super ace slot big win ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani has called on stakeholders across Kaduna State, to make inputs into the 2025 budget proposal, before the document is sent to the House of Assembly for deliberations. The Governor made this known at a town hall at the weekend, where civil society groups, professional associations and youth associations as well as women’s groups were present. A draft 2025 budget proposal of ₦ 790.43 billion was presented at the meeting Speaking at the event, the Governor said that ‘’2025 shall be devoted to the consolidation of the progress so far made in opening up the rural areas through massive infrastructural development. “That is why we tagged our proposed 2025 Budget “Sustaining Rural Transformation and Inclusive Development,’’ he said, adding that ‘’we are also targeting the areas inhabited by the urban poor. Every citizen deserves to live a better life.’’ Governor Uba Sani reminded that ‘’at my inauguration as Governor on May 29 2023, I made a solemn pledge to our citizens to run an administration that will not shy away from taking tough decisions for the greater good of our people. “I promised to undertake programmes and policies that will enhance productivity, encourage creativity and harness the rich diversity and cosmopolitan nature of our state. “I further pledged that our programmes and policies shall be people – oriented. I shall run an all – inclusive government that will leave no one or any part of Kaduna State behind,’’ he added. “The Governor said that ‘’in the last 18 months, we have committed ourselves to the rapid transformation of our rural communities through massive infrastructural development, revival and revitalization of the health and educational sectors, frontally fighting poverty, and strengthening our partnership with security forces to secure our dear state.’’ Governor Uba Sani said that his administration has recorded remarkable achievements in key sectors in the last 18 months and he listed improved security, infrastructural development and human capital development. He also said that there has been an improvement in the education sector, healthcare, agriculture and social intervention programmes as well as citizens rights protection, transparency and accountability, in the last 18 months. “In the area of security, we have forged a solid partnership with federal security forces to secure Kaduna State. We have been giving them logistics support to enhance their operations. We distributed 150 operational vehicles and 500 motorcycles to security forces and the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS). “The State Government, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, has sustained efforts in the improvement of deployment of additional troops to cover identified target areas in order to ensure sustainable peace across the State, ‘’ he added. According to the Governor, the Kaduna State Security Trust Fund Law ‘’will ensure funding support towards efforts to degrade bandits and terrorists in the state, with the productive engagement of the private sector. “The Trust Fund will raise funds for the acquisition and deployment of even more security equipment, personnel and materials as well as training,’’ he further added. The Governor said that the efforts of the Peace Dialogue Group, which was established by the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with federal agencies and security services, has returned peace to Birnin Gwari. He said that last Thursday, ‘’I reopened the famous and strategic Birnin Gwari Market, thus signaling the commencement of commercial activities. The long abandoned Birnin Gwari Road has come back to life.’’ On infrastructural development, the Governor disclosed that his administration has ‘’undertaken 68 road projects, covering a total of approximately 700 kilometres. We are also upgrading urban road infrastructure.’’ Governor Uba Sani said that ‘’in the area of Human Capital Development, our administration has channeled its efforts towards the welfare and empowerment of the citizens through creative initiatives for women and youths, robust social investment programnes for poor and vulnerable persons, revitalizing the educational sector, and reviving the health sector. ‘’ The Governor said that he has constructed 62 new secondary schools, comprising 39 Junior and 23 Senior Secondary Schools, across the three Senatorial zones. “To ensure effective teaching and learning, 2,000 qualified teachers have been recruited, awaiting deployment to these newly completed schools,’’ he further said. “Recognizing the continued demand for quality education, approval has been given for the construction of an additional 50 secondary schools across the state,’’ he added. In addition, Kaduna State Government has ‘’constructed 2,326 new classrooms, renovated 707 classrooms, supplied 30,742 two-seater pupil’s furniture, provided 3,704 Teachers Furniture, and constructed 918 VIP Cubicle Toilets and 51 hand pump boreholes in schools across the state.’’ The Governor further said that his administration is ‘’building three Vocational and Technological Skills Acquisition Cities to equip our youths with the requisite skills to enable them take up jobs in industries and other businesses our administration has attracted to Kaduna State. The Skills Cities will graduate at least 12,000 youths annually. “We are also remodeling the Panteka Market in Kaduna to become a major centre for skills acquisition, engaging over 38,000 artisans. We are carrying out comprehensive infrastructure upgrade at Panteka Market to make it an international center for skills acquisition and job creation,’’ he added. According to him, Kaduna State Government is collaborating with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to provide Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) certification for graduates of the Skills Cities and Panteka Market. “On Wednesday, 27th November, 2024, I commissioned the remodelled, upgraded and fully equipped Dabo Lere Memorial Hospital, Kaduna. We have embarked on the remodelling, equipping and upgrading of 13 General Hospitals in the 3 Senatorial Zones of the State, ‘’ he added. The Governor listed General Hospital Gwantu, General Hospital Rigasa, General Hospital Maigana, in Sanga, Igabi and Soba local governments respectively, as some of the hospitals that have been remodeled, equipped and upgraded. Others are Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Kafanchan, in Jemaá local government; General Hospital Giwa, in Giwa local government and Ikara General Hospital, located at Ikara local government. The rest are General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Chikun LGA; General Hospital Saminaka, Lere LGA, and General Hospital Kachia, Kachia LGA. On Agriculture, he said that his government recorded the largest Free Fertilizer Distribution in Kaduna’s History, adding that ‘’we made history with the distribution of 500 trucks of fertilizer from which 240,000 bags were given out free to 120,000 smallholder farmers.’’ “By removing the financial barriers to agricultural inputs, we ensured that our farmers can cultivate with confidence and that our state will reap the rewards of higher productivity and income,’’ he added. Giving key highlights of the 2025 budget, the Commissioner of Planning and Budget, Alhaji Muktar Ahmed disclosed that 26% was earmarked to Education and 16% to Health, totaling 42% to these critical sectors. According to him, Recurrent Expenditure, including Debt Service, stands at ₦248,245,007,409.60 and total Capital Expenditure is ₦542,194,572,673.56. Giving the expenditure breakdown, the commissioner said that ₦370,557,608,564.16 has been earmarked for the Economic Sector, comprising Agriculture, Public Works, Infrastructure On the other hand, ₦358,070,895,572.14 is for the Social Sector which is made up of the Education, Health, Social Development General Administration: ₦ 48,328,500,762.08. The Law and Justice Sector will have ₦ 13,482,575,184.78.With the holidays taking up much of your time, you may not be concentrating on retirement moves to make before 2025. But if you’re the type of person who does everything to the max, investing in your future retirement now could be a game changer. In 2024, you can invest up to $23,000 into your 401(k) retirement plan as per IRS contribution limits. If you’re over 50 and need to play catch-up, you can invest an extra $7,500. That means your total possible contribution for 2024 is $30,500. If that seems like a lot, it is. But you don’t have to max out your contributions if you can’t afford it. Employer matching can help. In 2025, you can invest $23,500, bringing your possible contribution up to $31,500. If you’re over 50, the catch-up contribution remains at $7,500 for 2025. But a huge change was made in SECURE 2.0 for employees aged 60 to 63 who participate in workplace retirement plans. Starting in 2025, this super catch-up contribution limit is $11,250 instead of $7,500.  Figure out how much you contributed. If you’ve contributed as much as possible for the year, you’re in good shape going into 2025. If you’re not sure, you changed jobs or haven’t contributed consistently in 2024, you still have time to make adjustments to max out your 401(k) contributions for the year. Check your employer’s match. Employer matching is a job benefit not to be overlooked. After all, for every dollar you save in your 401(k), your employer matches your contributions dollar-for-dollar or offers a partial match up to a certain percentage of your wages. Knowing where you stand can help you make the most of this opportunity. For example, let’s say you earn $50,000 per year and contribute $3,000 to your 401(k), or 6% of your salary. If your employer offers to match 50 cents of each dollar you contribute up to 6% of your pay, they would add $1,500 each year to your 401(k) account, boosting your total annual contributions to $4,500. Look at your budget. Maxing out your 401(k) is always a good move. However, retirement planning can be a balancing act; sometimes, your budget is downright against it. If you have high debt or no money set aside for emergencies, you may want to hold off a bit. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t contribute to your retirement plan at all. Maintaining contributions is important, even if it means not maxing it out. Still, if you wait too long to save, you’ll have to play catch-up. If you save too much, you may have to tap into your account early, which can mean early withdrawal penalties if you are under age 591⁄2. Boost your contributions. If you have enough cash stashed away to cover a large lump sum contribution to your 401(k), you could max out your 401(k) contributions before the end of the year. You can do this by increasing the percentage you contribute monthly from your paycheck. You’ll want to speak with your employer or HR department to see if this is possible and fill out the necessary paperwork. Keep in mind that how often you increase it or even if you can will depend on your plan rules. You may also want to check to be sure your contributions are still automatic. Since it’s usually easier to save money if it’s automatically deducted from your paycheck, it may be worth reviewing your budget to see if you can boost your contribution amount to max out your 401(k). If you haven’t set up automatic payroll contributions, now is a good time to do so. Maxing out your 401(k) has some clear benefits. This is especially true if you’ve fallen behind on your savings goals or you simply want to grow your retirement nest egg faster. The main advantage is that you’ll have more money saved for retirement. According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study, most retired Americans believe they will need nearly $1.5 million in the bank to retire comfortably. That’s a 15% increase — which far outpaces the 3% to 5% inflation rate — over 2023 and is up 53% from 2020. The money you put into your 401(k) lowers how much you’ll pay in taxes for the year, which may put you in a lower tax bracket. Also, 401(k) investments grow tax-deferred, so you won’t pay taxes on the money until you withdraw the funds in retirement. If you have a Roth 401(k), you don’t get a tax break on contributions because you fund your account with after-tax dollars. But the money you contribute grows tax-free and you won’t pay any taxes on your withdrawals in retirement. Maxing out your 401(k) each year may not be enough to retire comfortably, but it is a great start. That’s why enlisting the help of a financial adviser in 2024 can help you get a head start on 2025 and a happy retirement down the road. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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