i just had a co-worker leave here to work at Stanford. one of the big draws was the tuition assistance program:
'Receive assistance with up to four years of undergraduate college tuition (a maximum of $20,625 per year as of 2012-13) for eligible dependent children attending approved colleges and universities. Staff members qualify for this program after completing five years of continuing benefits eligible service.'

co-worker has 3 kids that will be hitting college within a few years of each other.

i was talking to Fred Arp (who has helped with scheduling over the years) about the Ivy's. its a challange because they start their season 2 weeks after ours. it limits the dates you could play them to the 3rd week of our season -> and they seem reluctant to fly cross country for their first game of the year, against a team with 2 game under their belt. i know USD and Poly have hosted Ivy's in the past 5 years or so. i'd love to see a home and home. you'd think an Ivy would like to come to the (outer) Bay Area for their alum.

i think Les has done a really nice job at Davis, and think he has the program on a upward trajectory. I think he likes Blue, and Blue will do what he can to keep him aboard. Sounds like May reached out last week, which is a good sign.

i would think the Berkeley folk would not be excited about a Les hiring. this is their second major hiring in the past few months, and they need to make a big splash. Les' overall record at Davis is not going to get the Old Blue reaching for their wallets for season tickets and/or donations.

at least, that's my hope....LesGoDancingAgain!

every time they show the players in interviews, they just come off better and better. great ambassadors for a great university. what an experience for them. what a great time to be an Aggie!

when you make it to the NCAA AND have seniors who are about to graduate with degrees, it shows that D1 success and academics can coexist. what other event can bring the entire campus, community and alumni together like this. i'm hoping some day making the NCAA will be more routine, but it will always be a community builder!

looks like there is one in Portland at the Yard House. the Cal Aggie Alumni facebook page has a link to all the watch parties. up to 20 now. all over the place. very cool. and its dead week on campus so the students should be watching in big numbers.

i'll be there! got my Aggie pullover and cowboy boots on, and ready to roll!

still no official watch parties out here in the 'far' east bay. closest ones are Palo Alto and Oakland, and that's a bit far to drive. if anyone is along the I-680 corridor from Dublin to Concord, and have a place to suggest meeting up -> throw it out there, and see who shows up. Else, I'll be back at Beeb's in Livermore.

just watched the press conference with Lamar, White and Chima.....good solid answers, especially to Scott Marsh's question about 'putting UC Davis sports on the national spotlight'. Should have cut it there....before the Moderator said 'thank you to the student-athletes from Cal-Davis'.

i believe that we are CURRENTLY the only school in NCAA history with a perfect record (1-0) tournament record, since Mt St. Marys had a 1-4 record coming into the play-in.

Watched with Boyd at Beeb's in Livermore (Las Positas Golf Course). Despite their advertised 'EVERY GAME TELEVISED', I had to ask the server to find the game....and...we got one screen. One was enough -> it was a bit of surreal experience watching the Ags on the big stage, play like a quality team, and win a game in the NCAA's. The play-in game wasn't on my radar, but i think it worked well for the Ags. They got plenty of pregame, halftime and postgame attention from the studio crew, graphics about the academic prowess of the place, nice post-game interview with Chima.....just a perfect day!

Hennings, Henn and Goode all contributed some key minutes. Hennings seemed to stem the rising tide of the zone trap in the first half before it got out of hand. Henn was calmer than in recent games. Goode was solid with a few points, some nice rebounds and a really nice assist on a Chima dunk.

i was surprised that we had so much trouble with the trap as the game went on. we couldn't seem to adjust to it. i was also very surprised UNCC called in off in the 2nd half. that's when we got back in the game.

Hoping someone organizes something in the East Bay (like along the 680 corridor) for Friday. there's a link for watch parties so i'll keep my eyes open.

got my email last night offering me the chance to buy tickets for Friday/Sunday....and....if there were a flight under 6 hours (not much going directly to Tulsa on United, i could have left at 5:30 AM and got there at 12:40 PM and made the game), i'd have gone. my wife was telling me 'go, use your miles, its historic'. i'll settle for a drive to Concord.......hopefully not battle with StPat's day revelers!

and Beeb's has $3 beer specials during all games...so....looks like 1/2 day of sick starting in about 5 minutes.

i think i'll stick closer to home today -> looks like close to an hour drive if i were to take off now. let's hope for a win today, and plan for a viewing on Friday.

Russ Turner would be an obvious front-runner. he has experience at Stanford and with the Warriors. His track record at Irvine has been pretty impressive.

if you hear soon, let me know. i'd have to get on the road soon. else, i'll be the long Aggie (i'm guessing) at Beebs at Las Positas Golf Course in Livermore. If i had thought about it, i should have organized something central like in San Ramon.

anything in the East Bay that anyone has heard of? anything from Concord down south to Livermore?

despite the chronicle article, there does seem to be quite a buzz about the game. i received emails, and there are a slew of Facebook posts, about viewing parties up in Davis, Sac, down in SF/LA, even England.

some nice looking BWT championship gear at the Aggie Pride Outlet:

Shirts

if anyone from a Sacramento news station has a vote, the 'pepper spray' incident will show up.

the only downside i see to this draw is that 'The Carbonaro Effect' is being preempted for the games.

seriously. i like the draw. best case scenario is we get a NCAA tournament win, and then exposure vs. Kansas. two games on TV. losing the play-in, and not getting a shot at Kansas? not the worst thing in the world. still get a televised game with no competition and the hoopla of making the tournament.