March 15th This basketball season has been awesome so far. I've really enjoyed the resurgence of the student section and the Purple Pack. Thanks to you all for making the games that much more enjoyable. And a big thanks to Bev and Dave for their roles in it all.

March 14th The chant "We Believe" slowly faded as the seconds melted off the clock. Many in the stadium sat shocked by the unbelievable results. Weber, like the mighty Casey of baseball lore, had failed to get a hit, shooting a tragic 4-26 from 3pt range and missing 11 layups and dunks. It wasn't anything special that the Bobcats of Montana State did, even though they an absolutely inspired game, Weber; nonetheless, beat themselves. The passion was there, the coaching, and the desire were all present. The men in purple put forth all their effort in an attempt to come from behind and pull out a victory, which would have preserved their NCAA dreams. Unfortunately, on this night it just wasn't meant to be. Fans left early, our seniors cried, and many defined the game with one word, "Disappointment."

What an insult to these hard-working players. Not every game is perfect. On some nights, no matter what you do, you are destined to lose. This team deserved, and had earned the right to represent the Big Sky in the NCAA Tournament. There was such hope. Votes in the AP and Coaches Poll, distinction as the Conference Regular Season Champions, a 15-1 conference mark, the Conference MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year awards, and an impressive 12 game winning streak. How could this team lose?

Long after the game had ended I sat starring in disbelief at a time when every other normal human would have been fast asleep. Through the darkness I came to the realization of how amazing this team is, and how fortunate I had been to watch them play. It may not be what they, the team, wanted; however, I'm grateful for the chance to watch them play again this season. It may only be the NIT, but for me, the school, and the many fans it's an opportunity for this team to play for respect, and to prove how good they really are on a national stage. My advice for them is this: take those feelings from last week and use them as motivation. PUNISH those teams you will face and play as if this was your last game. You have nothing to lose, you've already accomplished so much, far more than what you were expected to, but you have everything to gain. Leave it all on the floor...leave the hardwood knowing you gave it your all; your best. No matter, we will all still be chanting for and believing in our Weber State Wildcats!! Thank You for a remarkable season...
By Rod Eyre
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at rod@weberhoops.com

March is Madness for the Big Sky Too

March 6th Sometimes as Weber State fans we are so focused on what our University does to make our sports experiences better. We are always concerned with what marketing is doing, what our Sports Information Director is up to, and what the overall university support in our teams is.

Often we get so caught up with our school and its efforts that we forget about those from the Big Sky Conference who work so hard to ensure that we are enjoying a quality product, whether it be on Big Sky TV, the Altitude, or in person at conference tournaments. If ever a fan wants to do a little research on Big Sky Conference sports and teams, I would highly recommend checking out the Big Sky's website, their blog, or their new Twitter page. The Big Sky provides tons of news, information, and updates. Because I believe the Big Sky is so important to our Weber State basketball experience as fans, I thought it would be interesting to do a short interview with Jon Kasper, Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations for the Big Sky, to find out exactly what he and the conference do behind the scenes and what they are doing to prepare for the Big Sky Championship tournaments. I found his responses to my questions very informative and enlightening. I think you will too. Wildcat Wall: What is your job title for the Big Sky? Jon Kasper: First off Mark, thanks for your interest. I'm always happy to answer questions from our fans. Most people don't understand what exactly we do here, or don't know that our offices are located on Historic 25th Street in beautiful Ogden. My job title is Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations. WW: How long have you worked for the Big Sky? JK: I started at the Big Sky in September in 2004, so I've been here about 4.5 years. WW: What are some of your general duties in your job? JK: We have a small staff, so we are all involved in a lot of different things. My main responsibilities are overseeing the media relations department, which includes myself, Autumn Wehr and our intern Tanner Gooch. I'm the main contact for football, men's basketball and women's golf, and oversee the other sports, which Autumn and Tanner handle. Our duties include selecting Players of the Week, publishing weekly notes, updating the content on www.bigskyconf.com, www.bigskytv.org, as well as our blog. (www.bigskyconference.blogspot.com, and our new Twitter page. We've produced some video highlight packages this year. We also administer the All-Conference selections, handle the certificates that student-athletes and coaches receive. We have working relationships with all of the sports information directors in our league, and work with media who cover the Big Sky. I also help work with television networks that cover our league. I also oversee the golf championship, and assist at other championship events. It honestly seems like there is something new and different every week. WW: Do you get to go to many of the men's basketball games around the conference? JK: Because of the economy, I haven't traveled much this year. We are very cognizant of money at all times in the Big Sky. I try to attend all of Weber State's home conference games so I can see each team in person once. I've also attended one game at Idaho State and one Montana non-conference game while I was in Missoula for a playoff football game. I get the sports package on Dish Network, so I try to either watch or tape all of the basketball games featuring Big Sky teams. I also spend a lot of hours watching our teams on Big Sky TV. WW: This year has been a very exciting season for Big Sky men's hoops. What are your thoughts on how it all played out, and what are your thoughts on how Weber State did? JK: I guess I'm a little bit surprised at the success of Weber State, but who knew Damian Lillard was going to emerge like he has, and players such as Nick Hansen, Kyle Bullinger and Kellen McCoy were going to perform as they have. I think Randy is a terrific coach and always has his teams well-prepared and ready to play. With all of the talent Portland State has and especially after the upset of nationally-ranked Gonzaga, I think a lot of people felt like the Vikings were the team to beat. The Vikings are a very dangerous team, and I wouldn't be at all surprise to see them win the championship next week. Yeah, I know Weber fans don't want to hear that. The emergence of Anthony Johnson has been vital to Montana's success. I was surprised to see Idaho State struggle like it did, especially early in conference play on offense. Idaho State played a brutal non-conference schedule, but I thought with the talent the Bengals had they would win a couple more of those games. Idaho State has found its groove at the right time, and could surprise a lot of people. I know that's another thing Weber fans don't want to hear, but I really think Idaho State is a talented club, and a tough matchup because of its overall size. It's good to see Northern Colorado continue to improve and make it to the tournament for the first time. The Bears are another dangerous team playing well right now. Montana State isn't playing very well right now, but let's not forget that the Bobcats are the only team to beat Weber State and earlier in the season MSU won road games at Oregon State and Colorado. WW: The quarterfinals are tomorrow and the rest of the Big Sky Championship will be on the 10th and the 11th in Ogden. Do things get more hectic around the office when the Big Sky playoffs begin? JK: They don't call this time of the year "March Madness" just because of the games on the court. This is very busy time of year. I haven't slept much in the last couple of weeks. I spend a lot of time the last week of the men's and women's season trying to figure out the scenarios. All the teams want to know what they have to do to get in the tournament, get a certain seed, secure a home game, and host the championship. I was up until 4 a.m. one night working on men's scenarios. Today started at 7:30 a.m. with a conference call. Commissioner Fullerton and I spoke with a member of the NCAA Committee who is responsible for overseeing our conference. We do our best to present information to the committee throughout the year to help our teams gain respectable seeds. We do all of the credentials for the tournaments, and that's what I've been working on most of the morning. I've also been in contact with Altitude and ESPN, working with them to make sure they have everything they need. Saturday morning I'll fly up to Missoula for the quarterfinal game featuring Montana and Montana State. Before that, I'll watch the Montana-Portland State women's game that will determine who hosts the women's tournament. After the games, I'll write up stories on both quarterfinal games, update the brackets, and begin working on the championship release. Sunday morning I'll fly back to Ogden, finish up my release, and start doing the last-minute checks. One nice thing about having the tournament in Ogden is I get to sleep in my own bed and don't have to travel on Monday. Normally, I spend Monday traveling to the men's site, and then go right from there to our women's tournament on Thursday morning. At least I get a few more days at home this year. Our Associate Commissioner Ron Loghry oversees the championships, so he is very busy working with Weber State and potential women's hosts. There is a lot of planning that goes into the championships. Teams have to select hotels, banners need to be made, and officials need to be selected and their travel has to be arranged. We want the championships to be a great experience for the student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans. WW: It looks like this will be a very competitive tournament. Any predictions on who will win? JK: I've learned not to make predictions in this job. We've got nine schools and we love them all the same. It irritates me when fans think we favor one school over another. I see that all the time on the message boards. Believe me; if we favored one school over the other we wouldn't have our jobs long. We want to see all of our student-athletes, coaches and universities succeed. When it's a non-conference game, we're always rooting for our teams. If it's a playoff game - like the Weber State/Cal Poly football game - we were all ecstatic that the Wildcats won. At the same time it was disappointing because we knew that since Montana and Weber State were playing the next week, one of our teams would have to lose. OK, I'll bend a little bit. I think all of the four teams who advance here to Ogden have a chance to win the championship (Now that's going out on a limb). There is no doubt Weber State has the advantage of playing on its home court in front of the Purple Pak. Weber seems so focused. Weber had nothing to play for Tuesday against Montana State, but went and played like the No. 1 seed was on the line. If Portland State hits its 3-point shots the Vikings will be really, really tough to beat. If Montana's outside shooters are hitting to help Anthony Johnson they are tough to beat, especially because the Grizzlies are playing so well on defense. Idaho State and Northern Colorado are also playing very good basketball right now. WW: I know you are a UM guy, but your wife is a Weber girl. Who is your family pulling for during the tournament? JK: It's weird how the world works. My family is originally from North Dakota, and we moved to Montana when I was 14. I attended Montana and ended up living there for 10 years, working at the Missoulian as a sportswriter, where I learned to be very objective. I wouldn't be in this position today if the conference didn't think I could be objective. My mom, dad, brother and sister all moved to Ogden in 1996, so now we're all back in the same city. My brother took many of his classes at Weber State, but his degree is from Utah State. My sister is a freshman at Weber State. My wife Mackenzie is close to getting her degree from Weber State. My father-in-law Bob Hunter is a Weber State alum and an adjunct professor. My father-in-law actually helped design the old "Go W" logo back when he was a student. I have a lot of purple in my family now, and most of them are probably rooting for Weber State. Some of them don't care at all that there is a tournament coming up. Mackenzie takes a lot of photos for us, and does graphic design for us. Like me, she respects all of the teams in our conference. She's developed friendships with many of the people in our league. I think she's neutral, but I can't control her. I know she knows a lot of you crazy Mountain Dew-guzzling Purple Pak guys from high school. She and our beagle Annie are excited the tournament is in Ogden so I will be home and not on the road. What I'm pulling for is the community of Ogden, the students of Weber State, and other sports fans throughout Utah to come out, support Weber State and support our tournament. I believe winning sports programs can really bring a community together and create civic pride. Tuesday and Wednesday night are a chance to forget about the problems of the world for a few hours and come out and support some great collegiate student-athletes. I know they would all love to play in front of 12,000 fans on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

My Letter to the Editor for the Standard

March 3rd I am a huge fan of Weber State basketball. I hold season tickets, I often attend the coach's luncheon at Lagori's and I write a blog for a fans website. It really bothers me when I tell someone how my number one hobby is Weber State basketball and they give me a funny look or make a snide comment like, 'Weber State? Don't you mean Harrisville High?' I just don't get it. I've attended most of the home games this year and have been disappointed to see it filled over half-capacity only three times. I think most residents of the greater Ogden area just aren't aware of what they have up on the hill. Maybe they are not aware of the history and success of Weber State basketball. In the last 10 years the 'Cats have gone to the NCAA tournament three times. In 1999 they stunned the nation by upsetting third-seeded (No. 13) University of North Carolina. I'm pretty sure that is more appearances and wins in the tournament than other division 1 programs in Utah. On March 10-11, because the 'Cats became Big Sky champions, Weber State will host the Big Sky Championship where the winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The Dee Events Center holds 11,666 people. Let's get the community excited about our amazing basketball program and get them to come to the game and fill the Dee to capacity. I am proud to say I live in Ogden, home of the Weber State Wildcats. I hope the community is too. And I hope we can all show up to the tournament and help our team make it to the NCAA tournament for the third time in two years. By Mark Berger For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

Mahoney Brings the D

February 15th It's been a while since I was able to attend a WSU basketball game, but yesterday (Valentine's Day) I convinced my wife that we should celebrate our love by attending the Portland State game. The game was one of the most fun games I've seen in a long time. Lilliard, Panos, and Davis got a dunk a piece; we got to chant "Waters Sucks"; and the student body had a half dozen hilarious sings poking fun things such as Dominguez' run in with the law in Mexico and PSU's poor 1-15 record at the Dee.

But the most entertaining part of the night to me was Weber's tenacious defense. I especially enjoyed watching freshman, Darin Mahoney. The dude had two blocked shots, two steals, and nine points.

It is so cool to see how good we are this year and at the same time see how many promising freshman and sophomores we have. Needless to say, I think Weber State basketball is going to be good for a long, long time. And Darin Mahoney and his tough defense are going to be a big reason why.
By Mark Berger
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

Dance of the Sugar Bears

February 11th I knew that I had arrived for the first time in Greeley Colorado, as the putrid smell of dairy farms and slaughter houses slowly stung at my keen sense of smell. As one drives into Greeley every human sense is heightened by the experience. The sound and fury of the Greeley wind, the smells of the farm, and the uncanny thuds of the dancing Sugar Bears. Greeley is known for three things, the cattle industry, effluvious scents, and, most importantly, the University of Northern Colorado Dancin Sugar Bears. Without these devilishly delicious Sugar Bears, I believe that Greeley would be nothing more than a Ghost Town.

Walking gingerly into the pride of UNC, the Butler-Hancock Pavilion, a basketball court which appeared to have been stolen directly from the Hoosiers movie set, I at once recognized, to my gastro-intestinal dismay, the stunning Sirens of dance. Suddenly, I cringed in delight at this second chance meeting. Hurriedly, I took my place on the poorly sanded bleachers that must have been old recycled cattle guards, and sat down awaiting the games opening tip, remembering that mild October day at Stewart Stadium.

Last fall, Ogden's Wildcats came close to succumbing to these sirens of dance, as they, through their skill of rapturous flinging, almost captured an unlikely victory out of the hands of the dazed Wildcats. There were a few chosen Wildcat fans that happened to meet and mingle with these devious; yet corporal creatures of the great North Eastern Colorado Plain, a meeting that could not be soon forgotten, partially because Paul took a few pictures of the event, which can viewed at Weberhoops.com, and also because of Purplefogdog. Who shortly after the affair, was served with a court order restraining order by the Sugar Bears, because, as he says, "they couldn't keep their CLAWS off." (You can judge for yourself, look at the pictures, and see who is smiling the most).

Back at the Butler-Hancock Pavilion, the Bear fans cheered wildly for the malt liquor induced Sugar Bears as they jumped in their Saran wrap like uniforms. The rolling skin and the bobbing stretch marks could easily induce a coma upon any unsuspecting visitor, but not me, and not on this night. A small group of Wildcat fans (probably 1/3 of the crowd) stunningly focused entirely on the Cats and ignored the Sugar Plumbs. On this night, the Cats would not play their best game. Weber would do just enough to leave Greeley with a W, behind the exceptional play of Kellen McCoy and Kyle Bullinger. But it would come at a cost, at each timeout, these lustful wenches of sinful dance, would careen in front of the Wildcat bench with the hope of causing gastro-intestinal pyrotechnics. Fortunately for these wildcats, they'd be strong enough to turn away from the babuls of a bad hostess commercial, and again come from behind to beat Northern Colorado, and send the UNC faithful unfulfilled into the noxious Greeley air (Logan is quite similar during the winter months: RED AIR Days. Except Red Days are a rarity in Logan, while they are a daily occurrence in Greeley)

After the game I quickly grabbed my two small nephews and ran for my car, as the voracious appetite of the bears came alive. One of my nephews struggled furiously to hold onto the remnants of a box of popcorn that one of the bears greedily grabbed at. Thankfully, my car was soon spotted and I made a mad dash for the interstate and Fort Collins, which like the bridge in Washington Irvings Sleepy Holly, holds the devilish sugar bears at bay. As I drove onto the Interstate I yelled back at these delightful beauties, UNTIL NEXT TIME!!! And slowly breathed a sigh of relief thinking, maybe they will get new uniforms…the ones they have, have faded quite a bit since October, and seem a lot smaller too.
By Rod Eyre
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at rod@weberhoops.com

The Shuttle Bus that Could

January 30th Each time I step onto a Weber State bus two things automatically go through my head. First, will we actually make it to our destination, and second, are the cheerleaders coming with us. After our last road trip, an exasperating journey to White Trash Missoula for an FCS playoff game, I have doubted the ability of Weber State's buses to get fans to their intended destinations. A night in Deer Lodge Montana will do that to you. Deer Lodge is not the most glamorous spot in Montana, hell in all honesty, I wouldn't doubt if Montanans have erased it from off their maps. It's very similar to a black hole, but not one that could hold back the stellar efforts of the Gray Goose!! However, last night that very same super bus, failed the students of Weber State. Granted, every superhero needs a night off once in a while. Unfortunately, that night was last night. As I stepped onto the bus, my thoughts automatically returned me to that fateful night in Deer Lodge: Jimmy was sick from eating too much candy, crazy lady slapped Bev, and worst of all Weber had lost the football game to the hated White Trash Griz.

Throughout this week, which preceded the first road trip since that fateful event, I have been paralyzed by apprehension and fear. I am one who believes in facing my fears, and thus signed up for the annual road trip to the WSU/ISU basketball game. However, my fears wouldn't easily subside, as the memory of the last road trip flooded my mind. But, to my utter most relief, once I arrived in the parking lot of the Alumni Center, I spotted the mighty Gray Goose, and realized that this Super bus was to be our transportation to Potatoville. The fear subsided, and the excitement mounted, as we were about to embark on our expedition to the first of two rivalry games with the ISU Potatoes.

Unfortunately, despair was to overcast our hopes and excitement. Willie Page and I both let out a sigh once the Gray Goose started faltering. If the mighty Gray Goose wasn't able to get us to Potatoville, then what were the devoted students of Weber to do, besides, the Cheerleaders were with us this time (even though none of us had a chance with any of them), and it was after all ISU, our hated, despised, and easily beatable rivals. Even though the rivalry is practically one sided, especially in football, we all knew that tonight's game would be huge, and that the boys in Royal Purple needed the support of their fans. Yet, the Gray Goose, though it tried, would not be taking us to Potatoville. Bemoaned by the inability of the Gray Goose, another hero would step up on the "BIG STAGE, though it had two fouls," for the Cats on this fateful night...

Like the little engine that could, one of the regular shuttle buses was used as our transportation. This little bus couldn't go over 67mph, didn't have enough seats, was grudgingly chilly as cold air slipped in through cracks, and overheated in Riverside; yet, it refused to be denied. At 7:10 the Shuttle Bus that Could entered the LOLT Arena parking lot full of fanatical Weber State fans. Because of the late arrival, the rabid fans were unable to express their appreciation to the little bus that could, but that didn't matter, all the bus wanted was a Weber State victory on this normal, cold, dingy, and ugly Idaho night. Though small in number, this small group would be louder than the 3,200 ISU fans, and help drive the Wildcats onto victory in a classic Over Time game between the two rivals. By the way, the cheerleaders, especially the dancers, who were on the bus, were really hot! BVB is definitely one lucky duder.

After a long night of struggling, the little bus brought back those faithful and appreciative Weber State fans. On this night we had witnessed two of the greatest spectacles of in Weber State history: A come from behind win on our rivals' court, and the shaping of a hero…in the form of the Shuttle Bus that Could.
By Rod Eyre
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at rod@weberhoops.com

Coaches Luncheon is Rahe's Luncheon

January 12th, 2009 Every other week Wildcat Club members and other Weber State University supporters meet inside Lagori's restaurant in Ogden to listen to WSU coaches report on the teams they coach. Today at the luncheon five coaches addressed supporters. The coach that stole the show-Men's basketball coach Randy Rahe.

I paid $6.75 for my lunch and to hear the coaches. I would have paid $10.00 just to hear Rahe, even if that price didn't include a meal. Rahe was awesome. Besides reporting on the Wildcat's improbable road victories over Portland State and Eastern Washington, he was chuck full of hilarity. Among other things, he shared a personal conversations he had with a referee during the road trip, and he also detailed for those in attendance the pathetic state of Portland State's basketball facilities. (Last year the 'Cats actually had to share a locker room with a bunch of naked PSU professors. Yikes.) He talked about his superstitions as a coach. He said he has a lucky road tie and a lucky home tie. "The guys are getting tired of seeing them," he said. He also said he finally found a hotel to stay at in Washington as he will not return to a hotel if the previous time his team stayed there they lost.

Besides being quite hilarious, Rahe was also very impressive. He makes sure his team stays hungry, prepared and humble. During the lunch he said there are no stars on his team. "We just have a bunch of good basketball players who play well together," he said. He expressed concerns about his team getting too confident and comfortable with the recent road sweep. "We're going to get after them these next two days to make damn sure that doesn't happen."

Rahe also said that he enjoys coaching in the Big Sky because for his team there is no margin for error. Any team can beat any team on any given night. That is, according to Rahe, what makes every week so much fun.
By Mark Berger
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

First Time Ever!

November 20th, 2008 On November 22, 2008 you might be able to witness something that has never been seen before. An event of this magnitude can only be compared with Haley's Comet, or the reincarnation of the Buddha. It's even as exciting as the streaking incident of 2004 anchored by Weber State's own DJ STRYDE. 40 years of Weber State football misery will transform into bliss this Saturday afternoon as the Weber State football team will be aiming for their first ever sole Big Sky Championship.

A win will, in all likelihood, ensure the Cats of a FCS playoff seed, the likes of which has never been experienced by the Weber State faithful, nor the Ogden community. Will you be there to watch witness it?

Granted, Utah and BYU will be playing, but lets be honest with ourselves, does either team have a shot at claiming an NCAA Championship through a legitimate Playoff? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding no (by the way, I hope the Utes win). The Holy War will happen again next season; unfortunately for many, being able to watch Weber State, for the first time, claim a perfect record against Big Sky foes will not.

Weber eventually will match this feat again some season- it might come as soon as next season. Instead of wishing your would have been there in years to come, JUST BE THERE. Wouldn't you rather be one of the faithful fans in the crowd this Saturday to watch the 'Cats do it for the first time claim a spot of history! I know I do, and I will be there.

Much like the Dee, Stewart Stadium has been more empty than full lately. For the first time in history Weber State University can boast a student body of over 20,000, but what's the purpose of bragging about such a fete if none of them support the institution? Ogden City, for the first time in decades, is vibrant and growing, but where is the community? Don't they know that there is a university in their midst that is clamoring for their support? Ogdenites and Wildcats: students, alumni, or hapless dropouts, drunks, Bagginses, and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks...Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots support your school.

Fill the stands this Saturday at noon and honor the accomplishments of this team, they have earned your support, and need it desperately to continue their run towards a NCAA Division I National Championship! BE THERE!!
By Rod Eyre
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at rod@weberhoops.com

Weber State: Playing to Make History

November 17th This Saturday Weber State plays host to Eastern Washington in a game, that if Weber wins, will ensure the Wildcats stand alone as Big Sky Champions. WeberHoops founder sent out an email to some website loyalists that does a good job of summing up Weber State's football season and outlaying the importance of this Saturday's game.

Here is the email

Wilcat Update:

Weber State's football team is having possibly or already the greatest season in school history with 1 game to go before the playoffs. Weber has already won the Big Sky title which was the first since 1968 (back when John L Smith was on the Weber football team.)

WSU is 7-0 for the first time ever, having never even gone 5-0. 9-2 overall with losses to Hawaii (36-17 final after being up 17-7 at the half) and Utah (37-21). In the Utah game, WSU's QB Cam Higgins threw for over 300 yds, 2 TD passes and 0 INT's. This yr against Utah's D, only Oregon State has been able to do as good as Weber's QB. TCU didn't even score 21 in Salt Lake. Higgins is just a soph but is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, it's the Heisman of Div I FCS formerly I-AA.

If WSU wins out they have a chance to get one of the 4 seeds of the 16 team playoffs starting Nov 29. Currently Weber is ranked 8th in the nation.

National championship game is in Chattanooga, TN, Dec 19.


W. Paige


Wouldn't it be great if Weber was able to host a playoff game and go on to become national champions? But first thing is first, in order to increase their chances of a top four seed in the playoffs and of hosting a game, they need to take care of Eastern Washington.

And people from the greater Ogden area have no excuse not to come:

1- Tickets are half off for adults and only $1 for kids.
2- The game is at noon. The Holy War starts at 4:00 PM, so there is no conflict of schedule with that.
3- If we win, everyone is going to rush the field! How often have Weber football fans been able to do that? This is a once-in-a-forty-years opportunity!
4- The first 2,500 fans to show up at the stadium will receive free Wildcat t-shirts.

So no excuses not to come. If you are not a Weber State fan, it is time to become one. Weber State football is on the verge of making history, and I want to say I was there to see it happen.
By Mark Berger
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

Good Week for Weber. Bad Week for Me.

November 14th What a depressing week it was for me! More specifically, what a depressing weekend it was for me! Last Saturday could have become one of the greatest Weber State sports memories of my life, but alas, it wasn't and won't be. I had the chance to make two great memories for myself, but instead found myself buried under books and papers, trying to get caught up with my classes.

First of all, I could have made the trip with two of my brothers, several friends, and over 2,000 fans to Idaho State to see the Wildcats rip the Bengals to pieces, clinching their first Big Sky Championship in a very, very long time. As I watched the highlights on the news, read the stories in the papers, and watched Cheesus' highlight video on weberhoops.com (that video is seen below), I became irate at the fact that for some reason Weber State chose this year, when I'm too busy to even sleep, to be great at football! It just sucks. And it depresses me. However, there is some hope as Weber's offense next year looks to return almost everybody and Mac extended his contract another four years. Maybe they'll win the Big Sky next year at home and I will be able to rush the field like a mad man.

Since I wasn't able to make the trip to Pocatello and was at home with my one-year-old daughter, I thought maybe if I could dig in and get my papers written, I'd have the chance of taking my daughter to see her first Weber State basketball game at the Dee that night. Unfortunately, that memory never happened. I just had too much to do. We will have to make that memory another day. The good news here is I did buy season tickets and I will have a whole month of no classes in December, where I will surely be able to take her to a game and witness the miracle of purple slowly filling her veins.

#9 WSU beats Idaho State 59-27 to become the Big Sky Champs

For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

Victory Dew...

October 16th It was an unseasonably warm January night, in 2003. Fresh off another basketball victory, just one in a string of 17, a group of Wildcat fans gathered obsequiously in a circle by a tree with a small purple spot on it. The tree looked inconspicuous and common, but this tree was no ordinary tree, it was special. Much like the Liberty Tree, this tree signified reverence and awe, as it represented the achievements of Weber State and the common student.

Next to the tree sat a dilapidated red cooler, a circle formed round it, while a giant of a man, one of Weber's most rigid and loyal, eagerly started plucking, what could have passed as manna to the Israelites, chilled cans of Mountain Dew. Fervently each fan gripped their dew, and keenly opened the can in the midst of the mild night air. Something great was on the horizon, one could sense it in the air, as a breeze of anticipation and optimism surged past them. Slowly each person heaved their green treasure upward into the night sky, as words of praise and approbation were uttered towards Supaman and the Pride of the Purple and White. With the toasts complete, and under the chant of "WEBER STATE, WEBER STATE, Great, Great, Great," each fan with ravenous delight guzzled their Dew. A tradition had been born! The Victory Dew had arrived!

Zealously Weber fans assemble round the red cooler, at the conclusion of each home victory, as students, fans, and Dave Baker form a circle, in the hallow area in front of the Victory Tree, and salute the accomplishments of the WSU basketball team with words of adulation; devouring Dews. Under such humble beginnings this proud and lasting tradition was conceived. Since that time it has been erected into a lasting tradition treasured by numerous fans and devotees of the Purple and White. As the underlings of the Big Sky, bengal fans, jealously watch in disarray and impotence. GO CATS!!!
Contact me at rod@weberhoops.com

Changes to the Fan's Website

October 15th This year has been a big year of big (and hopefully good) changes for Weber State's number one fan-run website. First off, as you have probably noticed, we changed our name from wsubball.com to weberhoops.com. This was an effort to come up with something easier to remember. Plus we wanted to get Weber's name in the URL.

Weberhoops has also changed the name of Berger's Blog to Wildcat Wall. This was done for two reasons. First, we wanted a name that would be more associated with Weber State. (But don't worry. Though name is no longer in the title of the blog, I will still be providing my insight on Weber State sports on a regular basis.) The second reason for changing the blog name is because WeberHoops has acquired the talent and insight of two new Weber State sports enthusiasts who will be contributing to the blog. Eric Neff will join me in blogging, and Phil (mostly known as Cheese) will be creating videos to include on Wildcat Wall.

I'd like to quickly introduce these two Weber fans to Weberhoops' visitors.

It is no exaggeration to refer to Eric Neff as the true Weber State insider. I challenge anyone out there who knows someone who is associated with Weber State to ask that person if he or she has heard of Eric. I can guarantee you if they don't personally know him, they have at least heard his name, or know someone who has. Not only did Eric graduate from Weber, he was also involved in Student Government, the fraternity scene, and many other school organizations. We are very much looking forward to the news and insight he will be able to provide us through his many contacts on campus.

Cheese is one of the biggest Weber State sports fans I know. He is currently attending Weber State, pursuing a degree in Business Administration. He recently obtained a camcorder and began making videos, highlighting Weber State sports and Ogden, Utah. Here is a link to his first video: Football Clip 1 It's a highlight of Weber's recent trouncing of Montana. It will be great to not only get his videos on Wildcat Wall but to also see them available on YouTube.

I hope you enjoy the new entertainment and information available from Eric and Cheese! They should have plenty to write about and record as this is turning out to be the best football season in years and as WSU basketball is looking just as promising.
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

WSU beats #3 Montana 45-28

October 8th Congrats to the football team on beating the Montana Griz this past Saturday! It is still kinda hard to believe we won the game. The Griz previously had won 25 straight conference games which dated back to the 2005 season. The last time we beat UM was in 1998. UM has also won 10 straight conference titles.

A few notable hightlights from the game: Sacks: WSU 7, UM 0; Turnovers: WSU 1, UM 4; Rushing yards per carry: WSU 6.2, UM 2.9.

Running back Trevyn Smith had a breakout game rushing for 158 yards. He is on track to break the all-time WSU rushing record and it could even happen this season as a junior. The current record of 3,596 yards is held by WSU class of 2004, Nick Chournos.

Response to Whiney Ute Fans and Utah Media

September 29th I was shocked when on my way home from the Weber-Utah football game Saturday night, an angry Ute fan called a local radio station, complaining about Coach Ron McBride's actions during the game—particularly the fourth quarter. This caller was saying McBride was classless for "running up the score" in the fourth quarter. He said Coach Whittingham put in his second and third stringers in the fourth quarter out of respect for McBride, and McBride's leaving in his starters for the whole game was an ungracious way to lose to the kind-hearted Whittingham and his Utes.

HA! Anyone who has ever read my blog knows that I am very much both a Wildcat and a Ute fan. But I just about died when I heard this and other similar arguments coming from the media and fans alike. First off, how is it even possible to "run up the score" if you are losing? Ridiculous. And if you are going to bring up running up a score as classless, we need only to point out Utah's "classless" sloshing of the Wyoming Cowboys last year. Were the Wildcats supposed to succumb to a 30 point loss? Of course not. Whittingham didn't pull out his starters out of respect for Mac. He pulled out his starters because he has to face a Pac-10 team this Thursday that just knocked off the number one ranked team in the nation last week. One thing these fans and media obviously have forgotten is that Mac is a head football coach for a football team that is not the Utes. All week long I had to listen to media people ask Mac about what he thought about the Utes and their chances to be BCS busters. They asked him about how he recruited as Utah's head coach. They asked about his coaching philosophy when he was a Ute. They asked him questions about current players on Utah's roster. They asked him questions about anything other than the team he actually coached for. I understand most of the people in Utah could care less about the Wildcats and they wanted to hear Mac's thoughts on div I-A football. But come on! I heard two separate interviews Mac did, one on kall 700 with Bill Riley and the other on kfan with David James. Neither one asked Mac a single question about his Wildcat team. Talk about disrespectful. And then after the game, because McBride's boys were able to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Utah's reserves, making the game seem closer than it really was, people are getting all butt-hurt. Why would Mac do such a thing to the Utes? We thought he liked the Utes! HA! It's like it never crossed their minds that Mac takes his job at Weber State seriously. It's like they think Mac isn't competitive, that he isn't a good coach. McBride said after the game that he came to win. And he showed that by fighting to the very end. He could very easily have pulled out his starters in preparation for a big conference game against Montana this Saturday. Maybe he should have to prevent possible injuries. But I think Mac was sending a message, not to the Utes, but to his team, that he wants to make sure they have no quit in them and that if they are good enough to play competitively against the 17th ranked team in the nation (now #15), they sure will be able to compete against Big Sky powerhouse, Grizzlies. He was building their confidence. And this Saturday we will see if it worked. I suspect it did.

Football Kicks Off

Aug 29th This blog is supposed to be mostly about my experiences with WSU basketball, but since we're still in the the bball offseason and I have been itching to write something, I decided I'd try my hand at blogging football.

I went to the Weber State football's season opener against Montana-Western. We killed them 62-6. I'll quickly note a few of my observations on the lopsided victory. Then I want to rant about how disgracful WSU's "marching" band is.

Trevyn Smith is still the man: The dude had three touchdowns in the first half alone--the first of which was a thirteen-yard scamper finished off by a diving summersault into the south endzone.

Place kicker Mike Snoy has a leg: Because of our almost a billion touchdowns in the game, Snoy got to kick off almost a billion times. The result? Almost a billion touchbacks.

Higgins is legit: Though at first it seemed his timing was off with receivers Etuati and Toone, Higgins was consistant in the pocket. He went 17 for 27, throwing for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His agility and ability to avoid the sack was quite impressive to me.

Make Them March!

Because hardly any of the band members make it to Weber State's basketball games (attending basketball games is not a requirement to reatain a marching band scholarship) I was surprised to see a grundle of purple and black clad bandsmen making their way onto the field at halftime. The announcer anounced that they would be performing and marching to two Disney songs. I immediately became curious as to what the band actually could do.

First off let me say their uniforms were sharp looking and the songs sounded great. But I really don't think they can feel good about calling themselves a marching band. They looked more like a standing band to me. I will admit there was a strong effort for some pretty decent moving around while playing during the first Disney song. During the second song, however,the band went back to what they always do. They stood on the field and played a song. They didn't even move. I did see a tuba bobbing up and down. But that was it! I remember thinking the same thing last year when at every football game I went to, the band would run onto the field only to stand and play a song or two. Seems to me they are not working too hard for their scholarships. I say they need to learn to march and play at basketball games to keep their scholarships! Who's with me?
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@weberhoops.com

It's a Long Off-Season

March 24th I've put this off long enough. The second round of the NCAA tournament is over, and it's time for me to face the fact that Weber is not going to be playing in it this year.

I watched the Weber-NAU game, and came away with a few ideas of what to expect next year: I will briefly discuss three of them.

1- If Dave Baker, this year's Purple Pak president, doesn't do it, I am going to bring a sign to every home game next year that says something like, 'Death to Buzz Cut,' We hope you die, Buzz Cut,' or 'Buzz Cut=the worst Big Sky ref. And that's saying a lot!' Now I am not blaming the loss on the refereeing. I blame it on NAU's excellent three-point shooting and Weber's inability to penetrate and get to the hoop in the final minutes. But if you watched the game, you gotta admit that there were a few very questionable no-calls in the final minute that didn't help Weber's chances much at tying the game with a 3-pointer. And from what I hear from the loyal Weber State fans who made the trip to Portland, they were Buzz Cut's calls to make.

2- If the final game was any indication of next year, we will be able to count of Daviin Davis to be a huge part of the team next year. He was doing everything he could to keep the 'Cats in the game. He was making threes, dunking, playing hard D, and making free throws. I really don't see why, if he improves on his shooting over the summer, he can't be the Big Sky player of the year next year.

3-Though we are losing the Big Sky's leading rebounder, Arturas Valeika, it looks like we can expect a lot of good things from our bigs next year. Morris and Panos have both improved significantly throughout the course of the season, and by the way they both played against NAU, I don't see why they won't continue to grow and improve. So what I'm trying to say is that next year's lineup should be pretty tough for the Purple and White. With it being rumored that freshman newcomer Damian Lillard will be giving McCoy tough competition for the starting point guard position, Davis and McCoy returning, and our bigs showing big promise, it looks like we need one more big and one more shooter away from being serious contenders in the Big Sky next year.

It's been a joy blogging on wsubball.com this season. I've been really busy with graduate school, work and my family this year, and I have found Berger's Blog to very therapeutic. Before last year and especially before I took on the responsibility to do this blog, I was a fair-weathered, fickle fan. But let me tell you, after this year, and after all I have invested in WSU hoops, those days are no more. I'm looking forward to blogging more next season and will do an occasional blog in the off season, mostly for my personal benefit.
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@wsubball.com

'Cats Roll Without Soulja Boy

March 10th The way the playoff game between Weber State and MSU went on Saturday night makes me believe that Weber has a legit chance to take it all again this year.
Daviin Davis set the tone for the whole game with a monster double-pump dunk to get the 'Cats to a 2-0 lead. From then on Weber didn't let up. Midway through the first half they went on something like a 23-4 run. They led early in the half by more than 20, but we did not chant "up by 20" as tradition is we only chant it in the second half. Fortunately, Weber gave us several opportunities to chant it in the second half as well. With the Wildcats stomping on the Bobcats the whole game, students felt comfortable yelling a variety of original, never-used-before chants. My personal favorite was when the score was 32 to 9 with 3:50 to play in the first half and Arturas Valeika had 11 points of his own, fans started chanting, "Valeika is winning." I don't know how to explain how the Wildcats played so well. Maybe they were upset that Kellen McCoy did not get the newcomer of the year award, or that Valeika got snubbed for the best defensive player of the year, or maybe they just really wanted a third chance to beat NAU. All I know is it was obvious they came out of the gate with fire in their eyes and bolts of lightning coming out of their...Their defense on MSU's Carlos Taylor was tenacious and I had never seen their level of team intensity so high. Weber virtually looked unstoppable. The only disappointment of the night was that Brock, aka Soulja Boy, was not there as a ball boy. I actually got to the game 48 minutes early to interview him for a blog. I was very let down when I noticed two new ball boys I had never seen before in his spot. I actually snuck down on the court to talk to them to see if they knew where he was. They said he was at a party instead! I couldn't believe it. Maybe since he is no longer allowed to do his Soulja Boy dance at WSU games, he found other places to show off his skills. The point is I really hope this one game was a fluke and that we will see him a lot next year, Soulja Boy dance or no Soulja Boy dance. I've really enjoyed watching that kid grow up over the years. And let's all admit it. As good as he is at dancing, he's an even better ball boy!

Another Home Game!

March 5th Okay, so in a way I'm happy that Weber lost to NAU last week. Now we get to see one more home game this year. As much as I would have loved to, there is no way I would have been able to make the trip up to Portland to watch the second and third rounds of the BSCT. I'm so excited for this game on Saturday that I bought two tickets and am making my wife come with me. I found a babysitter and everything. I even made a deal with my wife that I'd go to a wedding reception on Friday if she would come with me to the game on Saturday.

I'm excited about having a first round game for a couple of reasons: 1 - I've really enjoyed watching the seniors on the team this year and I am excited to get to see them one last time. 2 - Even though winning the Big Sky Championship and going dancing now means that Weber will have to win three games in a row to three difficult opponents (MSU, NAU and probably PSU), I think starting the tournament with a home win might actually be better than getting a first round bye. A home court win means Weber will have momentum going into the semifinal and championship rounds. Sure they may be a little tired from playing one more game, but strong momentum can outlast fatigue, especially in a championship series. So come on everybody get your tickets before they all sell out (yeah right - 12,000), and come watch as the Wildcats start their BSC-run with a home win over MSU. Let's give them the momentum they will need to win at home, win in Portland, and make it to the NCAA tourney!

My Greatest WSU Moment of All-Time

February 25th Not to brag or anything, but on Senior Night, I may have been the reason the Wildcats came back from a ten-point first half deficit to ultimately beat Montana State by ten. That's right. I am taking credit for the win. I realize I am not the one who hit the free throws down the stretch or came up with big defensive stops when they were most important. I am, however, the one who got the thousands of fans in attendance into the action by winning free Fazoli's for everyone. I arrived at the Dee Event's Center thirty minutes early when Ben Huppi, the guy in charge of the Fazoli's promotion, came over and asked me if I would do it. He said he wanted someone who was a good shot, because he really wanted someone to win the promotion. This was the last home game of the year and no one had won it yet. I told him he could count on me. He said I would be shooting during the first timeout after halftime. To win the Fazoli's promotion, one must make a layup, free throw and a three point shot all in succession without missing.

As the first half of the game unfolded and MSU was dominating Weber, effectively taking the crowd out of the game, I realized how important it was for me to win Fazoli's for the fans. I knew if I gave the fans something to be happy about, their enthusiasm would carry over into the game, and the Dee's famous Sixth Man would be on the 'Cats side once again. When halftime arrived and Weber was down ten points, the pressure of just how important it was I win began bearing down heavier and heavier on my shoulders. I was nervous. At the beginning of the second half, Ben came and got me and we waited court-side for the first timeout. About five minutes into the half the timeout was called and Ben led me onto the court. My heart was racing. I knew how important what I was about to do was, but all I could think about was not missing the layup like many people before me had done. I walked out to the basket, and when I got the thumbs up I threw up the layup. The ball bounced around the rim a couple of times, but I knew from the beginning it was going in. The next shot was the free throw. I walked up to the line, found my balance, dribbled the ball twice, paused, then dribbled once more, paused again, then focusing on the rim, I let the ball go. As soon as it left my finger tips I knew it was good. The ball barely caught the front of the rim and easily slid through the cylinder. Ben threw the ball back out to me at the three point line. It was here I knew I could begin to get the crowd going again. Before I even thought about shooting my shot, I faced the student section and threw my hands up in the air, encouraging them to cheer. They yelled and screamed. I then faced the other side of the arena and did the same thing. They responded in kind. All the nervousness I felt before the first layup had faded. I felt confident. I knew I was going to make my shot and everyone in attendance was going home with free food. I then walked to the top of the three point line, took a dribble, and let it fly. As Hot Rod Hundley would have said, 'with a gentle push and a mild arch, the cow-hide globe hit home!" I pumped my fist and ran off the court with my index finger raised high in the air. The fans were going wild. I had done my job, and the fans were once again doing theirs. The only thing left was for the Purple and White to finish off the game, which they easily did with their fans enthusiastically cheering them on the whole way!

Representing the Purple & White

February 20th With Weber State getting swepped on their most recent road trip, and with J.P. and Billings not playing so hot, there hasn't been a whole lot for 'Cat fans to cheer about. Last week Weber went from possibly hosting the Big Sky tournament to tied for third place with MSU. In a way, however, this most recent slump came at a good time. While Weber fans could have dug themselves in a hole of self pity, there has been a Wildcat who has given our fans a reason to be proud to be 'Cat fans again.

That wildcat is Lance Allred - D-League all-star for the number one team, The Stampede. Lance, who leads the league in double-doubles, was chosen to represent his team in the D-league all-star game. During the festivities Lance did an excellent job of representing the Purple & White by beating sharp shooter Morris Almond, of the Utah Flash, in an intense game of H.O.R.S.E. After the game, Lance summed up all your feelings by stating, "Oh, and never leave the white guy open." Thanks Lance for stepping up when Weber fans needed you to the most. It has been a joy to watch you succeed in your professional career. We all know it is only a short time away until they call you up to the NBA and you start making the big bucks!

Berger goes to Bengalville

February 5th I finally went on my first Weber State Basketball road trip! It was only a short trip to Pocatello, and unfortunately it was in the Holt Arena, but it was still worth it-even though the 'Cats lost in a close one. Everyone who was taking the bus met at the Alumni Center at 3:00 pm where we were given Sixth Man t-shirts, a lunch from Doolittle Deli, and our game tickets. A half hour later, after we loaded the bus with drinks, treats and a dozen old people, the rest of us filed in, filling the bus to over full capacity. The ride up was good. There was lots of talk about the Big Sky-who would host the tournament, what Weber's final record would be, how important this ISU game was, etc. There was also lots of talk on random topics—the season premiere of Lost, what exactly an LOL-cano is, how much we missed my brother Micah, how President of the Purple Pak David Baker got his nickname, etc. The ride was pretty uneventful, except we did stop about 30 minutes out of Pocatello for a potty break. I guess some of the geriatrics forgot to take their Flomax before they left. (The oldies on the bus were actually some of the hippest fans on the bus) But it was all good; I needed to get up and stretch my legs. We got to the old, beaten down Holt Arena around 6:30 and found our seats (which by the way, ISU made sure were the worst ones in the whole place!) It was while waiting for the game to start that I learned just how Pokey Pocatello actually is. The lead story on their local newspaper was titled Animals Found Dead, and reminded the locals of the Ligertown incident in 1995 which received national media attention. In case you weren't watching much CNN that year, let me tell you about Ligertown. In some sort of compound near Lava, Idaho, over a dozen lions and lion-tiger hybrids (also known as Ligers) mauled their owners and escaped! Now that is news! All I can say is the game was fun to watch, but that news article is what made the trip worth the time and money! The game started at seven. I don't want to blog much about the game except to say I imagine it was somewhat reminiscent of the Ligertown incident. Weber didn't get killed, but lost a close one to the Bengals (a Bengal is a cat that could be compared to a Lion or Liger). I just wish it was the Wildcats that did the mauling and not the Bengals. The Big Sky referees sucked, but they sucked for both teams, so we won't use that as an excuse (for more on the suckyness of the refs go to wsubball.com's home page). Half time was good. Wsubball.com founder, Willie Paige, for my pay for writing these blogs bought me some Bengal ice-cream. I will say this about Pocatello: They must take good care of their cows up there. That ice-cream was the bomb! By the way, thanks Willie. I'll take an Aggie ice-cream as pay when we go up to Logan next year. The ride home was...well, let's just say it was okay. Remember when I said the bus was filled to over capacity? Well I wasn't exaggerating. We had one too many people on the bus, and on the way home I fell victim to the situation. The guy I was sitting next to decided he'd let the girl without a seat sit on his lap, so until we let two of the oldies off the bus early, things were cramped and a little more than uncomfortable for this happily married man. Overall the whole road trip experience was awesome. I'm very glad I was able to do it. And I suggest that if you have never gone on the road to see our Weber State Wildcats play, you do it. We had over 100 in Pocatello and we sounded more like two to three hundred at times, especially when Jarmaine Nance hit the three to bring us within two and then when JP hit the two free-throws to tie it. I am way excited to go to Pokey next year, but think maybe next time I'll sit in the front with the old folks.

Filling the Dee

January 23rd This year's average home attendance is 3,622 per game. Our home games against Utah State and UofU had the most attendance with 7,791 and 5,340 respectively. The problem is at both games a large percentage of fans were not Weber State fans. If we deleted these two games from the percentage, average home attendance would be 2,445 a game. Not very good considering last year's Big Sky championship team averaged just over 4,500 a game and only hosted one big in-state rivalry game. They had four games with over 6,000 in attendance. Past years also produced larger home attendance. 1980 was the largest with an average of 10,500 fans a game for 16 games. And in 2003 the 'Cats enjoyed six games with more than 9,000 of the Dee Event Center's seats full.

So what has happened? Why is fan attendance so much lower this year than previous years? The 'Cats are currently 4-1 in conference play, and they only lost two starters from last years NCAA tournament team. And currently the Wildcats are on a four game winning streak. Weber State has a great team with a winning tradition, and they are fun to watch. So I ask the question, can something be done to increase community support for the team, or is Weber doomed to be playing in an arena that isn't even being used at 50 percent capacity?

I asked long time Weber State fan Eric Neff what he thought was the problem. Neff has lived in Ogden for nearly his whole life and has been attending games since he was just a little boy. Neff has been a fan during years of high and low attendance and provides some interesting insight and ideas about why attendance is currently struggling.

"I believe that most Weber fans are fairly fickle," Neff said. He noted that when Weber is a .500 team like this year, people might look for another game in town. Neff believes that with the Jazz, BYU, Utah State and the UofU all close by, Weber needs to be playing very well to attract attention from the locals.

However, I believe, as does Neff and other Weber State fans that tough competition is not the only reason for poor attendance. One need only visit WSU Fans Forum to see that there is an abundance of mumbling and grumbling for lack of effort from Weber State's marketing department. One disgruntled fan wrote the following when discussing Weber's home attendance last year:

I just found a VERY interesting number, it's our home attendance avg. for mens basketball. Let's all keep in mind that it was a season in which WSU lost only 2 home games. We averaged only 4,597 fans per game. Our marketing department should be totally embarrassed by this number WHAT THE h*** IS GOING ON?

Laced throughout the forum are similar complaints directed toward the marketing department. But not all forum entries are complaints; many provide suggestions for Weber State and its Marketing department. Fans present ideas such as better half-time entertainment, promotions and competitions at games where someone wins something every game, more advertising on sports radio stations and newspapers, emailing the Marketing Director with concerns and ideas, and so on.

Neff agrees that if the Marketing department stepped it up a bit, attendance would increase greatly. "You'd think that with just over 2.5 million people living along the Wasatch front that we could still manage 7,500 a game. However, no matter, if the people don't know what the h*** is going on, then how on Earth do you think that they are going to attend? Marketing impotence hurts us all the time." Neff is also quick to not lay all the blame on marketing. He also sees little or no effort from Student Government.

Neff is not just full of criticism; he also has ideas and has actually taken some initiative to implement some of them himself. Neff also wants to see better half-time shows and stronger promotions. He also told me about when he was involved in student government about something called the Basketball Weekend. He describes it as something similar to Homecoming. He claims it got student government, students, and the community involved and aware of Weber State hoops.

I personally cannot comment on the "impotence" of the Marketing department. I have not talked to them. And with the exception of the Purple Pak, I am not aware of what, if any, efforts student organizations are making to improve things either. What I do know is their efforts are not good enough. More can be done by marketing, students, and fans alike. With Weber State's rich basketball tradition and an arena that can hold 12,000 people, 'Cat fans cannot be satisfied with attendance and we should demand that stronger efforts are made to fill the Dee.
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@wsubball.com

Bringing WSU hoops to the fans

January 14th, 2008 I'd like to take some space on this blog to thank wsubball.com for giving me the opportunity to have a blog on its website. Willie Paige, founder of wsubball.com has done a tremendous job with the site and has given Weber State fans an outlet to discover the greatness that Weber State basketball is.

Paige tells me that since its conception early last year, wsubball.com has had more than 400,000 hits, and this month alone might even reach 100,000 hits. The site has been exponentially increasing each month in popularity as it becomes more known. The site's first month, January of 2007, wsubball.com only had 6,000 hits. None of this surprises me, considering the 'Cats have had a great deal of success under second year coach Randy Rahe. Under his command, the 'Cats hosted and won the Big Sky Tournament last year and went on to play UCLA in the NCAA tournament. This year the 'Cats appear to be on the right path to repeat last year's success with a 2-1 Big Sky record. The recent success is not the only reason Paige began his website dedicated to Weber State basketball. In an email interview I had with him, Paige said the sites that were out there were not sufficient enough to cover the 'Cats and their current and past success as a basketball program. Paige wrote the following when discussing his reasons for creating his site: "The school's site didn't and doesn't provide enough info about our basketball team. Also, the team's stats and historical info is very interesting and it is hard to find on the Internet." I personally am grateful for Paige for creating this site and also for his continued efforts to keep it consistently updated. Paige told me that when he created the site he knew it would be a lot of work to keep it updated with news on games, recruiting, and other basketball related stories. I think he's done a tremendous job of doing this. I only hope Weber State's athletic website will take notes and follow Paige's lead on providing fans with new and up-to-date info on WSU basketball. I am not the only fan who is pleased with wsubball.com and Paige's efforts to keep the site consistently updated. Dave Baker, president of the Purple Pak, believes the site is a good way to show the average person just how fun one can have as a Weber State basketball fan. Baker is the prime example of having fun at the games. Check out the pictures on the site from last year's season. It will be easy to spot him. He is the big guy at the Big Sky Tournament with his shirt off and a purple letter written across his belly. Though myself and others like me love the site, I can only find one problem with it. In its early days, I visited the site two or three times a week to read Wildcat news, look at the recent pictures, and follow up on who the team was recruiting. Now I go there every day and waste hours a week playing the newly implemented WSU Arcade. That thing is so addicting that I only read the articles on the site well after I'm burnt out from playing games like Turkey Fling, Monkey Dive, and Dirt Bike. Truth is this site has got me even more excited about Wildcat basketball, and I'm sure it has done the same for many more fans like me. So, on behalf of them, thank you Mr. Paige for doing a great job of promoting Weber State basketball and giving us an excuse to waste time at work! For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@wsubball.com

Welcome to Berger's Blog

December 24th, 2007 Welcome to my site Weber sports fans! I'm really excited to begin this blog and discuss my thoughts and observations on Weber State basketball this year. Hopefully some of you will read and enjoy my blog. Let me tell you a little about myself first.

I graduated from Weber State University in the summer of 2006. My major was Spanish and my two minors were technical writing and communication. I am currently attending the University of Utah; I am in the Master's of Public Administration program. (I'd say for now that's enough talk about the U. This blog is dedicated to Weber State only!) I love Weber, and have had many great experiences there. I lived less than a block away from campus for a decade. When I was young, my dad was a professor there, and I remember visiting him on campus and thinking that I couldn't wait until I went to college there. I remember my Jr. Jazz coach setting up a practice with the Weber State basketball team and having a short scrimmage with them in the 1998/99 seasons - I made a 3-pointer on someone. I like to think it was Eddie Gill, but I can't be certain it was him. I met my wife at Weber State, and it was with her that I became a True Wildcat! Like I said, I've had many great experiences at Weber!

Some of my greatest memories at Weber State are from games in the great Dee Events Center. This year looks to be another promising year of great memories made there as well. We already got our revenge on the Aggies and their utter-pulling, cow-milking, ice cream-eating fans from last year. Ohhh it was great to see them humbled and speechless as they left the Dee with their heads hung low. It was just as great to see Jaycee Carroll (the future of the D-league) have a horrible game. EVERYBODY, chant it with me! "Carroll sucks...Carroll sucks!" Those were good times.

Not being a student anymore, I am still drawn to the university and its atmosphere. With my current schooling and child and wife, I find less time to make it to games, but the ones I have made it to this year have been great. Here's to the 2007-08 season. Let's all get psyched as we watch our 'Cats and their run to the Big Dance!
For questions, comments, or thoughts, email me at mark@wsubball.com