Thank you! Very kind!
However, I already spend too much time on my computer, like another contributor said on a different thread recently. As a retired AP Lit & Comp teacher, I tend to go down the rabbit hole with my posts. :>(

Also, we have grandkids spread out from Foresthill to Alameda (grades 4 - 12). Most have 1 or more activities or sports, and we try to attend as many as possible. That takes up much time. At least, Davis is pretty centrally located. For most it's admittedly just being present. Bit a couple seem to be pretty talented - one 9th grade granddaughter does theatre and is in the ACT youth program and the Lesher Center rep company. A 7th grade granddaughter plays soccer and is going to Spain with a travel club over Thanksgiving tol play in Surf Cup International - Salou 2025.

Plus my wife actually expects me to interact with her and do things around the house! Imagine that! LOL. Best part of my day, actually.

So gotta pick my spots with AST. I finished my HS coaching with girls teams, and it was lots of fun. So gravitated there with Aggie teams.

Post mortem -

Overall, except for the injury a good opener against a weak opponent. Got to go against players who didn't know them and the scheme. Freshmen and transfers got to see where they need to grow. Gonna get tougher quickly vs. Idaho, which beat Washington State yesterday.

1 ) The DNP's - Apparently Vic Baker injured an ankle; hopefully back soon. Ally Fitzgerald apparently was an active participant during the scrimmage at the Kick-Off event on Sunday, so maybe a precaution in a meaningless game, or her back acting up? Helen Matthews was All Defensive team as junior in the SoCon, sat out a year with injury and came back last season. Made the SoCon All Tournament team. Injured her shoulder during the finals of the SoCon tournament. So yes, good!! Hopefully all back soon.

2) Sahana Kanagasabay looked pretty good prior to her injury - like she would be a definite contributor off the bench, especially on defense. Quick, fast and aggressive. I think she re-injured the same knee she hurt as a freshman at Providence. Looked like it went out as she went up for a layup in the first half. Was sitting on the end of the bench for awhile in the early 2nd half. Pretty sure she's done. Just crushed watching it unfold.

3) Teoni Tsami seems to be on a minutes restriction as she works back from her knee surgery. Looked rusty and not confident of her knee, especially after Sahana went down. Understandable.

4) Ryann Bennett looks ready to be a force, both offensively and defensively. Obvious time spent on her body as well as her game. Physically a whole new look. Agree with Oldbandalum that she takes the offense to a different level.

5) Megan Norris is another who looks a little more muscular. After one dumb foul, had a solid game and stopped swinging at shots trying to block them.. Just went straight up and rejected a bunch. Missed some layups, or would have hade 20+.

6) Nya Epps was her usual dominant defensive player. Offense is still looks like it will be streaky. Wish Nya would more consistently finish at the basket. But looking to contribute more at that end.

7) Avery Sussex is another who looks like she worked on her conditioning in the off season. Moved much better on defense than at anytime last year. Seemed very focused on taking care of the ball (didn't force passes), executing what Jen Gross wanted on the offensive end and playing within the offense. As that becomes more instinctive, I think she'll play more in rhythm. Showed more icomfort directing teammates and and "being in charge" than last season. She and Bennett obviously like playing together and seem to be building a rapport. Huge going forward.

8) Tegan Young was solid, and like Sussex will be even better once the Aggie offensivee and defensive schemes become more instinctive. She rebounds and looked for her shot more as the game went on.

9) With Sahana going down, Tsami being on a minutes restriction, and depending on the injury situation with Baker, Fitzgerald and Matthews, the freshman will need to contribute immediately. Again I agree with Oldbandalum that Emmy Ersdala and Sophie Lentfer impressed, albeit against weak competition - 10 pts, 9 boards, 4 assists between them. Both had time in both front and backcourt. Obviously still thinking through situations, but generally good decision-making. Lenfer especially looks like a young filly still figuring out movement.
Carrington Davis was surprisingly the last player off the bench - considering that her HS pedigree tracked Ryann Bennet's very closely. She does play behind Bennett, Epps and Sussex, while Ersdala and Lentfer can play up from due to size. Still Lentfer was the first freshman guard off the bench. Showed more her second shift.

In related news, Bria Shine started for UC Riverside vs. Cal Baptist - 28 minutes, 7 boards, 3 assists in a losing cause. Getting to play and have her master's degree paid for. Go Bria!!
Clara Glad started for Eastern Illinois vs. Drake, also a loss - 30 minutes, 11 points 3 board, 2 assists and 2 steals.

The Aggies closed the book on a tough debut season for Coach Kat Mertz with a 1-nil victory over UC Riverside. Inheriting a seriously depleted squad following the departure of previous coach, Traci Joyner, who several key players and recruits with her to Oregon, Davis was never able to kick-start the offense. Further hampering Mertz's efforts was the lack of experience of those players who did return from the 2024 squad.

With 8 recruits currently in the 2026 class - hopefully a strong group despite a late start in that regard - and the experience gained this season by most of the squad - kudos to Mertz for giving almost everyone significant minutes - the rebuild can start in earnest next season.

After a loss to Cal Poly ended one winning streak, the Aggies started a new one with an emphatic sweep of UC Riverside on Tuesday, followed by a tougher 3-1 match against Hawaii. Coach Dan Connors squad now has a 10-day break to rest and prepare for the stretch run. Davis is a game ahead of both Val Poly and The Beach, and 2 up on Santa Barbara.

Go Ags!

If the Griz were "Pandas", what will the Age be called?

Outstanding!

This guy has been pretty realistic about Sac State's FBS ambitions from the beginning, and I usually agree with his take. But I really doubt that going FBS would add value to a CSUS degree, particularly outside CA. For either a prospective student, or for a CSUS graduate. Especially in the short run.

I can see that SUCCESSFULLY going FBS - which means:

• winning seasons year after year,

• being competitive in bowl game appearances

• seeing on TV an enthusiastic student body attending football and basketball games

would eventually raise Sac State's visibility and encourage out-of-state students to look at the school's academic programs. Especially those that are really good, like the jazz degree. But the out of state tuition would still discourage many from following through.

Maybet his source was a guy named 'Wood'?

Yeah…that would’ve been a bad fashion statement when playing a school from an actual cowboy state.

100%. Joe Davidson seems to have hopped on the GO-GO bandwagon.

I didn’t watch the game, but I’m curious if Brennan wore his cowboy hat?

Everything out of Sacramento recently leans heavily into some version of “…it takes time to get 71 new players on the same page…” refrain. Sure a different tune than what was being played earlier. Maybe up through the Nevada loss?

[Edit] Isn’t getting all your players why Sac pays their SEC-sized coaching staff all that money? Wonder how many of those heads roll at the end of the season?

UCD takes down Santa Barbara in 5 sets. Davis came back from a set down (twice), fighting off 4 match points in the 4th set.

Also got an assist from CSUN, who defeated 2nd place Long Beach, also in 5 sets.

UCD as a Buick turnaround for the next game, traveling to Cal Poly for a Saturday afternoon contest.

GO AGS!!

Big match at home on Thursday vs. Santa Barbara, currently tied with Cal Poly for 3rd (6-2 BW, 14-6 overall).

UCD takes down CSU Bakersfield in straight sets to improve to 7-0 in conference, 11-4 overall. Quick turnaround for a 6PM start tomorrow night at CSUN. The Matadors are currently 5th in the Big West at 3-3, 10-7 overall. Definitely a tougher matchup than the last place Roadrunners (1-6 BW, 4-15 overall).

GO AGS!!

I imagine that when Plough took the UCD job, he knew the support wouldn't increase dramatically overnight. And that he'd have to produce winning teams for it to happen. He produced in Y1, and so far in Y2. Hopefully, support, both institutional and boosters/alumni have started to increase as well.

UCD is moving to the Mountain West in Y3 - though not in football. But we will get a revenue share from the MW media deal, some of which will likely be allocated to football. If the on-field success continues, then he should reasonably expect that support also continue to grow.

That being said, UCD isn't going to match the Dakotas in the next couple of years. Even if we did, it would take some time for the money to take effect, at least in terms of facilities. So the hope here is that Plough understands all this and is reasonably patient. If he continues to produce winning teams, and he doesn't get the support he wants, there will be other, and probably better, opportunities in the future.

Even if the support meets or exceeds his expectations, at some point Plough may want a new challenge.

I agree that Gundy may not be interested for any number of reasons. He was my best example of a guy who checks the boxes that Oregon State should have on their list:

Proven HC record in a power conference.
Track record of building a historically bad program (OK State has never had an Erickson or Riley) into a contender for conference championships and beyond.
Success at a school/town not unlike OR State/Corvallis
A name that would give OR State football instant credibility with Alimni, boosters, potential recruits and transfers.
Record of developing hidden gems into standout players
Some potential of bringing players from previous school with him (maybe)

Concerns that need addressing through interviews:
Embracing NIL and the transfer portal
Building an effective staff

I agree with you that Oregon State wouldn't be a good fit for Plough, and I'm thinking OSU probably realizes he wouldn't be a good fit for them at this point. You're absolutely correct that Oregon State is a really tough place to win, especially right now.

To get back to any type of relevancy, first in Oregon, then at the Group of 6 level, and (hopefully) eventually beyond, OSU needs someone who has more than a good coaching resume. They need someone whose name and/or background brings instant credibility to Corvallis. Someone whose hire might also raise the stature of the new Pac 12 as a whole. Not sure they can get that kind of person, but a rising star with a successful 1 1/2 year HC stint isn't going to be that guy.

I think Plough is smart enough to know that he would be the type of hire OSU settled for, rather than being the guy they really wanted. He wouldn't even have the built in connection that Bray had. Given the condition the Oregon State football program...and maybe the whole athletic program, his situation would likely be exactly as you described, "3-4 years of aggravation before you're fired." Career killer.

My nomination as the guy that should top their list, would be Mike Gundy. In addition to the "name/credibility" quality, he shown he can rebuilt a program in a P%/4 conference, that when he arrived, was probably much like Corvallis is today. The caveat would be, could Gundy better adapt to the NIL era than he did at the other OK State?

It seems the Big10's private equity partner will be the UC Pension Fund. Can't imagine that the SEC will be far behind. Especially if the private equity firms that the Big 10 turned down are seriously interested in this type of investment.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/46553869/big-ten-closes-2-billion-capital-agreement-vote-per-sources

Aggies take down The Beach in 4 sets. Atop the Big West at 6-0!! Congrats to Coach Dan Connors, his staff and the players!

GO AGS!!!