Classical music has always been more than just a collection of notes on a page - it’s a reflection of human emotion, discipline, and history. From the sweeping compositions of Beethoven and the elegance of Mozart to the rich harmonies of Brahms, this timeless art form has shaped cultures, inspired generations, and provided solace to millions.

At universities across the United States, musical faculties dedicated to classical music remain essential pillars of artistic and academic life. Here, passionate students nurture their talents and cultivate an appreciation for music that transcends genres and generations.

Where Music Meets Academia

When you walk through the halls of a university music faculty, there’s a special energy in the air: the sounds of a student practicing a violin sonata behind one door, the thunderous chords of a piano concerto behind another, and choral voices soaring from rehearsal rooms. These faculties aren’t just places to learn scales and technique - they’re vibrant communities where young artists find their voice and develop their craft.

Studying classical music in a university setting is both a privilege and a challenge. Aspiring performers, composers, and conductors dedicate countless hours to perfecting their technique while engaging with the deep theoretical knowledge that underpins their art. Courses in music history, theory, aural skills, and ensemble performance enrich their understanding of both the mechanics and the soul of music.

A Journey of Passion and Discipline

The life of a music student is a study in balance. Imagine juggling hours of individual practice with rehearsals, performances, and academic coursework. For these students, passion fuels their dedication, but discipline sustains it. Deadlines for papers, exams, juries, and recitals fill every semester.

And while music itself may feel timeless, today’s students are navigating modern challenges like anyone else - keeping up with classes outside their major, meeting general education requirements, and maintaining a good GPA to qualify for scholarships or graduate programs.

This is where modern tools, such as a free GPA calculator, come into play. Students pursuing degrees in classical music often find themselves calculating exactly what grade they need on their next theory exam or history paper to maintain their standing. With the right GPA, opportunities for scholarships, graduate school, and prestigious programs abroad remain open.

A free GPA calculator helps them see the road ahead clearly, offering peace of mind amid their busy schedules and empowering them to balance their artistic dreams with academic achievement.

More Than Just Performance

University musical faculties don’t only train soloists or composers. They prepare well-rounded musicians who understand the historical and cultural context of their art. From ethnomusicology to music education, orchestration to music technology, students can specialize in areas that reflect their interests and the evolving musical landscape.

Even non-majors can benefit. Many universities open their ensembles, choirs, and orchestras to students from all disciplines, providing a space for young engineers, scientists, and writers to continue their musical journey. In this way, classical music continues to weave itself into the fabric of university life, enriching campuses with culture and community.

Lifelong Benefits of Classical Music Study

Why do so many students commit themselves to classical music despite the challenges? The answer lies in the profound rewards: the joy of interpreting a masterpiece, the camaraderie of ensemble performance, the exhilaration of stepping onto a stage, and the satisfaction of continual improvement.

Moreover, the skills cultivated through classical music study extend far beyond the practice room. Discipline, attention to detail, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and the ability to work collaboratively are all traits that serve graduates in every profession.

The Future Sounds Bright

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, the enduring relevance of classical music speaks volumes. Universities continue to serve as guardians of this heritage, giving students a place where artistry, scholarship, and community thrive together.

For those embarking on this journey, tools like a free GPA calculator are small but helpful companions along the way, ensuring that as they pursue excellence in their craft, they stay on track academically as well.

In the end, classical music and university life share a common spirit: both are about growth, dedication, and finding joy in the pursuit of something beautiful and lasting. Whether you’re a music major fine-tuning a Chopin prelude or an engineering student singing in the university choir, classical music invites you to be part of a tradition that resonates across time, and there’s no better place to experience that than on a university campus.

A consensus All-American at Ohio State, Denzel Ward was the first Defensive Back taken in the 2018 Draft, going fourth overall to Cleveland, the team that he has played his entire career for as of this writing.

Ward has been a consistent and potent presence on the Browns' secondary, using his aggressiveness and guile, and at present is a four-time Pro Bowl selection.  While the overall performance of the Cleveland defence has been spotty over his career, his defensive impact over his tenure is bested only by Myles Garrett. 

The Browns are rebuilding again in 2025, but at Left Cornerback, they have nothing to worry about.

1980 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project Class.

Here we are!  Again!!

If you have been following our Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, you know we have asked the rhetorical question: What if the PFHOF began in January 1946?

After soliciting and obtaining a passionate group of football fans and historians, we sent out a ballot for a Preliminary Vote, in which we asked each voter to give us 25 names as their semi-finalists and 5 in the Senior Pool. We then asked the group to vote for their 15 Finalists in the Modern Era and 3 in the Senior Category. The final stage was to vote for their five Modern Era inductee and one Senior inductee.

This is the result of the 35th official class. 

Below are the final results of this project based on 31 votes.

Remember that we have reverted back to the top five candidates entering the Hall in the Modern Era

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1980:

This is for the “Senior Era”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1980.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 1980.

About the 1980 Inductees:

Bob Lilly DT-DE, DAL 1961-74: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Bob Lilly would not just become a star player for Dallas, but he would earn the nickname of “Mr. Cowboy.”  He was the first player ever drafted by the team, and while the organization struggled in its early years, Lilly was a definite star for the team.  A Pro Bowl Selection in 1962, Lilly would have a ten-year streak of trips to Hawaii from 1964 to 1973, with seven of those years seeing Lilly named as a First Team All-Pro.

As the Cowboys improved, Lilly became the heart of the first incarnation of the "Doomsday Defense."  It was that defense that brought Dallas to their first Super Bowl appearance (V), which they lost to Baltimore.  The Cowboys returned the next season to the Super Bowl, and Lilly and Dallas would destroy the Miami Dolphins.  It was Lilly who had the signature play of the game when he sacked Bob Griese for a 26-yard loss. 

Lilly played with the Cowboys until 1974, and he is the most outstanding defensive player that Dallas ever had.

Deacon Jones, DE, RAM 1961-71, SDG 1972-73 & WAS 1974: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

It was Deacon Jones who came up with the term "Sacking the Quarterback," and as such, his style of play revolutionized the idea of what a Defensive Player could be.  Jones helped make the idea of being a defensive player a star, and arguably his entire career occurred by accident as he was a late-round (14^th) pick who was chosen for his athleticism and not for his football skills.  Becoming what would be part of the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome," Jones was a pass-rushing dynamo who would (unofficially) sack the QB well over 150 times as a Ram, and "unofficially" led the NFL in five seasons.  He was a five-time First-Team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl with Los Angeles and was quickly the star attraction of the organization.

Jim Otto, C, OAK 1960-74.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Jim Otto was undrafted in 1960, as the teams in the National Football League considered the Center to be too small to take his skills to the next level.  They got it wrong.  The AFL took shape the same year, and the Oakland Raiders saw something in the Miami Hurricane, and Otto was given the opportunity to win the Center job with the Raiders.  Otto won it as a rookie, and he would start the next (and first) 210 Games for the team.

Otto was not just the best Center of the AFL in the 1960s, he was the top man in front of the Quarterback in all of Professional Football.  He was an 11-time AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl Selection and was so dominant that in the entire history of the American Football League, no other Center was a First Team All-Pro.

The Raiders would win the division seven times with Otto at Center, and won the AFL Championship in 1967.  Otto played his entire career with the Raiders and is the best Offensive Lineman in team history.

Sonny Jurgensen, QB, NYG 1958, PHI 1957-63 & WAS 1964-74.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, Sonny Jurgensen was the Eagles’ backup when they won the 1960 NFL Championship.  Jurgensen took over as their starting QB, leading the league in Passing Yards in both 1961 and 1962.  Jurgensen was hurt for much of 1963, and the Eagles deemed him expendable; he was traded to the Washington Redskins for fellow quarterback Norm Snead and Cornerback Claude Crabb.

Jurgensen fit perfectly in regards to leading the Washington offense.  He went to the Pro Bowl in his first year in Washington, and he would lead the NFL in Passing Yards in both 1966 and 1967, setting a then-record of 3,747.  That season, he also threw for a league-leading 31 Touchdown Passes.  In 1969, Jurgensen was a First Team All-Pro and was a Pro Bowler for the fourth time as a Redskin.   

As great as Jurgensen was at this time, he did not have the horses around him to help the Redskins make the playoffs.  In the 70s, he helped Washington make their first Super Bowl, but Billy Kilmer now replaced him, as Jurgensen’s injuries were accumulating.  He played until 1974, retiring as a Redskin.

Overall, with the Redskins, Jurgensen threw for 22,585 Yards with a TD-INT Ratio of 179-116.  These were outstanding numbers for his era.  Jurgensen would be named to the 1960s All-Decade Team.

Chuck Howley, RB, CLE 1964-73.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 2nd Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Chuck Howley was a six-time Pro Bowler and was a First Team All-Pro five times.  Howley was a big game player, and even in the Super Bowl V defeat, he won the MVP of the game.  To this day, Howley remains the only player on a losing team to win that award.  Howley’s play was good enough to win the Super Bowl MVP in Dallas’s win, but Roger Staubach edged him out.  The Dallas defense was loaded those years, but Howley was certainly a great contributor to that.  Legendary coach Tom Landry called Howley the greatest linebacker he ever had, and he was the fourth player in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Al Davis, Owner, OAK/LAD 1963-2010.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 1980 on his 1st Coaches/Contributor Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Just win, baby.

This was the mantra of Al Davis, who may not have founded the Raiders, but he became their embodiment. 

Davis joined the Raiders as the head coach in 1962 and was given complete control by Raiders owner F. Wayne Valley. Named the AFL Coach of the Year in 1963, Davis was asked to become the commissioner of the league. His work expedited the expected merger between the NFL and AFL, and after a year, he went back to the Raiders, but now as a part-owner.

It would not be long before Davis became the owner, and the Raider philosophy was his creation. The Raiders won three Super Bowls under Davis, and while he was considered a renegade, no owner wanted to win more. Notably, he was the first to hire an African-American head coach (Art Shell), a Latino head coach (Tom Flores), and a female chief executive (Amy Trask). None of those hires was to fill a quota. He thought they were the best candidate for the job.

Davis is the only person in football who has held the following positions: personnel assistant, scout assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, chief executive officer, and owner. It is safe to say that it won't happen again.

Welcome back to the WNBA Cup!

In every WNBA regular season game, we award descending points (5-4-3-2-1) to the top five players.  At the end of the season, the player with the most points will be awarded the Notinhalloffame WNBA Cup. However, the winning player must accept their award in person in the Emerald City of Seattle.

Here is the current top ten as of games concluded on July 10:

1. Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx, 73 Cup Points:  18 Games, 4.06 Cup Points per Game, 23.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 29.6 PER, 4.6 WS.  (#1 Last Week)

2. Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty, 59 Cup Points:  19 Games, 3.11 Cup Points Per Game, 19.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 23.6 PER, 3.3 WS.  (#2 Last Week)

3. (TIE) A’Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces, 58 Cup Points:  16 Games, 3.62 Cup Points per Game, 20.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 30.0 PER, 2.8 WS.  (#4 Last Week)

3. (TIE) Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm, 58 Cup Points:  20 Games, 2.90 Cup Points Per Game, 17.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 21.8 PER, 2.5 WS. (#7 Last Week)

5. Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury, 57 Cup Points:  15 Games, 3.80 Cup Points per Game, 15.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 9.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 26.6 PER, 3.0 WS. (#6 Last Week)

6. Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream, 55 Cup Points:  19 Games, 2.89 Cup Points per Game, 19.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 21.3 PER, 4.0 WS. (#5 Last Week)

7. Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury, 52 Cup Points: 18 Games, 2.89 Cup Points per Game, 19.1, PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 21.8 PER, 2.2 WS. (#2 Last Week)

8. Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks, 49 Cup Points, 20 Games, 2.45 Cup Points per Game, 16.8, PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 21.8 PER, 2.1 WS. (#8 Last Week)

9. Angel Reese, Chicago Sky, 48 Cup Points:  19 Games, 2.53 Cup Points Per Game, 13.3 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 19.0 PER, 1.3 WS. (Not in the Top Ten Last Week)

10. Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever, 46 Cup Points:  19 Games, 2.42 Cup Points per Game, 16.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 26.0 PER, 3.9 WS. (#10 Last Week)

Dallas’ Paige Bueckers fell off the top ten.

At present, 110 players have received at least one point, up from 103 last week.

Our next update will be up next Friday.