Softball program is trying to raise 15k for a few different things. Click the link to donate.

https://www.caringcent.org/lat/soft...fSc9jYhEcvSa_vw1pYkZcM-_WOQlo&mibextid=9R9pXO

Y’all want this guy?

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Here is an early look at who will be in this weekend. I’ll add to the list throughout the week.

QB Evan Bullock
OL Roy Brackins III
CB Jacob Fields
DE Obinna Okeke
DE Charlie Robinson
WR Dakota Williams
OL Troy Smith III
OL Hayden Christman
LB Colton Deckard

RB Keith Willis Jr - CE King HS
RB Donerio Davenport - Kilgore College
TE Eli Finley - Rockwell-Heath HS
DE TaDerius Collins - Northwood HS
Login to view embedded media ATH Marquez Stevenson - Captain Shreve
Login to view embedded media LB Kaderius Wade - Callaway, MS
Login to view embedded media DT Keith Smith- South Oak Cliff HS
Login to view embedded media TE Ryan Rivera - Cal Poly transfer
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D’Khai Joseph has set his commitment date for July 25th.

He tells me that Tech is his favorite.

5’10, 160-pound slot guy. Had 62 catches for 1,173 yards and 19 TDs as a junior for East St. John.

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Let’s goooooo!!!!

About CUSA

CUSA (Roughly 85 responses)​

How happy are you with CUSA’s membership of schools? (Kennesaw State will join in 2024)

1: 35.3 percent (Not happy)
2: 17.6 percent
3: 36.5 percent
4: 8.2 percent
5: 2.4 percent (Very happy)

If CUSA adds more schools in the future, who should it add? (Select all that apply)

Stephen F. Austin: 44 percent
Eastern Kentucky: 32.1 percent
Missouri State: 31 percent
Incarnate Word: 22.6 percent
McNeese State: 19 percent
Austin Peay: 19 percent
Tarleton State: 16.7 percent
Central Arkansas: 13.1 percent
(All write-in candidates got one vote)

How would you rate commissioner Judy MacLeod’s performance?

1: 29.1 percent (Poor job)
2: 20.9 percent
3: 34.9 percent
4: 11.6 percent
5: 3.5 percent (Great job)

How happy are you with CUSA’s TV situation?

1: 28.2 percent (Not happy)
2: 25.8 percent
3: 29.4 percent
4: 11.8 percent
5: 4.7 percent (Very happy)

Where would you rank CUSA among the G5?

1: 2.2 percent (Best league)
2: 7.7 percent
3: 22 percent
4: 28.6 percent
5: 39.6 percent (Worst league)

Who will win CUSA this year? (Sam Houston and Jacksonville State not eligible)

Liberty: 43.3 percent
WKU: 37.1 percent
UTEP: 9.3 percent
New Mexico State: 4.1 percent
Louisiana Tech: 4.1 percent
Middle Tennessee: 2.1 percent
FIU: 0 percent

The feelings on the league’s membership and the job of MacLeod remain the same as last year, but there is much more positivity around the new TV deal, which gets CUSA back on ESPN, including midweek games in October. In last year’s poll, 22.7 percent of voters rated the TV situation from 3-5. This year, that’s more than 45 percent.

In the question about potential additions, I kept the listed options largely regional and was surprised to see Stephen F. Austin took home the most votes. Perhaps that’s a product of the addition of rival Sam Houston to CUSA this year. My read on things has been that SFA likely doesn’t have the resources to make such a jump, but MacLeod told me last week they’d like to get to 12 members, and that will likely come from the pool of options here.

Readers accept CUSA’s position and have looked for the positives:

“Difficult situation in 2021, but the league has made every correct move since.”

“Easily the worst conference in the country yet still boasts one of the best G5 teams this year in WKU.”

“The league has potential. Liberty just lost too much production from last year and an all-new coaching staff may mean a slow start. WKU has the far better QB and WRs. Chadwell will get it going but it may not be this year.”

“TV situation is much better starting this year but interested to see how all of the October midweek games affect teams and certainly fans. Midweek games ARE NOT for fans. It’s a conference and school advertising on an ESPN network for three hours.”

“WKU needs to get out of this conference ASAP.”

Take a look:

Ethan Bates - Hyannis Harbor Hawks - Cape Cod Baseball League

Luke Smith - Covington Lumberjacks - Valley Baseball League

Karson Evans - Minot Hot Tots - Northwoods League

Ryan Porche - Carolina Regulators - Southern Collegiate Baseball League

Adarius Myers - Upper Valley Nighthawks - New England Baseball League

Alec Sparks - Kenosha Kingfish - Northwoods League

Isaac Crabb - Wausau Woodchucks - Northwoods League

Thaxton Berch - Minot Hot Tots - Northwoods League

CJ Sturiale - Minot Hot Tots - Northwoods League

Jacob Havern - Covington Lumberjacks - Valley Baseball League

Caden Copeland - Anchorage Glacier Pilots - Alaskan Baseball League

Nick Fraginals - Anchorage Glacier Pilots - Alaskan Baseball League

Will Safford - Baton Rouge Rougaroo - Texas Collegiate League

Haydan Toal - Acadiana Cane Cutters - Texas Collegiate League

Grant Comeaux - Acadiana Cane Cutters - Texas Collegiate League

Michael Ballard - Orlando Snappers - Florida League

Luke Nichols - Danville Dans - Prospect League

Connor Nation - Danville Dans - Prospect League

Nate Crider - Upper Valley Nighthawks - New England Baseball League

Greg Martinez - Kenosha Kingfish - Northwoods League

Jorge Corona - Not Playing - Surgery/Injury

Nick Alonso - Not Playing - Injury Rehab

Grant Hubka - Not Playing - Injury Rehab

Ryan Harland - Not Playing - Innings Limit

Dalton Davis - Not Playing - Rest

Will update as I hear more.

The pads should be on today! Let’s goooo!! @cwardell03 has the coverage!

Isaiah Graham has replaced Paul Turner in the Offensive Analyst spot.

One of my favorite human beings to come through Ruston is back.

RHP Turner Swistak has committed to Louisiana Tech.

He is a transfer pitcher from Tennessee and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

He was on track to be a guy out of Tennessee’s electric bullpen in 2023 before an injury forced him to RS.

He’ll be 90-93, really good stuff. Has a 1.13 ERA in 8 innings so far this summer.

Potential Friday night guy.

Stats from his days at Pearl River CC:

Allegedly the initial agreement is done.

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Starts up at 9:15 AM. Going to be my best report ever! Let’s gooooo!!!

While every college football player isn't making huge money, some will make more in a year than most on this board will make over their entire working career. The more they win, the more they'll "earn".



https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/highest-paid-college-athletes-in-the-nil-era

I took a look at the roster for the upcoming season and was surprised to see Anna Larr Roberson's name. Before the end of last season and shortly thereafter, it was mentioned that ALR would not be returning. What changed and by when? With her presence, hopefully it will be a plus with the returning players and three new ones (two high school freshmen and a transfer from TCU), per the roster.

For those of you who keep up with the women's program, who do you see as projected starters?

Sonny Cumbie alluded to Tech needing to start fast in 2023 to have a successful season, and I tend to agree.

Looking at the first four games of the season:

vs FIU
@ SMU
vs Northwestern State
vs North Texas

Guys, Tech has never had an easier first four games of the season. Ever. If the 'Dogs want to be perceived as "good" in 2023, I think they absolutely have to start 3-1 or better. FIU is terrible, Northwestern State is terrible, and North Texas is breaking in a first year HC. SMU is the only decent opponent, and they'll be starting a brand new QB. Have to take advantage.

Looking at the next stretch:

@ Nebraska
@ UTEP
vs WKU
@ MTSU

This middle portion of the schedule is the toughest 4-game stretch. Probably not winning at Nebraska. Short week long road trip to El Paso. Short week home game with CUSA favorite WKU. Short week road trip to MTSU. Three of four on the road, and that's 4 games in 17 days. ROUGH. That's when we will find out about the depth and toughness of this roster. Wanna be perceived as "good" in 2023? I think you have to find a way to win 2 of the 4.

The final stretch of the season:

vs New Mexico State
@ Liberty
vs Sam Houston State
@ Jacksonville State

The schedule lightens up late in the year. I just don't see New Mexico State winning in Ruston. Liberty is a tough trip. Sam Houston isn't ready to compete. I'm relatively high on Jacksonville State because their QB is in year 2 in Rich Rod's system. It's realistic to win 3 of 4, if Tech is still healthy at this point in the year.

I think Tech can win 7-9 games, I really do. But they must get 3 of the first 4. Have to. Your thoughts?

Signs w/ Atlanta today:

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Starts up at 9 AM. Let’s go!!!!

Tailgating last season was horrible...obviously, the team was losing, and excitement was minimal. What factors (other than winning) can help the tailgating experience this upcoming season? What is our responsibility as fans to help develop a better game day atmosphere? How much do we as fans, impact the school, enrollment, recruiting, and ultimately the on-field product?

This could be going too deep, but I thought it'd be an interesting topic to discuss.

The addition of Kennesaw State is looking prettttyyyyyy good…

Tech is scheduled to meet w/ the media at 9:10 AM.

Tech will be on ESPN+ at 11 AM for you all to watch.

I’ll have the 9:10 AM portion covered and will provide updates in this thread.

First practice is on Thursday. Here. We. Go.

OFFENSE

QB | Bachmeier, Turner

RB | Crosby, Shelton, Thornton

WR | Allen, Claville or Crawford or Duru

WR | Harris, McCallister, Latulas

WR | Lewis, Maxwell or Edwards, Jackson

TE | Jones (Receiver), Rivera (Blocker), Locke, Brock (Fullback)

LT | White, Bannister

LG | Hale, Brewster or Bowser

C | Delfin, Nelson or Kelly

RG | Gilbert, Bowser or Janise

RT | Bruno, Rossell

- Solo Lewis hurt, will be out for quite a while.

- The staff is in love with what they have at WR. Believe they are truly 3-deep, and I've heard that they think Cyrus is going to be better than Tre Harris was a year ago. Guess we'll find out.

- Very thin on interior of OL, maybe that's a spot where a freshman could push for playing time? Kennedy, Brackins, and Christman came in at 6'3+ and 300+ pounds.

DEFENSE

DE | Burnett, Durham-Campbell

DT | Hall (Listed at 264 now), Blay or Williams or Jones or Reeves

DT | Nason (Listed at 295 now), Pew or Bush

DE | Clark, Gray or Evans

LB | Randle, Davis or Boateng

LB | Fields, Zimos

Nickel | Griffin-Taylor (I think they'll play Zimos as a 3rd LB at times in this spot, we'll see)

CB | Roberts, Shelby or Dunn

S | Singleton, Roberson, Hopes

S | Heard, Richard or Mcelvane

CB | Woods or Paul

- They could play Reeves at a DE spot, maybe Williams some too. They would be bigger DEs, but we don't have a ton of size when you talk weight on the edges.

- I think Evans is going to be a pass rush type guy off the edge. Listed at 6'2, 250.

- Up to 13 defensive linemen, staff did a nice job at putting pieces back together after the spring. Now they have to turn that into production.

SPECIALISTS

K | Barnes or Buchanan

P | Rea, Oschendorf or Bengu

LS | Pugh

KR | Harris

PR | Harris

Questions? We'll look at strengths & weaknesses of the roster on Monday.