Thursday, January 22, 2015

Many challenging opponents on 2015 XU tennis schedules

 Nour Abbes
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana again will face a slew of talented tennis opponents. Alan Green, the 12th-year coach of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, announced Wednesday the 2015 spring schedules.
    
The XU men and women will open the season at 3 p.m. Jan. 30 — one week from Friday — against city rival Loyola at XU Tennis Center.
    
The Gold Nuggets were 17-7 last season and became the first XU team in any sport to reach the NAIA's national semifinals in consecutive years. They were ranked No. 1 in two consecutive polls and, for the second straight season, finished at No. 3. The Gold Rush were 13-12 in 2014 and became the first XU team to reach the NAIA's national quarterfinals three consecutive years.
    
NAIA National Championship qualifiers from 2014 on the XU schedules are:
    
Men and Women:  Auburn Montgomery, Vanguard and Westmont.
    
Men Only:  Belhaven and William Carey.
    
Women Only:  Brenau and Lewis-Clark State.
    
NCAA Division I opponents will be:
    
Men and Women:  Alcorn State, Louisiana-Lafayette, New Orleans and Nicholls State.
    
Men Only:  Troy.
    
Women Only:  Southern and Tulane.
    
Both XU teams could play additional ranked NAIA opponents or 2014 national-tourney qualifiers in the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala., March 6-8. Brackets for that event have not been determined. AUM, Belhaven, Campbellsville, Cumberland, Martin Methodist, Pikeville, William Carey and Xavier are scheduled to compete.
    
The Rush and Nuggets will close the regular season April 11 at West Florida, whose men were 29-0 last year and won the NCAA Division II national championship and whose women ranked seventh in the postseason poll.
    
The men of Auburn Montgomery and Vanguard were NAIA semifinalists last year. The women of AUM and Brenau reached the quarterfinals.
    
Another high-powered opponent will be Lewis-Clark State's men, who ranked 22nd in the postseason.
    
It will be the third season of the XU Tennis Center, a $2.5 million facility which opened in October 2012.
    
Five All-Americans — Nikita Soifer and Kyle Montrel on the men's team, Nour Abbes, Simone-Alyse Ewell and Brion Flowers on the women's — return for Xavier. Green was the Wilson/ITA NAIA Women's Region IV Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2013. Last year the Rush defeated two NCAA D-I opponents and seven ranked NAIA teams, and the Nuggets beat three NCAA D-I opponents and 10 ranked NAIA teams, six in the top 10.
    
Abbes, a sophomore, won the NAIA singles division of the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in October and finished second in the "Super Bowl" playoff. Abbes was the ITA/NAIA National Rookie of the Year in 2014.
    
The NAIA will announce its preseason men's and women's top-25 team polls on Tuesday. The first ITA NAIA individual player rankings of the spring will be released March 11.

2015 Xavier University of Louisiana Women's Tennis Schedule
click here for schedule with site details

January
30 Friday: LOYOLA, 3 p.m.
31 Saturday: at Tulane, 2 p.m. (1)

February
7 Saturday: BELHAVEN, noon
8 Sunday: LSU-ALEXANDRIA, noon
11 Wednesday: at Louisiana-Lafayette, 4:30 p.m.
14 Saturday: WILLIAM CAREY, 11 a.m.
21 Saturday: at New Orleans, 3 p.m.
23 Monday: Brenau, 2 p.m. (2)
24 Tuesday: at Alcorn State, 3 p.m.
28 Saturday: RHODES, 10 a.m.
28 Saturday: • TOUGALOO, 2 p.m.

March
6 Friday-8 Sunday: at AUM Invitational, Montgomery, Ala.
15 Sunday: at Southern, noon
17 Tuesday: at Nicholls State, 10 a.m.
19 Thursday: at William Carey, 3 p.m.
30 Monday: at Vanguard, 1 p.m. PDT
31 Tuesday: Lewis-Clark State, TBA (3)

April
1 Wednesday: at Westmont, noon PDT
10 Friday: AUBURN MONTGOMERY, 2:30 p.m.
11 Saturday: at West Florida, 10 a.m.
24 Friday-25 Saturday: NAIA UNAFFILIATED GROUP TOURNAMENT at XU Tennis Center and one additional site

May
12 Tuesday-16 Saturday: NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala.

Home matches in BOLD TYPE
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match
All times are Central except where noted
(1) at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center
(2) at Mobile, Ala.
(3) at La Mirada, Calif.
TBA — to be announced
Schedule is subject to change

2015 Xavier University of Louisiana Men's Tennis Schedule
click here for schedule with site details

January
30 Friday: LOYOLA, 3 p.m.

February
6 Friday: at Louisiana-Lafayette, 6 p.m.
7 Saturday: BELHAVEN, noon
14 Saturday: WILLIAM CAREY, 11 a.m.
24 Tuesday: at Alcorn State, 3 p.m.
25 Wednesday: at New Orleans, 3 p.m.
28 Saturday: RHODES, 10 a.m.
28 Saturday: • TOUGALOO, 2 p.m.

March
6 Friday-8 Sunday: at AUM Invitational, Montgomery, Ala.
12 Thursday: Troy, 2 p.m. (1)
19 Thursday: at William Carey, 3 p.m.
22 Sunday: at Nicholls State, 11 a.m.
30 Monday: at Vanguard, 1 p.m. PDT
31 Tuesday: Lewis-Clark State, TBA (2)

April
1 Wednesday: at Westmont, noon PDT
10 Friday: AUBURN MONTGOMERY, 2:30 p.m.
11 Saturday: at West Florida, 10 a.m.
24 Friday-25 Saturday: NAIA UNAFFILIATED GROUP TOURNAMENT at XU Tennis Center and one additional site

May
12 Tuesday-16 Saturday: NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala.

Home matches in BOLD TYPE
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match
All times are Central except where noted
(1) at Pensacola, Fla.
(2) at La Mirada, Calif.
TBA — to be announced
Schedule is subject to change


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 

2014-2015 Head Coaching Changes --By Football Scoop

Here’s an updated look at the NFL, FBS, FCS, D-II, D-III and NAIA head coaches changes

Consider this page your one-stop shop for coaching changes at every level of football – NFL, NCAA and NAIA – throughout the winter, so check back frequently. For your reference, here are our lists of coaching changes from the 2012-13, and 2013-2014 hiring seasons.

CONTINUE READING

CONTINUE READING

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

TSU Lady Tigers Comeback to Clip Golden Eagles, 67-64

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- A Brianna Lawrence three-pointer with 1:09 left proved to be the difference, as the Tennessee State women’s basketball team came back to drop Tennessee Tech, 67-64, on Wednesday afternoon in the Gentry Center.

The Lady Tigers (8-9, 5-1 OVC) were down by as many as nine with seven minutes to go and held the lead for just 2:33.

TSU had four players finish in double-figures led by Lawrence’s 12. Rachel Allen, Imani Davis and Chelsea Hudson each finished with 11.

Hudson also recorded 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season, and her third straight.



Tennessee Tech (5-15, 2-5 OVC) also had four scorers reach double-figures led by Hannah Goolsby’s 16 – 10 of which came in the first half.

The Golden Eagles made their first five shots to begin the game, and led, 11-6, after the opening four minutes. The Lady Tigers were just 2-of-8 during TTU’s hot start.

The Lady Tigers tied the score three times during the remainder of the first half, but TTU answered each time with hoops to re-take the lead.

The Golden Eagles struck the largest lead of the half, 36-28, with just 1:18 to go, but a freebie by a Jayda Johnson and a buzzer-beater by Jemilah Leonard put the Lady Tigers down by five at the break.

Rebounds (15) and turnovers (10) were all square during the opening 20 minutes, but the Golden Eagles managed to make two more shots (24-22) to account for their slim lead.

TSU made just two field goals during a nine minute stretch in the second half, allowing the Golden Eagles to soar to a nine-point lead. The Lady Tigers quickly found their footing and went on a 9-0 run to tie the game once more at 56 with 5:10 left in the game.



Lawrence canned a coffin corner three to draw even for the sixth time at 60 and Imani Davis converted on a layup following a TTU turnover to give the Lady Tigers the lead for the first time since 18:31 in the first half.

Lawrence came through again a couple of minutes later, hitting another three to put Tennessee State back on top, 65-64, with 1:09 left.

After a couple of TSU free throws, TTU’s Candace Parson had a chance to tie the game, but her three pointer clanked off the iron to seal the win.

The Lady Tigers’ defense held the Golden Eagles to just a 23.3 percent shooting line during the second half and forced 25 turnovers in the game.

Tennessee State will next host Belmont this Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

BSU Bulldogs Basketball Remains Ranked #4 in Atlantic Region

ROSTER
BOWIE, Maryland -- The men's basketball D2SIDA Atlantic Region media poll was released yesterday (1/20) and the Bowie State Bulldogs remained in 4th place. The Bulldogs currently hold an overall record of 14-5 (6-1 CIAA) and won two conference games last week, beating Fayetteville State on the reoad (74-66) and edged Lincoln University at home by a score of 66-65.

In spite of losing a game last week, West Liberty and Glenville State remain #1 and #2 in the Atlantic Region followed by Charleston (W.Va.) tied for second, Bowie State and Indiana (Pa.) is fifth. Slippery Rock (Pa.) moves up to sixth, followed by Mercyhurst (Pa.) in 7th, Winston-Salem State (8th), East Stroudsburg (9th) and Fairmont State along with Livingstone are tied for 10th.

Bowie State will host Virginia Union University tonight (1/21) at 7:30 pm in BSU's Leonidas S. James Complex (A.C. Jordan Arena).

D2SIDA ATLANTIC REGION MEDIA POLL
RANK SCHOOL W-L PTS. PREV.
1 West Liberty (W.Va.) 14-1 40 1
2 Glenville State (W.Va.) 12-4 30 2
3 Charleston (W.Va.) 12-4 30 6
4 Bowie State (Md.) 14-5 29 4
5 Indiana (Pa.) 15-3 26 3
6 Slippery Rock (Pa.) 13-5 20 7
7 Mercyhurst (Pa.) 13-5 15 8
8 Winston-Salem State (N.C.) 10-5 11 9
9 East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 11-5 7 T10
T10 Fairmont State (W.Va.) 10-6 4 NR
T10 Livingstone (N.C.) 10-6 4 NR

COURTESY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

The Enduring Relevance of HBCUs in America

Co Authored by:

Gregory J. Harris, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, Florida
Email: greogry.harris@famu.edu


and
Herron Keyon Gaston, M.Div., MPA
Yale University Graduate Student
& Education Consultant
Email:herron.gaston@yale.edu
An ongoing debate at the collegiate and legislative levels across the U.S. has been about the relevance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Currently there are 105 HBCUs across the country mainly in the southern states established post-Civil war. Many of these were established as part of legislation of The Morrill Act of 1862 which we know as the Land Grant College Act. However, during that time, U.S. systems were segregated by race and the opportunity to achieve the American dream though education could not be fully realized by many African Americans in many of the Confederate states. It was not until the Second Morrill Act of 1890 passed that this was extended to include to black institutions. The vision of the originator of the Morrill Act, Congressman Justin Smith Morrill from Vermont, himself a high school drop-out, was to finance agricultural and mechanical education and to make this education available to all social classes of people in the U.S.

FAMU baseball coach Shouppe confident heading into second season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The bar for second-year head baseball coach Jamey Shouppe is already set pretty high.

During his first season, he coached the Rattlers to their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament in three years. The team finished with a 26-26 overall record – FAMU’s first baseball season with more than 19 victories since 2009 – and brought down the No. 6-ranked Florida Gators along the way.

Shouppe wants more, and he made that clear during a meeting with the 220 Quarterback Club Wednesday afternoon.

“They thought I was a little bit crazy,” said Shouppe, whose team opens practice Friday.

CONTINUE READING


FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY BASEBALL SCHEDULE 2015
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET)

Fri, Feb 13 Marshall University Moore-Kittles Field 4:00 PM
Sat, Feb 14 Marshall University Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Feb 15 Marshall University Moore-Kittles Field 11:00 AM
Tue, Feb 17 University of Florida at Gainesville, Fla. 7:00 PM
Sat, Feb 21 Alabama State at Montgomery, Ala. 1:00 PM
Sun, Feb 22 Alabama State at Montgomery, Ala. TBA
Tue, Feb 24 Mercer University at Macon, Ga. 6:00 PM
Wed, Feb 25 Mercer University at Macon, Ga. 4:00 PM
Sat, Feb 28 MEAC Conference Meet #3 Tallahassee, FL 9:00 AM
Sat, Feb 28 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * at Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 PM
Sun, Mar 01 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * at Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 PM
Tue, Mar 03 Jacksonville University at Jacksonville, Fla. 5:00 PM
Sat, Mar 07 Savannah State University * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Mar 08 Savannah State University * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Tue, Mar 10 Mercer University Moore-Kittles Field 4:00 PM
Wed, Mar 11 Mercer University Moore-Kittles Field 4:00 PM
Fri, Mar 13 University of South Florida at Tampa, Fla. TBA
Sat, Mar 14 University of South Florida at Tampa, Fla. TBA
Sun, Mar 15 University of South Florida at Tampa, Fla. TBA
Tue, Mar 17 Georgia State Atlanta, Ga. 5:00 PM
Sat, Mar 21 North Carolina Centeral Univ. * at Durham, NC TBA
Sun, Mar 22 North Carolina Centeral Univ. * at Durham, NC TBA
Wed, Mar 25 Troy University Moore-Kittles Field 5:00 PM
Sat, Mar 28 North Carolina A&T Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Mar 29 North Carolina A&T * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Tue, Mar 31 Jacksonville University Moore-Kittles Field 5:00 PM
Fri, Apr 03 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sat, Apr 04 Bethune-Cookman Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Wed, Apr 08 University of North Florida Moore-Kittles Field 5:00 PM
Sat, Apr 11 Savannah State University at Savannah, Ga. 1:00 PM
Sun, Apr 12 Savannah State University * at Savannah, Ga. 1:00 PM
Tue, Apr 14 University of North Florida at Jacksonville, Fl. 5:00 PM
Fri, Apr 17 Texas Southern at New Orleans, La. TBA
Sat, Apr 18 Texas Southern at New Orleans, La. TBA
Sun, Apr 19 Texas Southern at New Orleans, La. TBA
Tue, Apr 21 Auburn University at Auburn , Al. 7:00 PM
Sat, Apr 25 North Carolina Central Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sun, Apr 26 North Carolina Central Univ. * Moore-Kittles Field 1:00 PM
Sat, May 02 North Carolina A&T * at Greensboro, NC 1:00 PM
Sun, May 03 North Carolina A&T * at Greensboro, NC TBA
Wed, May 06 Troy University at Troy, Ala. 6:00 PM

MEAC TOURNAMENT
Wed, May 13 MEAC TOURNAMENT Salisbury, MD TBA

* Conference Games

Delaware State U. Names Kenneth Carter Head Football Coach

DSU Director of Athletics Candy Young, new head football coach Kenneth Carter
and DSU President Harry L. Williams


COURTESY DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Courtesy: Carlos Holmes

VIDEO: DelState names Kenneth Carter as new head coach
DOVER, Delaware  ---  Delaware State University President Harry L. Williams has announced that veteran college assistant coach Kenneth A. Carter has been appointed as the new head coach of the Hornets.

“With this appointment, a new chapter begins for the Hornet football program,” Dr. Williams said. “We are excited about the future, not only concerning what this means for DSU football, but also in terms of the overall success of our student-athletes.”

Carter most recently served as passing game/co-special teams coordinator/wide receivers coach at Youngstown State University during the 2014 season.

From 2010 to 2014, Carter played a key role in the success of the University of Louisville program under Charlie Strong, now the head coach at the University of Texas.

While at Louisville, Carter helped lead the Cardinals to two Big East Conference championships and three bowl appearances, including a 33-23 victory over No. 4 Florida in the 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Louisville also appeared in the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl (2010) and Belk Bowl (2011) during Carter’s tenure.

Also at Louisville, Carter was the position coach of New York Jets running back Bilal Powell, an All-Big East selection and Doak Walker Award semi-finalist as the nation’s top rusher with the Cardinals.

During the 2008 and ’09 seasons Carter was running backs coach under Urban Meyer at the University of Florida. He helped guide the Gators to the 2009 BCS National Championship with a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma.

Florida also competed in the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl and captured the 2008 Southeast Conference championship during his time on the coaching staff.

The Gators led the Southeast Conference in rushing at 231 yards per game and posted a school-record 42 rushing touchdowns during the 2008 season. Florida running back Jeff Demps was also a Doak Walker award nominee during Carter’s tenure with the Gators.

Carter also served as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt from 2004-to-‘07.
He served under the late Joe Paterno from 2001-to-03 as assistant receivers coach at Penn State University.

Among the highlights of Carter’s tenure at Penn State were an appearance in 2003 Capital One Bowl; and the selection of All Big Ten receiver Bryant Johnson in the first round of the NFL draft by Arizona Cardinals.

During the 2000 season, Carter was running backs coach at the University of Pittsburgh. The Panthers competed in the Insight.com Bowl; and running back Kevin Barlow was a third round selection of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers following that season.

In 1999, Carter was an assistant coach (strong safeties/linebackers/nickel backs) at Louisiana State University.

He began his coaching career in 1993 as an assistant at Furman (tight ends).
The following year, Carter was hired as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, The Citadel, where he served until 1998.

Carter was a four-year letterman as an inside linebacker for The Citadel. He was the Bulldogs’ 1989 Special Teams Player-of-the-Year.

He earned a bachelor of science in Health and Exercise Science from The Citadel in 1990.

“Kenneth Carter is an outstanding motivator with a proven record of success,” said Delaware State Director of Athletics Candy Young. “He has the knowledge and energy to return our football program to its past success. The University is also impressed with his commitment to our student-athletes in the classroom and the community ”

Carter is the 19th head coach in the history of the Delaware State football program. He replaces Kermit Blount, whose contract was not renewed after four seasons with the Hornets.

“I am extremely excited about this new chapter in my football career” Carter said. “There are only 250 such opportunities in Division I football, so it is truly a blessing. I plan to give my best to the University and the program. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

DSU was 2-10 overall and tied for ninth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with a 2-6 league record during the 2014 season.

DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Morgan State welcomes Five recruits for spring enrollment

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State is welcoming five (5) early enrollees for the 2015 recruiting class.
 
"I am excited about the five mid-year student-athletes that are now apart of the Bear family," said MSU head coach Lee Hull. "They make our football team bigger, longer and more athletic. They bring some maturity and experience to our young football team."

"They will be here for spring football and that will help their development in our systems to help us in the fall."
 
With Morgan State beginning classes on January 26th, here's a look at the new faces joining the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference defending champions for spring practice.
 
Kirby Linscomb IV – WR | Houston, TX | Watch
Morgan State's early enrollees are highlighted by Kirby Linscomb IV, a transfer from San Jose City College. The 6'5, 215-pound was a two-sport athlete at Lawrence E. Elkins High School in Texas before becoming a JUCO standout receiver at San Jose City in California. He represents a significant leap in athleticism for the Bears and is expected to make an immediate impact in the Bears' passing game.
 
Phillip Brown Jr. - TE | Birmingham, AL | Watch
Brown, a 6'4, 220-pound tight end brings every bit the quickness (4.5 speed) and has a tremendous upside. He was a two-sport athlete at Spain Park HS where he played football and was a small forward on the basketball team. He is an athletic tight end who will stretch the field  vertically and will be a good addition to the passing game.
 
Daylan Williams – LB | Louisville, GA | Watch
The 6'0, 220 pounder had an outstanding prep career at Jefferson County HS where he helped lead the Warriors to an 8-4 record during a senior year in which he collected 118 tackles. He's a big-time hitter, who has a high football I.Q. and will strengthen the LB corps. Was a member of the Augusta Chronicle's Dream 16 for 2014 and was selected All-State honorable mention.
 
Jai Franklin – DL | Upper Marlboro, MD | Watch
Franklin, 6'3, 285, transferred from Old Dominion and has three years of eligibility remaining when he arrives on campus. He was a three-year starter at Wise HS where he helped lead Wise HS to an undefeated state championship, going 14-0. He was a First-Team All-County selection, Second-Team All-Gazette and Third-Team All-State. He brings some playing experience at the FBS level that will be needed for the Bears young defensive line. He's expected to make an immediate impact in the trenches.
 
Cooper Clarkin - OL | Middleton, CT | Watch
Clarkin is a 6'3, 260-pounder who was had a solid prep career as a two-way lineman at Xavier HS.  He can help the Bears both on offensive line or defensive line. He is expected to begin his career providing quality depth for the Bears O-line. He is a very good student and that will help him during his transition to the collegiate level.

Morgan State is expecting to sign 20 student-athletes on Feb. 4, National Signing Day.

Picked last (9th) in the MEAC preseason poll, Morgan State captured a share of the MEAC Title with a 6-2 conference record, marking its first conference championship since 1979. The Bears also made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs when they faced #16/18 Richmond.

The Bears also completed the season ranked 31st in the final FCS poll – its highest ranking in school history.

Spring practice dates:
March 17, 19, 21, 31
April 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 21, 23
Spring Game is scheduled for April 25th


By LEONARD HAYNES
COURTESY  MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS  

President Obama's 2015 State of the Union Address


WATCH IN 720p HIGH DEFINITION

President Barack Obama delivers his sixth State of the Union address, at the United States Capitol, January 20, 2015.


Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address | January 20, 2015

U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.

9:10 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans:

We are 15 years into this new century. Fifteen years that dawned with terror touching our shores; that unfolded with a new generation fighting two long and costly wars; that saw a vicious recession spread across our nation and the world. It has been, and still is, a hard time for many.

But tonight, we turn the page. Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999. (Applause.) Our unemployment rate is now lower than it was before the financial crisis. More of our kids are graduating than ever before. More of our people are insured than ever before. (Applause.) And we are as free from the grip of foreign oil as we’ve been in almost 30 years. (Applause.)

Tonight, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over. (Applause.) Six years ago, nearly 180,000 American troops served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, fewer than 15,000 remain. And we salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe. (Applause.) We are humbled and grateful for your service.

America, for all that we have endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong. (Applause.)

At this moment -- with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, booming energy production -- we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth. It’s now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years and for decades to come.

Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort? (Applause.)

Will we approach the world fearful and reactive, dragged into costly conflicts that strain our military and set back our standing? Or will we lead wisely, using all elements of our power to defeat new threats and protect our planet?

Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned against one another? Or will we recapture the sense of common purpose that has always propelled America forward?

In two weeks, I will send this Congress a budget filled with ideas that are practical, not partisan. And in the months ahead, I’ll crisscross the country making a case for those ideas. So tonight, I want to focus less on a checklist of proposals, and focus more on the values at stake in the choices before us.

It begins with our economy. Seven years ago, Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis were newlyweds. (Laughter.) She waited tables. He worked construction. Their first child, Jack, was on the way. They were young and in love in America. And it doesn’t get much better than that. “If only we had known,” Rebekah wrote to me last spring, “what was about to happen to the housing and construction market.”

As the crisis worsened, Ben’s business dried up, so he took what jobs he could find, even if they kept him on the road for long stretches of time. Rebekah took out student loans and enrolled in community college, and retrained for a new career. They sacrificed for each other. And slowly, it paid off. They bought their first home. They had a second son, Henry. Rebekah got a better job and then a raise. Ben is back in construction -- and home for dinner every night.

“It is amazing,” Rebekah wrote, “what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.” We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times.

America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard and scrimped, and sacrificed and retooled. You are the reason that I ran for this office. You are the people I was thinking of six years ago today, in the darkest months of the crisis, when I stood on the steps of this Capitol and promised we would rebuild our economy on a new foundation. And it has been your resilience, your effort that has made it possible for our country to emerge stronger.

We believed we could reverse the tide of outsourcing and draw new jobs to our shores. And over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs. (Applause.)

We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today, America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks, we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. (Applause.) And thanks to lower gas prices and higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save about $750 at the pump. (Applause.)

We believed we could prepare our kids for a more competitive world. And today, our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. More Americans finish college than ever before. (Applause.)

We believed that sensible regulations could prevent another crisis, shield families from ruin, and encourage fair competition. Today, we have new tools to stop taxpayer-funded bailouts, and a new consumer watchdog to protect us from predatory lending and abusive credit card practices. And in the past year alone, about 10 million uninsured Americans finally gained the security of health coverage. (Applause.)

At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits. Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health care inflation at its lowest rate in 50 years. (Applause.) This is good news, people. (Laughter and applause.)

So the verdict is clear. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work as long as politics don’t get in the way. We can’t slow down businesses or put our economy at risk with government shutdowns or fiscal showdowns. We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or refighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got to fix a broken system. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, I will veto it. It will have earned my veto. (Applause.)

Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. We know that more small business owners plan to raise their employees’ pay than at any time since 2007. But here’s the thing: Those of us here tonight, we need to set our sights higher than just making sure government doesn’t screw things up; that government doesn’t halt the progress we’re making. We need to do more than just do no harm. Tonight, together, let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American. (Applause.)

Because families like Rebekah’s still need our help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but they’ve had to forego vacations and a new car so that they can pay off student loans and save for retirement. Friday night pizza, that’s a big splurge. Basic childcare for Jack and Henry costs more than their mortgage, and almost as much as a year at the University of Minnesota. Like millions of hardworking Americans, Rebekah isn’t asking for a handout, but she is asking that we look for more ways to help families get ahead.

And in fact, at every moment of economic change throughout our history, this country has taken bold action to adapt to new circumstances and to make sure everyone gets a fair shot. We set up worker protections, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid to protect ourselves from the harshest adversity. We gave our citizens schools and colleges, infrastructure and the Internet -- tools they needed to go as far as their effort and their dreams will take them.

That’s what middle-class economics is -- the idea that this country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, everyone plays by the same set of rules. (Applause.) We don’t just want everyone to share in America’s success, we want everyone to contribute to our success. (Applause.)

So what does middle-class economics require in our time?

First, middle-class economics means helping working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement. And my budget will address each of these issues, lowering the taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their pockets each year. (Applause.)

Here’s one example. During World War II, when men like my grandfather went off to war, having women like my grandmother in the workforce was a national security priority -- so this country provided universal childcare. In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. (Applause.)

It’s not a nice-to-have -- it’s a must-have. So it’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or as a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. (Applause.) And that’s why my plan will make quality childcare more available and more affordable for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America -- by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year. (Applause.)

Here’s another example. Today, we are the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers. Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave -- 43 million. Think about that. And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home. So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own. And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. (Applause.) Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. (Applause.)

Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages. That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. (Applause.) It’s 2015. (Laughter.) It’s time. We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. (Applause.) And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise. (Applause.)

Now, these ideas won’t make everybody rich, won’t relieve every hardship. That’s not the job of government. To give working families a fair shot, we still need more employers to see beyond next quarter’s earnings and recognize that investing in their workforce is in their company’s long-term interest. We still need laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give American workers a voice. (Applause.)

But you know, things like childcare and sick leave and equal pay; things like lower mortgage premiums and a higher minimum wage -- these ideas will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of families. That’s a fact. And that’s what all of us, Republicans and Democrats alike, were sent here to do.

Second, to make sure folks keep earning higher wages down the road, we have to do more to help Americans upgrade their skills. (Applause.) America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, sent a generation of GIs to college, trained the best workforce in the world. We were ahead of the curve. But other countries caught on. And in a 21st century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, we need to up our game. We need to do more.

By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education -- two in three. And yet, we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s sure not smart for our future. That’s why I’m sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college -- to zero. (Applause.)

Keep in mind 40 percent of our college students choose community college. Some are young and starting out. Some are older and looking for a better job. Some are veterans and single parents trying to transition back into the job market. Whoever you are, this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy without a load of debt. Understand, you’ve got to earn it. You’ve got to keep your grades up and graduate on time.

Tennessee, a state with Republican leadership, and Chicago, a city with Democratic leadership, are showing that free community college is possible. I want to spread that idea all across America, so that two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today. (Applause.) Let’s stay ahead of the curve. (Applause.) And I want to work with this Congress to make sure those already burdened with student loans can reduce their monthly payments so that student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams. (Applause.)

Thanks to Vice President Biden’s great work to update our job training system, we’re connecting community colleges with local employers to train workers to fill high-paying jobs like coding, and nursing, and robotics. Tonight, I’m also asking more businesses to follow the lead of companies like CVS and UPS, and offer more educational benefits and paid apprenticeships -- opportunities that give workers the chance to earn higher-paying jobs even if they don’t have a higher education.

And as a new generation of veterans comes home, we owe them every opportunity to live the American Dream they helped defend. Already, we’ve made strides towards ensuring that every veteran has access to the highest quality care. We’re slashing the backlog that had too many veterans waiting years to get the benefits they need. And we’re making it easier for vets to translate their training and experience into civilian jobs. And Joining Forces, the national campaign launched by Michelle and Jill Biden -- (applause) -- thank you, Michelle; thank you, Jill -- has helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get a new job. (Applause.) So to every CEO in America, let me repeat: If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done and done right, hire a veteran. (Applause.)

Finally, as we better train our workers, we need the new economy to keep churning out high-wage jobs for our workers to fill. Since 2010, America has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and all advanced economies combined. (Applause.)

Our manufacturers have added almost 800,000 new jobs. Some of our bedrock sectors, like our auto industry, are booming. But there are also millions of Americans who work in jobs that didn’t even exist 10 or 20 years ago -- jobs at companies like Google, and eBay, and Tesla.

So no one knows for certain which industries will generate the jobs of the future. But we do know we want them here in America. We know that. (Applause.) And that’s why the third part of middle-class economics is all about building the most competitive economy anywhere, the place where businesses want to locate and hire.

Twenty-first century businesses need 21st century infrastructure -- modern ports, and stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Let’s pass a bipartisan infrastructure plan that could create more than 30 times as many jobs per year, and make this country stronger for decades to come. (Applause.) Let’s do it. Let’s get it done. Let’s get it done. (Applause.)

Twenty-first century businesses, including small businesses, need to sell more American products overseas. Today, our businesses export more than ever, and exporters tend to pay their workers higher wages. But as we speak, China wants to write the rules for the world’s fastest-growing region. That would put our workers and our businesses at a disadvantage. Why would we let that happen? We should write those rules. We should level the playing field. That’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but are also fair. It’s the right thing to do. (Applause.)

Look, I’m the first one to admit that past trade deals haven’t always lived up to the hype, and that’s why we’ve gone after countries that break the rules at our expense. But 95 percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders. We can’t close ourselves off from those opportunities. More than half of manufacturing executives have said they’re actively looking to bring jobs back from China. So let’s give them one more reason to get it done.

Twenty-first century businesses will rely on American science and technology, research and development. I want the country that eliminated polio and mapped the human genome to lead a new era of medicine -- one that delivers the right treatment at the right time. (Applause.)

In some patients with cystic fibrosis, this approach has reversed a disease once thought unstoppable. So tonight, I’m launching a new Precision Medicine Initiative to bring us closer to curing diseases like cancer and diabetes, and to give all of us access to the personalized information we need to keep ourselves and our families healthier. We can do this. (Applause.)

I intend to protect a free and open Internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community -- (applause) -- and help folks build the fastest networks so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world.

I want Americans to win the race for the kinds of discoveries that unleash new jobs -- converting sunlight into liquid fuel; creating revolutionary prosthetics, so that a veteran who gave his arms for his country can play catch with his kids again. (Applause.) Pushing out into the solar system not just to visit, but to stay. Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a reenergized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. And in two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. So good luck, Captain. Make sure to Instagram it. We’re proud of you. (Applause.)

Now, the truth is, when it comes to issues like infrastructure and basic research, I know there’s bipartisan support in this chamber. Members of both parties have told me so. Where we too often run onto the rocks is how to pay for these investments. As Americans, we don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes as long as everybody else does, too. But for far too long, lobbyists have rigged the tax code with loopholes that let some corporations pay nothing while others pay full freight. They’ve riddled it with giveaways that the super-rich don’t need, while denying a break to middle-class families who do.

This year, we have an opportunity to change that. Let’s close loopholes so we stop rewarding companies that keep profits abroad, and reward those that invest here in America. (Applause.) Let’s use those savings to rebuild our infrastructure and to make it more attractive for companies to bring jobs home. Let’s simplify the system and let a small business owner file based on her actual bank statement, instead of the number of accountants she can afford. (Applause.) And let’s close the loopholes that lead to inequality by allowing the top one percent to avoid paying taxes on their accumulated wealth. We can use that money to help more families pay for childcare and send their kids to college. We need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together. (Applause.) We can achieve it together.

Helping hardworking families make ends meet. Giving them the tools they need for good-paying jobs in this new economy. Maintaining the conditions of growth and competitiveness. This is where America needs to go. I believe it’s where the American people want to go. It will make our economy stronger a year from now, 15 years from now, and deep into the century ahead.

Of course, if there’s one thing this new century has taught us, it’s that we cannot separate our work here at home from challenges beyond our shores.

My first duty as Commander-in-Chief is to defend the United States of America. In doing so, the question is not whether America leads in the world, but how. When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads; when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military -- then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts, and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world. That’s what our enemies want us to do.

I believe in a smarter kind of American leadership. We lead best when we combine military power with strong diplomacy; when we leverage our power with coalition building; when we don’t let our fears blind us to the opportunities that this new century presents. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now. And around the globe, it is making a difference.

First, we stand united with people around the world who have been targeted by terrorists -- from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. (Applause.) We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we have done relentlessly since I took office to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies. (Applause.)

At the same time, we’ve learned some costly lessons over the last 13 years. Instead of Americans patrolling the valleys of Afghanistan, we’ve trained their security forces, who have now taken the lead, and we’ve honored our troops’ sacrifice by supporting that country’s first democratic transition. Instead of sending large ground forces overseas, we’re partnering with nations from South Asia to North Africa to deny safe haven to terrorists who threaten America.

In Iraq and Syria, American leadership -- including our military power -- is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. (Applause.) We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism.

Now, this effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed. And tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL. We need that authority. (Applause.)

Second, we’re demonstrating the power of American strength and diplomacy. We’re upholding the principle that bigger nations can’t bully the small -- by opposing Russian aggression, and supporting Ukraine’s democracy, and reassuring our NATO allies. (Applause.)

Last year, as we were doing the hard work of imposing sanctions along with our allies, as we were reinforcing our presence with frontline states, Mr. Putin’s aggression it was suggested was a masterful display of strategy and strength. That's what I heard from some folks. Well, today, it is America that stands strong and united with our allies, while Russia is isolated with its economy in tatters. That’s how America leads -- not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve. (Applause.)

In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. (Applause.) When what you’re doing doesn’t work for 50 years, it’s time to try something new. (Applause.) And our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere. It removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba. It stands up for democratic values, and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. And this year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo. (Applause.)

As His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said, diplomacy is the work of “small steps.” These small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba. And after years in prison, we are overjoyed that Alan Gross is back where he belongs. Welcome home, Alan. We're glad you're here. (Applause.)

Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran, secures America and our allies -- including Israel, while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran.

But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails -- alienating America from its allies; making it harder to maintain sanctions; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. And that's why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. (Applause.) The American people expect us only to go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom.

Third, we’re looking beyond the issues that have consumed us in the past to shape the coming century. No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids. (Applause.) So we're making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism.

And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. That should be a bipartisan effort. (Applause.)

If we don’t act, we’ll leave our nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe.

In West Africa, our troops, our scientists, our doctors, our nurses, our health care workers are rolling back Ebola -- saving countless lives and stopping the spread of disease. (Applause.) I could not be prouder of them, and I thank this Congress for your bipartisan support of their efforts. But the job is not yet done, and the world needs to use this lesson to build a more effective global effort to prevent the spread of future pandemics, invest in smart development, and eradicate extreme poverty.

In the Asia Pacific, we are modernizing alliances while making sure that other nations play by the rules -- in how they trade, how they resolve maritime disputes, how they participate in meeting common international challenges like nonproliferation and disaster relief. And no challenge -- no challenge -- poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change. (Applause.)

2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does: 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century.
I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act. Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what, I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and at NOAA, and at our major universities. And the best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we don’t act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration and conflict and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it. (Applause.)

And that’s why, over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy to the way we use it. That’s why we’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history. And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts. I am determined to make sure that American leadership drives international action. (Applause.)

In Beijing, we made a historic announcement: The United States will double the pace at which we cut carbon pollution. And China committed, for the first time, to limiting their emissions. And because the world’s two largest economies came together, other nations are now stepping up, and offering hope that this year the world will finally reach an agreement to protect the one planet we’ve got.

And there’s one last pillar of our leadership, and that’s the example of our values.

As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we’re threatened, which is why I have prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained. (Applause.) It’s why we speak out against the deplorable anti-Semitism that has resurfaced in certain parts of the world. (Applause.) It’s why we continue to reject offensive stereotypes of Muslims, the vast majority of whom share our commitment to peace. That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We do these things not only because they are the right thing to do, but because ultimately they will make us safer. (Applause.)

As Americans, we have a profound commitment to justice. So it makes no sense to spend $3 million per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. (Applause.) Since I’ve been President, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of Gitmo in half. Now it is time to finish the job. And I will not relent in my determination to shut it down. It is not who we are. It’s time to close Gitmo. (Applause.)

As Americans, we cherish our civil liberties, and we need to uphold that commitment if we want maximum cooperation from other countries and industry in our fight against terrorist networks. So while some have moved on from the debates over our surveillance programs, I have not. As promised, our intelligence agencies have worked hard, with the recommendations of privacy advocates, to increase transparency and build more safeguards against potential abuse. And next month, we’ll issue a report on how we’re keeping our promise to keep our country safe while strengthening privacy.

Looking to the future instead of the past. Making sure we match our power with diplomacy, and use force wisely. Building coalitions to meet new challenges and opportunities. Leading -- always -- with the example of our values. That’s what makes us exceptional. That’s what keeps us strong. That’s why we have to keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards -- our own.

You know, just over a decade ago, I gave a speech in Boston where I said there wasn’t a liberal America or a conservative America; a black America or a white America -- but a United States of America. I said this because I had seen it in my own life, in a nation that gave someone like me a chance; because I grew up in Hawaii, a melting pot of races and customs; because I made Illinois my home -- a state of small towns, rich farmland, one of the world’s great cities; a microcosm of the country where Democrats and Republicans and Independents, good people of every ethnicity and every faith, share certain bedrock values.

Over the past six years, the pundits have pointed out more than once that my presidency hasn’t delivered on this vision. How ironic, they say, that our politics seems more divided than ever. It’s held up as proof not just of my own flaws -- of which there are many -- but also as proof that the vision itself is misguided, naïve, that there are too many people in this town who actually benefit from partisanship and gridlock for us to ever do anything about it.

I know how tempting such cynicism may be. But I still think the cynics are wrong. I still believe that we are one people. I still believe that together, we can do great things, even when the odds are long. (Applause.)

I believe this because over and over in my six years in office, I have seen America at its best. I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates from New York to California, and our newest officers at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, New London. I’ve mourned with grieving families in Tucson and Newtown, in Boston, in West Texas, and West Virginia. I’ve watched Americans beat back adversity from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains, from Midwest assembly lines to the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. I’ve seen something like gay marriage go from a wedge issue used to drive us apart to a story of freedom across our country, a civil right now legal in states that seven in 10 Americans call home. (Applause.)

So I know the good, and optimistic, and big-hearted generosity of the American people who every day live the idea that we are our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper. And I know they expect those of us who serve here to set a better example.

So the question for those of us here tonight is how we, all of us, can better reflect America’s hopes. I’ve served in Congress with many of you. I know many of you well. There are a lot of good people here, on both sides of the aisle. And many of you have told me that this isn’t what you signed up for -- arguing past each other on cable shows, the constant fundraising, always looking over your shoulder at how the base will react to every decision.

Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns. Imagine if we did something different. Understand, a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine. A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears. A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues and values, and principles and facts, rather than “gotcha” moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives. (Applause.)

A politics -- a better politics is one where we spend less time drowning in dark money for ads that pull us into the gutter, and spend more time lifting young people up with a sense of purpose and possibility, asking them to join in the great mission of building America.

If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments, but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country. We still may not agree on a woman’s right to choose, but surely we can agree it’s a good thing that teen pregnancies and abortions are nearing all-time lows, and that every woman should have access to the health care that she needs. (Applause.)

Yes, passions still fly on immigration, but surely we can all see something of ourselves in the striving young student, and agree that no one benefits when a hardworking mom is snatched from her child, and that it’s possible to shape a law that upholds our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. I’ve talked to Republicans and Democrats about that. That’s something that we can share.

We may go at it in campaign season, but surely we can agree that the right to vote is sacred; that it’s being denied to too many -- (applause) -- and that on this 50th anniversary of the great march from Selma to Montgomery and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we can come together, Democrats and Republicans, to make voting easier for every single American. (Applause.)

We may have different takes on the events of Ferguson and New York. But surely we can understand a father who fears his son can’t walk home without being harassed. And surely we can understand the wife who won’t rest until the police officer she married walks through the front door at the end of his shift. (Applause.) And surely we can agree that it’s a good thing that for the first time in 40 years, the crime rate and the incarceration rate have come down together, and use that as a starting point for Democrats and Republicans, community leaders and law enforcement, to reform America’s criminal justice system so that it protects and serves all of us. (Applause.)

That’s a better politics. That’s how we start rebuilding trust. That’s how we move this country forward. That’s what the American people want. And that’s what they deserve.

I have no more campaigns to run. (Applause.) My only agenda -- (laughter) -- I know because I won both of them. (Applause.) My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol -- to do what I believe is best for America. If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, I ask you to join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope you’ll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger. (Applause.)

Because I want this chamber, I want this city to reflect the truth -- that for all our blind spots and shortcomings, we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, to help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world.

I want our actions to tell every child in every neighborhood, your life matters, and we are committed to improving your life chances as committed as we are to working on behalf of our own kids. (Applause.) I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we’re a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen -- man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino, Asian, immigrant, Native American, gay, straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability. Everybody matters. I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states; that we are the United States of America. (Applause.)

I want them to grow up in a country where a young mom can sit down and write a letter to her President with a story that sums up these past six years: “It’s amazing what you can bounce back from when you have to…we are a strong, tight-knit family who’s made it through some very, very hard times.”

My fellow Americans, we, too, are a strong, tight-knit family. We, too, have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We have laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write. Let’s begin this new chapter together -- and let’s start the work right now. (Applause.)

Thank you. God bless you. God bless this country we love. Thank you. (Applause.)

END
10:11 P.M. EST

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Delaware State ready to name new football coach

DOVER, Delaware -- Delaware State is expected to name its new football head coach at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

The event is slated for 2 p.m. in the administration building on campus. A press release said only that school president Harry Williams and athletic director Candy Young will “share the details concerning this important development in the Hornet football program.”

Delaware State has been without a full-time head football coach since Kermit Blount was fired on Dec. 16. In four seasons, Blount coached the Hornets to a 16-29 overall record, including a 13-19 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

“We’re looking for someone who can motivate our young men and teach them life skills,” Young said at the time. “We want a program that is successful on the field and off the field.”

CONTINUE READING

Gold Nuggets still receiving votes in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana received more support Tuesday in the NAIA Division I women's basketball coaches poll but still fell short of the top 25.

The Gold Nuggets (10-10, 3-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) collected 14 points and are 29th overall. They needed 56 points to reach the top 25. Xavier received nine points and was 31st one week ago.

Xavier is out of the top 25 for the third consecutive poll after ranking 18th in the preseason and 19th on Dec. 9.

Freed-Hardeman, defending champion Oklahoma City and Campbellsville rank 1-2-3 for the third consecutive week. Freed-Hardeman received 9-of-10 first-place votes to earn the top spot for the fourth straight poll.

Xavier lost 73-43 at home Monday to SUNO and will play its next game at 3 p.m. EST Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., against Edward Waters. The next XU home game will be Feb. 2.
   
NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches'
Top 25 Poll

(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Jan. 18)

RankTeamRecordPointsLast
1Freed-Hardeman (9)17-1250 1
2Oklahoma City (1)11-1242 2
3Campbellsville18-12343
4Westminster (Utah)12-22215
5Langston15-02186
6Bethel (Tenn.)16-22147
7Loyola15-12014
8Oklahoma Baptist12-31928
9Concordia (Calif.)14-31909
10Montana State-Northern19-117811
11Vanguard 12-416713
12Shawnee State17-3160tie-14
13Lewis-Clark State16-3146tie-14
14The Master's14-414416
15 Our Lady of the Lake12-413418
16Westmont16-313117
17Wiley10-213010
18MidAmerica Nazarene13-511712
19Lindsey Wilson16-410121
20Lyon13-49920
21Carroll (Mont.)11-68319
22Great Falls16-380RV
23Martin Methodist15-37325
24Columbia (Mo.)13-55823
25Georgetown (Ky.)10-65624

Others receiving votes: Benedictine (Kan.) 51, Texas Wesleyan 48, Baker 18, Xavier 14, Pikeville 12, Cumberlands 12, Cumberland 9, Wayland Baptist 7


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director