5 Reasons Why Unofficial Visits Pay Big Academic and Financial Dividends to Student Athletes

The question of 'unofficial visits' comes up quite a bit. The main concern is 'is it worth the time and effort and can the student-athlete and their family get any benefits and positive results from 'unofficial visits'. The answer is 'yes'. An 'unofficial visit' is a visit to a college campus where the family pays their own way and the college does not pay or reimburse the family for any of the families' expenses.
• By taking an 'unofficial visit' it shows the college coach that you have more than just a passing interest in their school. It takes a bit of time to coordinate the family schedule and make a commitment to travel to and spend a good portion of the day at a school. There is also the expense which is borne by the family. This extra effort is one of the many items a coach wants to see in a prospective student athlete. It helps to differentiate the tire-kickers from the serious buyers.
• An 'unofficial visit' or any visit usually starts with a guided walking tour of the campus which can take from 45 - 90 minutes depending on questions from the group and size of the campus. A campus visit gives the athlete and the family an opportunity to see and feel the vibration of the campus and the students. Each and every school is different. The tour visits most buildings, some classrooms, dorms, cafeteria, gym, library, student center etc. Hint - Bring a camcorder or other recording device and record the tour. After you have been on a few visits and after a few months have passed, the details of the tours tend to blend together.
Also, take the visit while school is in session. It gives you the opportunity to see more than empty buildings. Be sure to eat in the cafeteria, you will be eating it for four years. Talk to the students in the cafeteria. They did the same thing you are doing a few years ago. Ask about the classes, weekend entertainment, athletic teams, support for athletic teams, and accessibility to the professors, etc.

• Be sure to inform the coach that you will be making an 'unofficial visit' and taking a tour. Try to get an appointment to meet with the coach in his/her office while you are on campus. Bring with you: your College Prospects of America profile, coaches monthly update form, copies of your transcript or report card, SAT or ACT scores, letters of recommendation from high school and/or club coaches, highlight videos, upcoming schedule, third party information such as newspaper articles, verified stat sheets, a printed and completed version of that schools' online questionnaire.
• Do your research before making the visit. Visit their website and learn about their school. Visit the team website and learn about the team, how they did this past or current season, learn about the coach and his/her history and record. Be an informed consumer. After-all, you are interviewing them just as they are interviewing you.
• After the tour has concluded, inquire if they can offer you an application fee waiver or voucher. If you are going to the time and expense of visiting their school, many schools will waive the application fee.
With your sport in mind, explore colleges and universities that interest you, but take time to consider all the variables. Dig into all the college information you can find. Your athletic skill might help get you some financial aid. So, keep your studies and future career in mind.

By Steve Karp

What Are Packers?

The Indiana Hoosiers and Oklahoma Sooners can definitely join the Green Bay Packers in the category of strange team nicknames. I've heard it my whole life... "What is a Packer, actually?" To help answer this common question, I've put together a short article that depicts what a Green Bay Packer actually is.

To fully understand the Packers' team name, you need to rewind nearly 95 years. On August 11th 1919, Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun called together a young group of athletes. The group met in the editorial room of the old Green Bay Press-Gazette building and organized a football team. The group of young men did not know it at the time, but they founded what would become the Green Bay Packer football team that we know of today. After the team was structured, they needed funding to buy uniforms. In an attempt to obtain said funding, they turned to Lambeau's employer The Indian Packing Company - a company involved in the canned meat industry - where he worked as a shipping clerk for $250 a month. Calhoun and Lambeau had success because The Indian Packing Company provided jerseys and permitted the use of its athletic field. With this relationship, the name "Packers" was natural, and the group of young men have been known as that ever since. Now, 95 seasons later, the Green Bay Packers are still using the unique name they were founded under.

In conclusion, the team name "Packers" is one of the most unique in not only the NFL but all major American sports. Having an odd team name has never been a huge burden on the Packer fan base, but it has left the question, "What are Packers?" to be answered. In literal terms, the "Packers" were a group of young men in 1919 that played football in uniforms that were purchased by the Indian Packing Company; to recognize the funded uniforms, the team adopted the name Packers. While that is the book definition of the Packers, I believe there is much more that lies in-between the lines. When I think of what makes up a Packer, I think of an individual that proudly represents the great town of Green Bay and exhibits their proudness through the display of green and gold colors, relentless support for the Pack, and a love for an organization that they'll take to the grave. Each person is subject to their own opinion, but I believe that is what a "Packer" is, and it all stemmed from a group of guys just looking to play organized football in 1921.

By Aaron P Matthews

Helpful Tips for Your First Wedding Dance

Determine Your Dancing Tastes

You and your prospective spouse are the ones in charge of the wedding music. Decide between yourselves beforehand, which opening song best suits your ability to dance together. If dancing makes you uncomfortable or if you feel you don't know how to dance, consider taking a few dancing classes or practicing with your fiancé, a family member or friend.

You Don't Have to Wow the Audience

Knowing how to dance will certainly boost your confidence, especially since for this particular day in your life, you and your partner will be the stars of the show. Certainly you'll want to exhibit some grace and style, but you don't have to be as amazing as the Blues Brothers or offer yourself up as a candidate for dancing with the stars.

Most couples, even among skilled dancers, begin the first dance with something that is slow paced and easy to follow. They are symbolizing the harmony between each other and it's this moment of closeness that the audience anticipates, not your fancy footwork. If the footwork is there, you have the whole evening to exhibit it.

Length of the Dance

How long you and your partner remain the sole couple on the floor is also a matter of your own discretion. Some couples complete the first song to the end, while others break mid-way through the first song to bring the next couple out to the floor.

In both traditional and non-traditional weddings, the second couple usually consists of the groom asking the mother of the bride to dance and the bride dancing with the groom's father. After a few minutes, the parents then bring their own significant others to the floor. Once this has occurred, the room is open to all who wish to dance.

Memorable Moments

You want that first dance to be perfect and it will be as long as you remember the one you're truly dancing for is your partner. Choose music that closely follows the style of how you and your partner fit together, whether it's a tender love song, a formal dance that requires intricate moves or follows the patterns of genre music, such as country western or rock and roll. If you plan to break in the middle to draw others into the dance, make sure the parent of the spouse is comfortable with the music.

Weddings are a joyful occasion. While the first dance might feel solemn, it's also filled with breathless anticipation. The audience is waiting to dance happily. Bring them out onto the floor with some hard-to-resist dancing music and what they will remember is a robust celebration and some very tender photos of the bride and groom performing their first dance together.

By Akhilesh Nawani

ASU's Jaelen Strong Vs Derek Hagan: Putting the Sun Devil Receivers Side-By-Side

On August 9, 2013, JC transfer wide receiver Jaelen Strong became academically eligible to play football in the upcoming season at ASU. Game #1 would kick off in less than 30 days and Strong, who had high marks from recruiting services, was expected to come in and immediately contribute.

Strong was admittedly not in the best shape since he had yet to work with ASU's Strength & Conditioning Coach, Shawn Griswold. Camp Tontozona would be Strong's first real taste of the speed and toughness that Head Coach Todd Graham demanded of his players. At the same time, he was challenged with learning the new playbook and his role in ASU's offense.

As it turned out, Strong was a quick study. Since his first few weeks in Tempe, he has established himself as a true Division I threat. Strong has everything and he knows how to use it: size, strength, athleticism, good large hands and above average speed for a 6' 4" athlete. With Strong, OC Mike Norvell has added a potent weapon in the passing game, something his offense desperately needed.

Jaelen Strong's first year production
Jaelen Strong's first year production

Due to Strong's accomplishments in his short time at ASU, some fans have made comparisons between him and the great Derek Hagan who wore the Maroon & Gold from 2002-2005.

Derek Hagan played in every one of ASU's 50 games in his four seasons. In that time, he eclipsed the numbers of legendary Sun Devil receiver, John Jefferson.

Hagan became ASU's all-time leader in receptions (258), receiving yards (3,939), 100-yard games (18), receiving touchdowns (27) along with average receiving yards per game. How's this for a feat -- he averaged over 100 yards per game throughout his junior and senior seasons. All of Hagan's records are still in tact.

For fun, let's project the future stats of Jaelen Strong and compare his figures with those of Derek Hagan. We'll assume that Strong forgoes the NFL Draft in 2015 (a very real possibility) and plays all 3 years of eligibility in Tempe. In doing so, we'll multiply Srong's 2013 performance by three.

Jaelen Strong vs Derek Hagan. This is how the two players would compare under these circumstances...

Jaelen Strong over his sophomore, junior & senior seasons:

225 Receptions - 3,366 Yards - 15 Yard Avg - 21 TD's

Derek Hagan over his sophomore, junior & senior seasons:

226 Receptions - 3,534 Yards - 16 Yard Avg - 27 TD's

Now lets balance Hagan's individual season performances with Strong's impressive first season. Hagan twice caught more than 75 passes (Jaelen's 2013 total), twice caught more than 1,122 yards (Jaelen's 2013 total), twice averaged over 15 yards per catch (Jaelen's 2013 average) and in three of his four seasons, Hagen caught more than 7 touchdown passes (Jaelen's 2013 total).

Additionally, the Sun Devils played only 12 games during Derek Hagan's sophomore, junior and senior seasons. ASU played 14 games in Strong's first year.

Is it possible that Jaelan Strong will be more productive this year than he was in 2013? Absolutely. Do you think he's determined to blow out his first campaign as a Sun Devil this year? I could be wrong, but I think I can safely say on Mr. Strong's behalf, "Hell Yes."

In one season that included just 13 pre-season practices between the two, Jaelen Strong and Taylor Kelly developed great chemistry. Couple that with how fast Strong has transitioned from the JC level to Division I, and it's reasonable to assume that his ceiling is much higher.

The "challenge" for Strong individually this year is that ASU's receiving corp is loaded with incoming 4-star talent. The Devils also have young receivers already on the roster like speedster Cameron Smith and the tough & physical Ellis Jefferson. A team-first player, Strong should firmly remain the leader of the group, but it's possible that his receptions drop off some.

On the flip side, if you look at Derek Hagan's record setting receptions and remember that he shared the load with the likes of Terry Richardson, Rudy Burgess and Zach Miller, perhaps Strong will catch even more passes in 2014. These are the type of quandaries that any die hard Sun Devil fan should enjoy mulling over.

Jaelen Strong is an exciting, elite college football receiver who should garner more national attention this fall. But ten years ago, ASU's Derek Hagan set the bar extremely high, even for someone with the talent of Jaelen Strong, to challenge his spot at the top.

By Mike D Howell

Everything You Need To Know About Immigration Doctors

Have you been wondering how you can get the best immigration doctor? Do you know what these doctors do or the types of services that they offer? Well, here are some insights to guide you through.

The Role of Immigration Professional Doctors

An immigration doctor:

• Performs immigration physical exams
• Advise and help you to make physical health adjustments so that you can pass the immigration tests.
• Offer you documents to indicate the results of a physical exam.

Immigration Doctors' Qualifications

For an immigration doctor to be able to offer their services, they must be experienced, registered and skilled in this area. Essentially, they should be in a position to offer quality services to all immigration clients. Therefore, when looking for immigration best doctors, you should evaluate their professional capacity and legitimacy.

What Is A Physical Exam?

A physical exam is meant to give a true picture of the wellbeing of an individual. Important aspects such blood pressure, weight and cholesterol levels are thoroughly examined in the process. Doctors will normally ask questions on the health history of individuals. They will also conduct various tests namely:

• Visual tests
• Sign tests
• Laboratory tests
• Listening of the vitals such as lungs and heart beat
• Mammograms
• Paps smear
• Osteoporosis
• Diabetes and HIV tests among others

Once a doctor has determined that you are in perfect health, they will give you documents to indicate so, which will further give a better standing at the immigration office. When several health complications are identified, they may recommend that you go through treatment, and further conduct the same tests afterwards. Further, they could advise you on how to remain healthy based on the examination results.

Booking an Appointment Is Crucial

Most immigration doctors offer services to people who have booked for an appointment with them. In most cases, these doctors are on high demand, and it is almost impossible to find one who can perform the examinations without you having booked for an appointment. Good news is that most of these service providers can squeeze in time to offer services even during weekends or holidays.

Most doctors who perform physical examinations are not necessarily certified to offer services on immigration physical tests. Specializing in this field means that the doctor has obtained the experience, skills and registration details to offer the tests. Therefore, even if you have had previous examinations with your doctor, you still need to go to immigration doctors for services.

By Varshil Morakhiya

Make Your Event Unique With Brazilian Dancers

Whether you are organizing any event, or are looking forward to organizing a party, entertainment is the key element in these events or parties. Even a serious event requires an element of fun so that it can create a perfect mood for the guests. As an organizer, you can think of various types of entertainment to lift the spirits of your guests.

Well, if you want to try out something new and unique, you can get Brazilian dancers for hire. It is a well known fact the Brazilian dance is popular all over the world. The dance form is filled with glamour, passion and style. As a result, when you hire them to perform a show at your stage, nothing can be better than that.

Hire The Best Dancers For Complete Entertainment

Now that you have decided to hire Brazilian dancers for entertainment, it is obvious that you would want to get the best ones. Thus, you need to start your research so that you come across the best option and get the best form of entertainment.

Availability Of Many Companies:

There are many companies that offer the services of Brazilian dancers. Therefore, if you research carefully, you will surely come across the best option. There are dance groups that are known to offer entertainment in various parties and events. A group can comprise of singers, dancers and musicians. However, if you want only the dancers, you can hire them separately.

Experienced And Renowned:

Make sure that the dancers or the groups of dancers that you hire are experienced and renowned. This will ensure that they will offer the best performance at the stage something that you or your guests have never witnessed in live before. Consequently, you will be able to indulge yourself and your guests with a classy and dazzling form of entertainment.

Visually Astonishing:

These dancers can give a visually astonishing performance to the entire crowd. In fact, they will create such a mesmerizing effect that your guests will get an idea of the real carnival ambience in Rio de Janeiro.

Bring A Wow Factor:

The dance show conducted by some of the most renowned dancers will get a sense of wow factor among your guests and they will remember your event for a long time. It is not only the dance and their moves with which they will impress your guests, but also the original costumes from Rio de Janeiro. The colorful feathers and the shiny appearance of outfits will please and satisfy your guests to the fullest.

By Arun Kumar Biswal 

Hey Rowdy, I Have a Cat Named !

Some articles give you great insight with a straight forward title, "Johnson Wins 6th Cup Title", others make you read them in their entirety to understand. To completely understand this title, we must journey back to early November.

My family and I just finished dinner and were heading out to our car on a frigid fall night. As we approach our car my 4 year old son, Rusty, notices two kittens hiding under our car, using the warmth from the engine to stay warm. These kittens were no older than 6 weeks and immediately my son was attached. While I don't share the same passion for cats as my wife and son, I am not heartless. I told Rusty that we could take them home, give them some food and a nice warm, safe place to sleep but in the morning we would need to start looking for their forever home. As we made the drive back to our house, Rusty was giddy with excitement. The kittens were crawling all over him, licking his face, and then I hear his little voice say, " The gray one is Newman and the black and white one is Rowdy."

Fast forward two weeks. We are in South Florida for the final race of 2013. This has become a yearly tradition for us. We attend the Camping World Truck race for a few reasons: they are shorter which is better for my son; in my opinion, competition from start to finish is best in this series; smaller crowds equal lesser chance to having beer spilled on you.

When we got to the track and saw that Rowdy was driving, my son smiled ear to ear. To him, Rowdy is more than a race car driver. Even though he has yet to shake his hand, they are friends. It's funny how we pick our favorite drivers. My wife is a Ryan Newman fan thanks to his work with the Rescue Ranch and because they are both Purdue Alumni. Rusty chose Rowdy for a different reason. CEOs and CFOs, get your pens out and take note. The brightly colored, oversized M&Ms strategically placed on the hood, quarter panel, and bumper cover is all Rusty needed to see to pick his favorite driver.

As we took the tram under the speedway and emerged inside the track, Cup practice had just started. You could see his eyes light up as that 18 car roared past and I hear "Rowdy!" from his little voice. We took some time to get settled in, then headed off looking to get a closer view of the man under that M&Ms helmet. We see his car come in to the garage and leave several times but never catch a glimpse of him, though we did see several others drivers and a couple legendary car owners. We still had one chance left, after the truck race we would try to find Rowdy one last time.

As fate would have it, Rowdy was in contention all night long. As the race came down to a third green white checkered, I figured Rowdy was sitting pretty with his efficient restarts. Sure enough, he took the checkered flag, did an unbelievable burnout, then waved to the crowd. Rusty and I headed to victory lane to catch a peek of his "friend."

Rowdy pulled into victory lane. He wiped his face, dawned his racing cap and crawled from his truck. The confetti flew and my son was in heaven. He grabbed up some confetti, climbed atop my shoulders and started screaming "Rowdy" while waving profusely. As the celebration was winding down, we headed toward the pit gate to leave; excited, tired, and fulfilled from the day's events. As we approached the gate Rowdy and his wife walked past us, shoulder to shoulder with my son. Next thing I know my son hollers out "Hey Rowdy, I have a cat named Rowdy!" While Rowdy doesn't stop to acknowledge, his wife Samantha turns and giggles.

By R Curtis Roehm