Omega. Don Callis interrupted before Okada could speak. Callis wondered why Okada was in this match instead of Kyle Fletcher or Konosuke Takeshita. Callis said that makes him sick. Okada grabbed Don’s finger and twisted it, so Don’s “family” Lance Archer, Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita showed up. Okada called Callis a “bitch” and left.

(Commercial)

The Hurt Syndicate’s MVP was backstage. The Hurt Syndicate was shown beating up Komander, and MJF had Komander’s mask, so Komander was taken out of the match. That clip was from earlier today.

Mistico vs. Blake Christian (w/Lee Johnson)

Mistico is from CMLL, with the announcers putting him over as a big deal since AEW is in Mexico City next week. The announcers were putting over Mistico a lot. Blake pulled Mistico off the top rope with an armdrag to take control. Mistico hit a hurricanrana and an armdrag off the top that Blake sold well. Mistico hit a suicide dive headbutt onto Blake on the floor. Johnson grabbed Mistico’s leg, so Blake knocked Mistico down and Blake hit an impressive dive onto Mistico on the floor. Blake hit a springboard 450 Splash for two. Mistico got back up with a Spanish Fly slam off the top for the pinfall win. It went about four minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Mistico

Analysis: **1/2 Easy win to put over Mistico. Blake is talented, but he’s not being showcased on AEW TV, despite Ian mentioning that he wins matches in ROH. It’s strange how a 450 Splash is just a regular move in a four-minute match, rather than a finish.

The Hurt Syndicate’s MVP, MJF and Tag Team Champions Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin made their entrance. MVP said that MJF has a message for Mistico. MJF said that was very impressive, while also stating that he is the most complete wrestler in the sport today. MJF said he’ll give Mistico a match at Grand Slam Mexico and he’ll rip that stupid mask off his face. MJF said one night only, he’s dusting off the red, white and blue for Mistico. MJF said God Bless USA and your American hero, MJF. The fans booed. A giant USA flag, streamers and a patriotic song played.

MJF got in the ring with Mistico, who took the microphone. Mistico said he’ll see him next week in Mistico’s home, Arena Mexico. Mistico spoke in Spanish. MJF said that you’re not Mistico, you’re just sloppy Sin Cara. MJF tried to attack, Mistico fought back and Bobby & Shelton beat up Mistico. MJF teased taking off Mistico’s mask, but that led to The Hurt Syndicate’s opponents making their entrance. The trio of Dorada, Knight and Bailey hit cross body blocks on the THS guys.

Analysis: A simple angle to build up the MJF-Mistico match for next week. MJF will be hated in Mexico next week, I’m sure. Nice Sin Cara failure reference to recall the early 2010s character that Mistico played in WWE, and it failed miserably. He did a lot better as Mistico.

The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Maxwell Jacob Friedman (w/MVP) vs. Jet Speed – Kevin Night & “Speedball” Mike Bailey, and Mascara Dorada

MJF had an MVP-like vest on. MJF hit Dorada with a body slam. Knight and Bailey hit some tag team moves on MJF, including Bailey hitting a standing moonsault. Lashley grabbed legal man Dorada and tossed him over the top to the floor. MJF distracted the referee while Lashley did that.

(Commercial)

The match returned with Knight getting the tag and hitting a dropkick. Lashley and Shelton both went in the ring against Jet Speed’s Bailey and Knight. Shelton clotheslined Bailey while Lashley hit a Dominator slam on Knight. Lashley spiked Bailey with a spinebuster. MJF hit a Made In Japan slam for a two count. Bailey kicked MJF and Dorada hit a springboard dropkick. Lashley hit a Spear on Dorada. Bailey hit Lashley with rapid-fire kicks, and Knight hit a DDT on Lashley. Jet Speed did a double dropkick to knock Shelton out of the ring. The babyface trio all hit dives onto the heels on the floor, which included Dorada doing an SSP off the middle rope onto MJF. MJF distracted the referee, so MVP hit Bailey with the cane to the body. MJF hit a hammerlock DDT on Bailey for the pinfall win. It went about 11 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Analysis: ***1/4 A good match to put over The Hurt Syndicate since MJF is against Mistico next week, so of course, MJF got the win here. I like the Jet Speed team a lot and I think they could be built up to be title contenders.

After the match, The Hurt Syndicate group beat up Knight, Bailey and Dorada. MJF pulled Dorada’s mask off, so Dorada covered his face and turned around so he was facing forward. Dorada rolled out of the ring. Mistico went into the ring and Mistico hit the La Mistica armbar on MJF while Shelton and Bobby were on the floor. Mistico left.

Analysis: MJF taking off Dorada’s mask shows he could do it to Mistico next week, but it probably won’t happen.

(Commercial)

The Death Riders Attack “Hangman” Adam Page

There was supposed to “Hangman” Adam Page promo, but he was attacked by Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta of the Death Riders. They had page’s mouth taped and his hands tied behind his back. Marina Shafir had the AEW World Title briefcase, while Jon Moxley joined them in the ring. Nobody tried to help Hangman, of course.

Jon Moxley said that he’s terribly sorry about this. Moxley said that they needed to have a real conversation. Moxley said that these fans need him focused because this is your time – All In for the AEW World Championship. Moxley said this is do or die. Moxley said he’s been watching Hangman for a long time and said he is complicated. Moxley said Page is the “Millennial Cowboy” searching for something. Moxley told Page he had four weeks to find it and to step up so he could become the man to be the man everybody wanted him to become. Moxley said if you’re not ready to do that, then pack your shit and get out. Page headbutted Moxley, but then the Death Riders trapped Hangman. Claudio wanted to step on a chair that was on Page’s neck, but Moxley stopped him. The Opps trio of Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata showed up for the save, so Moxley and friends ran away.

Analysis: It took a while for the save to happen because they were nice enough to let Jon Moxley do his promo first. Moxley is skilled at playing the cheap heel with his group backing him up.

Page did a promo saying he has come so far and would run through death itself to take that World Championship. Page said if he finds any of them tonight, he will take their heads. That was it.

Analysis: The good news for Page is this show is really long, so he has plenty of time to find them.

(Commercial)

Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay & Tay Melo

Tay is back after two years. She had a baby with her husband, Sammy Guevera, and now she’s back in action. Ford pulled Tay out of the ring and sent her into the steel steps while Bayne hit Jay with a body slam. Jay got some offense going with forearms and spin kicks on Ford. Bayne hit a pump kick to take control going into the PIP break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Tay hitting a German Suplex and running knee on Ford. Bayne was back in with a big elbow smash on Tay, but Tay came back with three pump kicks to Bayne’s face. Tay sent Bayne out of the ring, she hit a senton and Jay jumped off the turnbuckle with a cross body block on Bayne. Tay and Jay had to wait for about ten seconds while Ford set up and hit a moonsault on both women on the floor. Bayne hit a double fallaway slam. Ford insisted on a tag, Jay choked out Bayne and Tay hit a knee smash to the face of Ford for the pinfall win. It went about 11 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Anna Jay & Tay Melo

Analysis: *** A solid tag team match to give Tay a win in her return to action. There are rumors that AEW will introduce Women’s Tag Team Titles soon, which makes sense, given their large roster of women and a decent number of teams. No surprise that Ford lost for her team since Bayne is more of a dominant heel wrestler who is protected a lot.

A video package featured the Kazuchika Okada-Kenny Omega rivalry, referencing their rich history of four epic matches together. I thought it was an excellent video that showed a lot of highlights of their outstanding matches. I’m not a regular NJPW watcher, but I watched their matches when they got a lot of attention last decade, and those matches were spectacular.

(Commercial)

Contract Signing: Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada

There was a table in the ring, along with the titles belonging to the wrestlers. AEW’s Tony Schiavone hosted the segment. The AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada made his entrance first. Kenny Omega made his entrance as the International Champion. It’s Okada against Omega at All In Texas on July 12th.

Tony said that the winner of the match at All In Texas would be the winner of the brand-new AEW Unified Title. In other words, the Intercontinental Championship and the Continental Championship will be merged into a new title.

Analysis: I have never understood why the Continental Championship was created in the first place. I know they did the Continental Classic tournament, but creating that title was unnecessary. They already had the AEW World, TNT, and International Titles. AEW has finally realized they have too many titles in the men’s division, so they are merging them into one.

Okada signed the contract first. Omega said it had been seven years since their last match. Omega said he barely recognized himself in the video package. Omega said let’s leave it all in the ring one final time…for everything. Omega signed the contract. Omega offered his hand for a handshake, so Okada shook it.

Don Callis walked out for a promo as the fans booed him as usual. There was quickly a “F**k Don Callis” chant while other fans booed him a lot. Callis claimed that this match should not be between Omega and Okada, but rather with Kyle or Takeshita. Omega said that he’s beaten them. Omega said Callis wasn’t going to ruin this match. Omega said for this match, it’s Kenny against Okada. Omega said he knows all of Don’s tricks. Callis said Omega didn’t know this trick as Okada hit Omega in the back of the head with a belt shot. Okada beat up Omega with punches. Callis gave Okada a “steel” baton, and Okada hit Omega in the stomach, while Excalibur mentioned that Omega had diverticulitis. Okada hit Omega in the back as well. The fans were chanting, “You Sold Out” at Okada. The AEW medical team checked on Omega and put him on a stretcher. The copyright graphic went on the screen to end Dynamite.

Okada went up top and hit an elbow drop to the stomach while Omega was on the stretcher board. Ouch. Nice cheap shot. Christoper Daniels went into the ring to try to stop Okada from doing more damage. Okada knocked Daniels down in the ring. Okada hit another elbow drop from the apron onto Omega on the floor. Omega was spitting up blood. Good use of the blood capsule to make it look worse. Okada left with Callis through the crowd.

Don Callis and Kazuchika Okada were backstage where Alex Marvez tried to talk to them, but Don said they’re not talking now. Callis and Okada left in a car that was waiting for them.

Analysis: Poor Kenny. I thought it was very effective as a cheap attack by Okada to get some heat on him and make the match with Omega even more personal. The thing with a “steel” baton is you barely have to touch the guy during the attack and it’s all about the sell by Omega, which was great. I don’t know if this means Okada will be joining the Don Callis Family or be managed by Callis for just one match. Okada was part of The Elite with The Young Bucks (and the absent Jack Perry), but that group hasn’t been together for a long time.

Here are the match results from the Collision portion of Summer Blockbuster.

* Kyle Fletcher (w/Lance Archer) defeated Anthony Bowens (w/Billy Gunn)

* Toni Storm (w/Luther) defeated Julia Hart (w/Skye Blue)

* Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii & Willow Nightingale defeated The MxM Collection and Taya Valkyrie (w/Johnny TV)

* Bandido defeated The Beast Mortos

* Thekla defeated Queen Aminata

* The Don Callis Family – Konosuke Takeshita, Lance Archer, Josh Alexander & Hechichero defeated Paragon – Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong, and Daniel Garcia

Analysis: I think all of those match results were obvious. The main event could have gone either way, but I’m not surprised by The Don Callis Family getting the win. I’m sure the announcers said every match was amazing, every wrestler is in the best shape of their careers and AEW is the best.

That was the end of the four-hour Summer Blockbuster.

===

Three Stars of the Show

  1. Will Ospreay
  2. Swerve Strickland
  3. Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada

===

The Scoreboard

This Week: 7.5 out of 10

Last Week: 7.5

2025 Average: 7.37

===

Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite

I enjoyed the show for the most part. There was one amazing match between Ospreay and Strickland that was one of the best TV matches of the year. Most of the other matches were good or just okay, but they didn’t really touch Will-Swerve in terms of greatness. Will and Swerve were featured in the first 40 minutes of the show, so they received a lot of screen time. That angle with The Young Bucks will likely lead to a match between the Bucks and Will and Swerve at All In Texas.

The Kenny Omega-Kazuchika Okada angle was very effective in making it feel like a personal rivalry. If it was just a match where two guys shook hands and had respect, that would be fine, but I think it was smart to make Okada very heelish with that cheap attack.

The rest of the show was pretty good. Once again, the match between Ospreay and Strickland carried the show this week.

===

Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays. You can contact me using any of the methods below.

John Canton

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @johnreport

College Sports

COUNTERPOINT: Unhappy with tips jobs? Get another job

The other night, after the House passed the “Big Beautiful Bill of Goods” (BBBOG), I went out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I know the people there; they are friendly, hardworking, and they allow me to speak Italian with them. It is a place where I can forget that […]

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The other night, after the House passed the “Big Beautiful Bill of Goods” (BBBOG), I went out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. I know the people there; they are friendly, hardworking, and they allow me to speak Italian with them. It is a place where I can forget that I am in a city where some of the trash is piling up on street corners (the garbage collectors are on strike), and some people are marching through those streets yelling about genocide. This restaurant is my Italian home away from home.

After enjoying my Carciofi fritti and tagliatelle alla panna, all washed down with an Aperol Spritz, I was faced with an existential crisis. Pondering the check, which was quite reasonable, I had to decide whether to leave the 40 percent that I always tip at this restaurant I love, or cling to my principles and do what I said I would do on Facebook: leave nothing more than a 10% token.

I made this vow of gratuity poverty after reading about the “no tax on tips” provision in the BBBOG. This, among many other aspects of the egregious mess that Congress passed, was one of the things that angered me the most. Why give special treatment to money you earn from tips, as opposed to all the other ways hard-working Americans pay the bills?

Enough about food industry workers making their living on tips because they earn so little in their regular paychecks. Enough about how they work so hard to make sure that we all enjoy magnificent dining experiences (yeah, right.)

I’ve heard these arguments repeatedly. My response comes from my “Blink and you will miss it” foray into the food-service industry.

I worked at a fast-food restaurant, which is even more grueling than working in a trendy bar or a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Oh — and no tips.

Turns out you don’t get a gratuity after waiving “Happy Trails” to a cranky customer who just told you to do something anatomically impossible to yourself. So please, excuse me if I don’t have much empathy for those who say they shouldn’t have to pay taxes on their income.

Tips are income, period. And that income averages $25 an hour for wait staff at full-service restaurants, according to the payroll company ADP. At upscale restaurants, $50 an hour is not uncommon.

The solution for people who aren’t happy with what they’re earning from tips: Get another job.

Maybe teach in a Catholic school, where they don’t get tips and their entire paltry income is taxed. Maybe become a trash collector where the conditions of your employment are likely far worse than a job serving up platters of pasta. Perhaps become a healthcare worker and empty bedpans, with no tips, for minimum wage.

Whatever you do, though, do not try to convince me that your tips should get a subsidy from fellow taxpayers.

In case you missed it, yes — I am outraged by Congress approving one of President Donald Trump’s most pandering campaign promises. I doubt this put him over the top last November, but I do remember him out on the campaign trail talking like some 21st-century Emma Goldman about the value of the proletariat, and how they needed a break from the establishment.

Giving one group of people a special tax break, whether or not they need or deserve it, is an insult to the other hardworking Americans who show up every day, do their jobs, and rarely get so much as a “thank you,” much less a 20% tip.

I suppose I now have to learn how to cook.

Christine Flowers is an immigration lawyer in Philadelphia. She wrote this for InsideSources.com.



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University Park Townes in State College | Penn State, State College News

Inch & Co. Construction, in partnership with Cascade Capital, announced a new townhome development project, University Park Townes, and planned to break ground this upcoming September in State College. Just eight minutes north of Beaver Stadium, High Tech Road will highlight this $47 million project just steps away from the State College Regional Airport. For […]

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Inch & Co. Construction, in partnership with Cascade Capital, announced a new townhome development project, University Park Townes, and planned to break ground this upcoming September in State College.

Just eight minutes north of Beaver Stadium, High Tech Road will highlight this $47 million project just steps away from the State College Regional Airport.

For a short-term or long-term stay in Happy Valley, this property has you covered.

Brandy Meyer said she believes the development approach is a timely response to the concurrent changes in the housing market.

“At Inch & Co., we view build-to-rent as a strategic answer to shifting housing trends and renter preferences,” Meyer, Inch & Co.’s Head of Capital Markets, said. “It’s a model designed to deliver both stable long-term leases and premium short-term income, fueled by Penn State and local employment demand.”

University Park Townes is a 15.7 acre community that will feature 17 buildings with 146 three-story townhomes.







University Park Townes, similar kitchen

Similar Inch & Co. townhome, Emerson Flats, in York, Pa.




The townhomes will offer 1,478 square feet across three bedrooms, and 3.5 bathrooms with rent averaging around $2,300 per month.

In addition, 40 to 73 short-term rental units with two bedrooms and 1.5 baths covering 830 square feet will have open doors to visiting alumni and weekend football fans.

Former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula expressed his connection with the founders of Inch & Co.

“I love Johnny and Jeff Inch, (and) they’ve been in my corner since high school,” Beau said. “I’d always ask them questions about their business and naturally had an interest in real estate.”

What began as two separate landscaping businesses combined in 2012, when brothers Johnny and Jeff Inch merged their operations to launch Inch & Co., a vertically integrated real estate firm based in York, Pennsylvania.







University Park Townes, rendering

Rendering of townhome for University Park Townes. 




With their early support for Penn State football’s NIL program and ongoing collaboration with the university’s alumni, the development is as much about giving back as it is about building forward for the Inch brothers.

Reflecting on that point, Beau added his thoughts on the construction as an investor.

“I’m in a position now where investing is a must,” Beau said. “I’m an LP (limited partner) in a couple of deals already with Inch, and a townhome project in State College seems to make a lot of sense.”

Joining him on the investment side is fellow Penn State alum and former tight end Adam Breneman, who has also partnered with Inch & Co. on other projects.

The development’s capital formation is being managed by Cascade Capital and Breneman Media, with property management led by Inch & Co. Property Management.

While the company has earned its reputation developing multi-family properties in York and surrounding counties, Inch & Co. recently announced plans to expand into emerging markets in North Carolina and Ohio.







University Park Townes, similar kitchen 2

Similar Inch & Co. townhome, Emerson Flats, in York, Pa.




However, State College remains a sentimental favorite.

Cade Pribula, Beau’s brother and investor of University Park Townes, expressed his expectations for the soon-to-begin development.

“Everyone at Cascade Capital and Inch & Co. is excited about the University Park Townes development in State College,” Cade said. “A lot of employees, stakeholders and partners have PSU ties, and will use this as an excuse to get up to State College a couple more times a year.”

For fans of Penn State football, real estate or both, University Park Townes represents an opportunity to be part of something that blends investing with true Nittany pride.

For Johnny and Jeff Inch, it’s another chance to build a community in their favorite backyard.

The development is now open to accredited investors with a minimum investment of $100,000. The project is targeting a 20% internal rate of return and a 2.5x equity multiple.

Those interested in investing may contact bmeyer@inchandco.com for more information.

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Column | A summer sport: Running into people from high school | Columns | Opinion

There are certain things you expect when you come home for the summer: overpacked drawers in your childhood room, questions from relatives about your major and, like clockwork, running into people from high school everywhere you go. This summer, I’ve been working at the local community center. It’s a good gig: scan some IDs, give […]

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There are certain things you expect when you come home for the summer: overpacked drawers in your childhood room, questions from relatives about your major and, like clockwork, running into people from high school everywhere you go.

This summer, I’ve been working at the local community center. It’s a good gig: scan some IDs, give some tours and occasionally point to where the water fountain is. But what I didn’t expect was just how much of a social rewind it would become.

Every week, like some kind of low-stakes ritual, the same four guys from my high school show up to play basketball. Without fail, they come through the doors, gym bags slung over their shoulders, looking like they never left senior year behind. They aren’t bad guys, just the types who always seemed like they had something to prove.

Back in school, they were loud, semi-athletic and kind of everywhere. Not people I hung out with, not people I had real problems with either. Just … those guys. The ones you remember mostly because they were hard to ignore.

Now they stroll in like they own the place. One of them always tosses a comment my way, usually something like “still working hard, huh?” with a smirk that suggests he thinks this job is somehow a punchline. I smile, say “yep,” and scan him in, even though I already know all of their names by now.

They head to the gym, where I can hear the squeak of their sneakers and occasional shouts of “foul” echoing through the halls like it’s the state finals.

Weirdly, these guys have become part of the rhythm of my summer. It’s not that I dislike them, it’s just that running into them every week reminds me how much has changed for me and how much hasn’t for some people.

In college, everything feels new. You’re surrounded by people who don’t know your past, who meet you as you are now. Back home, there’s this weird weight of familiarity, like you’re being slotted back into an old version of yourself, whether or not it still fits.

It’s not just them. A couple of my coworkers are from my graduating class and a few are younger. People I remember seeing around school when I was a junior or senior.

It’s strange working with someone who once sat a few rows behind you in math class and now you’re swapping shifts and gossiping about weird gym patrons like you’ve been friends the whole time.

There’s an unspoken rule when you run into someone from high school: pretend it’s not weird. You both recognize each other, maybe say a casual “hey” and go about your day. It’s like a social muscle you haven’t used in a while, polite nods, vague smiles and lots of mutual pretending that the past doesn’t sit between you.

I have to admit, as much as I internally roll my eyes when I see those four guys checking in again, there’s something oddly comforting about it, too. They’re consistent. They show up. They still have that energy, that chemistry, like they never skipped a beat.

While I’m not trying to relive my high school days, something is grounding about seeing familiar faces doing something they love — even if I wouldn’t choose to join them.

Maybe that’s just part of being home. It’s a weird in-between space. You’re not the person you were in high school, but you’re not quite fully formed either.

So you navigate this strange middle ground, bumping into people who knew you when you were figuring it all out. Some are doing the same things and some have changed in ways you don’t expect.

Either way, running into people from high school is its own kind of summer tradition. It’s not always pleasant, but it’s part of the landscape — like sunburns, late-night fast food runs and trying to remember your Wi-Fi password at home.

My shift ends, the guys head out with sweaty shirts and inside jokes and I get ready to do it again next time. Because like the heat and the mosquitoes, some things about summer never change.

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It’s a familiar scene: summer rolls in, finals are finally behind you and you’re back in you…

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The SEC and Big Ten are currently at a standstill over the College Football Playoff format

ATLANTA (AP) — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that despite frequent conversations with Big Ten counterpart Tony Petitti, the two leagues have yet to agree on the College Football Playoff format after this coming season and could leave it at 12 teams. The disagreement doesn’t stem from a lack of communication. Sankey […]

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ATLANTA (AP) — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that despite frequent conversations with Big Ten counterpart Tony Petitti, the two leagues have yet to agree on the College Football Playoff format after this coming season and could leave it at 12 teams.

The disagreement doesn’t stem from a lack of communication. Sankey said he spoke with Petitti four times last week.

“We had a different view coming out of Destin around the notion of allocations,” Sankey said. “The Big Ten has a different view. That’s fine. We have a 12-team playoff, five conference champions. That could stay if we can’t agree.”

The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, favors a 4-4-2-2-1 format, giving four automatic bids to the SEC and Big Ten and awarding the ACC and Big 12 two bids apiece. The SEC, originally thought to be on the same page, switched gears at its spring meetings in Destin, Florida. The SEC favors five conference champions and 11 at-large bids, which would presumably favor the top conferences most seasons.

The CFP announced in May that teams in the upcoming playoff will be seeded strictly on where they are ranked instead of moving pieces around to reward conference champions. Last season’s jumbled bracket, the first with 12 teams, gave byes to Big 12 champion Arizona State and Mountain West champion Boise State, even though they were ranked 12th and ninth, respectively, by the playoff selection committee.

That system made the rankings and the seedings in the tournament two different things. The five highest-ranked conference champions will still be guaranteed spots in the playoff.

While the CFP contract from 2026 through the 2031 season requires the SEC and Big Ten to consult other leagues about prospective changes to the playoff system, it also provides them with the ability to impose changes they both want.

Now it’s a matter of getting on the same page.

“I think there’s this notion that there has to be this magic moment and something has to happen with expansion and it has to be forced — no,” Sankey said. “When you’re given authority, you want to be responsible in using that authority. I think both of us are prepared to do so. The upfront responsibility in this, maybe where some of the confusion lies, is we have the ability to present a format or format ideas, gather information, see if we can all agree within that room. We don’t need unanimity.”

Sankey stands firm on the 8-game schedule

One of the major complications in the College Football Playoff conversation is the SEC’s schedule. Three of the four power conferences play nine league games. The SEC isn’t one of them.

Sankey isn’t denying the fact that the SEC plays one less league game, but he won’t allow the narrative that it gives his conference an advantage.

“It is absolutely fully 100 percent correct that in the SEC, we play eight conference games while some others play nine conference games — never been a secret,” Sankey said. “It’s also correct that last season, all 16 members of the Southeastern Conference played at least nine games against what you would label ‘power opponents.’”

He doubled down.

“I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by SEC conference teams in our conference schedule, be it eight or nine.”

A decision on adding a ninth game may be coming soon, but Sankey wasn’t overly eager to reveal a timeline.

“It won’t linger terribly much longer. We have to make decisions about the ’26 season and adjust. If we’re going to go to nine games, then there have to be games moved or rescheduled. If we stay at eight, probably a little easier on that part of the logistics.”

Adapting to the new normal

Sankey addressed the media-packed room two weeks after the NCAA settlement officially went into effect, launching a long list of changes, including the introduction of revenue sharing.

Most Power Four institutions have had carefully crafted post-settlement plans in store for months. But according to Sankey, even deep-pocketed, well-resourced conferences have struggled to adapt.

“We’re in the middle of change, and in the middle of anything significant, it will get messy. That doesn’t mean you leave. In a marathon, it doesn’t mean you step off the course because myself, as poorly as I may have felt sometimes after two or three miles, recall that those moments might actually produce the best efforts,” he said.

But in a time when many have been quick to call college sports a dying breed, Sankey begs to differ.

“Let me be clear. From my perspective, college athletics is not broken,” he said. “It is under stress. It is strained.”



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Gophers hockey adds D3 transfer from Minnetonka to 2025-26 roster

Augsburg University transfer forward Graham Harris verbally committed to Gophers men’s hockey on Monday according to multiple reports. BREAKING: Augsburg (D3) transfer F Graham Harris has verbally committed to Minnesota, per @FutureGophers Listed at 6 feet, he plays HS hockey for Minnetonka. He had 22 points with 9 goals and 13 assists in his first […]

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Augsburg University transfer forward Graham Harris verbally committed to Gophers men’s hockey on Monday according to multiple reports.

Hailing from Minnetonka, University, Harris scored 24 points at the high school level in 2020-21 with 10 goals and 14 assists. He then played three seasons in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) before beginning his college career at Division III Augsburg last season.

Related: Study shows Gophers hockey is a serious moneymaker for U of M athletics

Standing at 6 feet, he finished with 22 points last season, with nine goals and 13 assists. He’s 22 years old and he will have three years of eligbility remaining with the Gophers.

Harris now gives Minnesota 25 projected players for the 2025-26 season, which is one below the new max of 26. He’s the 14th forward projected to be on next year’s team.

Picture via: @tonyliebert (X)

Gophers roster outlook / Picture via: @tonyliebert (X)

We’re nearly 80 days away from the Gophers opening their 2025-26 season at home against Michigan Tech. They technically have one roster spot left, but it would be fair to think Harris could be their final addition.





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Hugh Freeze, John Cohen discuss Auburn’s experience with new NIL GO clearinghouse

Auburn’s roster building and NIL strategies since the House Settlement was passed have been under a microscope this summer. The Tigers’ 2026 recruiting class has plummeted in the national rankings since June, a drop highlighted by four players decommitting. Head coach Hugh Freeze and athletic director John Cohen both attributed the recent struggles to Auburn’s […]

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Auburn’s roster building and NIL strategies since the House Settlement was passed have been under a microscope this summer.

The Tigers’ 2026 recruiting class has plummeted in the national rankings since June, a drop highlighted by four players decommitting. Head coach Hugh Freeze and athletic director John Cohen both attributed the recent struggles to Auburn’s adjustment to the new revenue sharing era and the program’s strategy for preserving the current roster and staying under the cap.

Both Freeze and Cohen have emphasized that they don’t believe other schools are operating by the same rules as Auburn, something they think could change on Aug. 1, when offers can start going into writing.

Each athletic department operates under the rev-share cap of $20.5 million, but third-party NIL deals don’t count against the cap. The Deloitte NIL GO clearinghouse was introduced to vet NIL deals, in theory eliminating the large pay-for-play deals often handed out by booster collectives.

Those deals aren’t necessarily illegal now, but money that comes from the University or an affiliate — deals that aren’t third-party — would count against the cap. The clearinghouse is still in the early stages, but Freeze and Cohen gave some insight on how it has affected Auburn so far.

“Truthfully, we haven’t had that many in the football building yet that we’ve gotten the word back on,” Freeze said at an AMBUSH event in Atlanta on Monday.

With things still being in the early stages, Freeze avoided giving an extensive comment on Auburn’s deals through NIL GO, deferring to Cohen. However, he did use it as an example of why he thinks Auburn’s rev-share and NIL strategies are the right ones.

Freeze made the point that if players who have already been in college and proven themselves have had trouble getting deals approved or agreeing on a value through the clearinghouse, he doesn’t want to promise large numbers to high school recruits.

Cohen elaborated more on Auburn’s experience with NIL GO so far, saying that it’s “a little hit or miss right now.”

“You’re convinced that something that a businessperson in the business community put through is gonna go through and sail through, and it doesn’t,” Cohen said. “And then you’re convinced that something that something everybody else puts in probably isn’t going to go through, and it does. But I think we’re all going to go through this learning experience.”

Cohen said that if information from the SEC and Deloitte suggests that Auburn is taking the wrong approach, the program will adjust, emphasizing the time still left between now and the early signing period in December.

He was asked specifically if Auburn had the funding and support from its boosters to adjust and strike quickly if the landscape changes, to which Cohen said Auburn will “do what it takes.”

Despite Auburn’s low position in the recruiting rankings, Cohen is still confident in how the 2026 class will finish, praising Freeze’s ability as a recruiter.

“You can’t confuse patience with inactivity. This man, who was just sitting right here, is as active a recruiter as any coach I’ve ever seen in any sport,” Cohen said. “I just spent two hours in a car with him, and he was called by seven different recruits. They called him. That’s the kind of relationship he has with recruits…

“There are staffs out there in which the head coach really isn’t part of that process, that there’s a separate group. Not Hugh Freeze, he’s personally in the middle of it, and it takes a lot of time, but no matter what he’s doing at that moment, he stops everything in his life to talk to those recruits and to talk to their families.”

Time will ultimately tell whether or not Auburn’s approach will work, but for now, neither Cohen or Freeze is backing away from their strategy yet.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com

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