What is the benefit to the student body of UCD to having intercollegiate athletics? Only a small percentage of UCD students actually go to games. What is the benefit to the university? What is the cost?

We definitely have to figure out what is going on with NIL. When a 501C3 charity can fork over bucks to athletes by the tens of thousands per athlete then there's something seriously wrong. The NCAA won't look at it, doesn't care. But we know who owns the NCAA and it has nothing to do with "student athletes."

I hate this so much. And it's not going to go away unless you play in Div II or III. But then I never wanted us to move up for many of the reasons we're seeing play out now. Money corrupts. Always.

If the PAC 2 could let football go its own way I'd love to see the Big West UC's join them. Many of the Olympic sports would be served. Create a conference that is the secular version of the WCC I know...football...but the travel would be manageable, the schools have lots in common not the least of which is academic achievement. But I have no idea what it would take for the UC's to leave the Big West.

Tom Woods went on to be the coach of Humbolt State. He was a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer a few years ago. Tom Cupps and Bob Johnson both became physicians. You've mentioned Gordie who still attends Aggie games. Al Steed served in the Peace Corps, lost his wife to breast cancer, and I've lost track of him. Tom Larkin lives down in San Diego area.

And, yes, Tom Woods was a pinpoint passer. He'd have thrived in a Princeton Offense. He could really see the entire court.

Bob Hamilton was great. Excitable? Yep. Intense? Yep. But he NEVER got on the officials. Well, almost never. When I came back to Davis in '77 I'd see Ham after a game, maybe the next day, and I'd ask a question about a decision - and I'd realize he was watching the game at least three levels deeper than I even knew existed.

And there was the All Male Maverick Band in their white shirts and black floppy hats that would march through the locker room after games. And Bossy Cow Cow at a key moment in the game could really charge up both the crowd and the team. If I could bring one thing back from the old days it would be Bossy Cow Cow.

I think the Ags should handle Fullerton if Norris is back. Jen wasn't sure Norris would be when I spoke to her before the game on Saturday. If the Sisterhood of the Traveling Boot do return I'll feel better about Fullerton.

We've lost twice to Poly. Conventional wisdom suggests it's hard to beat a team three times in a season.

Not going to Henderson. I've lost nothing to Vegas. I guess it's all the trend these days but I much preferred going to Anaheim - more students came to the games even though the "crowds" were lost inside the Honda Center. I guess it saves the Big West money and $$$ rules these days. At least the Big West doesn't have to contend with football.

I'm liking how the Ags have been playing with intense defense and an offense that is making the vital shots - and some impossible ones too.

I could hear the announcer while I cooked on the deck tonight. I'm a little bit worried about the guy and hope he comes down from whatever took control. [grin]

Looks like the Ags have thrown away the funk and are playing near the top of their game. At exactly the right time.

The UCI - Long Beach game will be on ESPN2 tonight at 7:00 PM

What a game to watch! Pepper's epic 4-point play began when he landed at our feet - I looked up to see the ball slip through the net, saw Pepper's jubilant gesture and the Hawai'i players consternation. It was, perhaps, more "in the game" than we were quite prepared for.

This was the very best of the Ags this season with fierce defense and rebounding. And a crowd the team deserved - just not as many as I could have hoped for.

They've nabbed at least a first-round bye. Now for a statement against UCSD and a decisive game against Long Beach. I think the team will remember the drubbing they received against the Tritons.

They were roughly handled but then came back to take the series and send Pacific back to Stockton having been roughly handled. It's a fun team to watch! Best start for the Ags in a long time.

Pepper's production has been dwindling game over game for a while. He got open shots he normally makes. Hurt? Tired?

But the Ags took the 2nd game 13-4 and also won on Sunday 8-4.

It'll be a challenge for the Ags to shake off this rough patch and find a way to win.

The Ags can clinch a tournament berth with a win tonight at CSUN OR a CSU Fullerton loss OR a CSU Bakersfield loss. (thanks to Gouchdan over on the tapatalk big west boards for providing that information.

That was some second half buy the Ags. I wasn't able to be at the game but watched it on ESPN. Good commentary. We started playing our game and Pepper hit some critical 3 pointers. Too bad the rest of the team was a bit off from beyond the arc. All those missed free-throws really hurt.

I can't fault Pepper so much - he's human like the rest and really wanted to see us come back. I'm hoping it all is dealt with in the locker room after the game. Les can do some coaching there and get the team focused for Saturday.

Answer: checked at the ball park today and doggies are NOT permitted.

I totally mis-remembered the Cal Poly game. Fortunately ESPN keeps the game-flow

ESPN game stats and game-flow

I remember the Poly game as being more competitive than the final score indicated. I hope we didn't leave too much in the Thunderdome.

But it's clear this team knows how to win and can bring a variety of tools to make it happen.

The Cal Poly game is a home game for us, just to be clear.

And Norris . . . she's responding in every positive way to fine coaching. All those little things she was doing early are vanishing. I was watching warmups yesterday. She'd receive the ball from outside, in the paint, and move to the hoop - no timing dribbles, keeping the ball protected, picking up the hoop as she moved - she's doing in practice, even warmups, what she needs to do in the game. And that's huge. Shine needs to do the same thing.

Pepper, even when he's not scoring, makes a huge difference for the Ags. He's there in the rebounding, in defense with incredibly busy hands. I keep remembering the take on Oscar Robertson - that he beats you away from the ball by being smart on the court.