I took a tour yesterday of the new Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley, home of the San Diego State Aztecs. It is a beautiful facility that seats 35,000+, maxing out at around 40,000. The old Qualcomm Stadium site was acquired by the Cal State system from the city of San Diego after a referendum passed by popular vote. The construction costs are being financed by revenue bonds. The stadium has lots of open corridors and you can walk around the entire structure. It features great views of the surrounding hills and the surrounding Mission River valley. I think he architects did a great job in design and incorporating local attributes into the design. For example, one upper deck is a long pier like structure that juts out towards the playing field. We were able to go inside some of the luxury suites which were very appealing. Besides the Aztecs football games, Snapdragon will host the recently newly minted MLS San Diego FC as well as women professional soccer, men’s professional rugby, concerts, motorcycle and monster truck events. The project cleared off the old Qualcomm Stadium and moved the new stadium to a higher elevated site which is less impacted by flooding in the river valley. There is also a lot of green park open space and the site will also include apartments and other research labs and offices for SDSU. The stadium cost over $300M and is Gold LEED certified. I believe there are so many positive attributes of this stadium as a public investment. The old Qualcomm site had become an eyesore and the city was not properly maintaining the stadium. SDSU is very mindful of the impact of events on the surrounding community and there a design features built into the lighting and sound systems to help mitigate impacts. The San Diego Trolley helps mitigate the traffic impact- about half of the attendees to Aztec football games take the trolley. This is a multi-year project, the stadium was the first structure to be constructed along with clearing then site for parks and open space. Apartments and other university labs and offices will be built on site in upcoming years. My hope that the new proposed stadium project for NU will move forward and the stadium can host events in addition to football games with measures in place to mitigate the impact. I think a new stadium will be a win for both the university and for the community.

Interim head coach David Braun addressed the media for the seventh time this season ahead of their matchup with Nebraska this weekend. Here are our takeaways from his press conference.

Their fan mail piece, states they think Gragg and Schill are not going anywhere. I have no idea how they base their responses, but it is disheartening to read. How can anyone with a brain thing Gragg is doing a good job?? Don't get me started an Schill....

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They’ll probably discuss this in a future episode of Cover 3. Penn State, Michigan, Indiana and Northwestern all getting mentions in the replies.

Northwestern's Class of 2024 is in the final weeks of their regular seasons, check out how all 10 commits did in this week's roundup!

Ken Pomeroy has posted the pre-season ratings on his site, and rates the 'Cats as 40th overall and projects them to finish 21-10 overall, and 7th in B1G at 10-10. He also has us running the table in non-con.

We are not alone. Came across this today on AP. Truth? At least memorable.

While News Industry Struggles, College Students Are Supplying Some Memorable Journalism

@lou v breaks down interim head coach David Braun's start to the season, and why Northwestern should still wait to see more before they make him the long-term head coach.

..after watching the games today...is there anyone left on the schedule that we could not beat or minimally compete with??? It would seem that improving on stopping the run may be the key.....

Comes back from 29-0 and wins in OT.
Hee hee hee!

Tossing names out there.

Manny Diaz - failed head coach, stud coordinator

Tommy Rees - young high profile coordinator

Sherrone Moore - OC at Michigan, been there since 2018, 36 years old

Curt Cignetti - 8 losses in four seasons at James Madison, 62 years old, including 13-3 in the Sun Belt

The Colorado OC who came from the MAC


Actually, Cignetti and a ‘in-waiting’ arrangement would be great. He’s an offensive mind.

Moore would be interesting.

But all are unknowns, like Braun is. And all have upside, like Braun does.

All I know is this: There is nobody I trust less to make a good decision than Derrick Gragg.

UPDATED TO INCLUDE OUR ACTIVE OFFERS ONLY:

Let’s talk Hoops Recruiting:

As far as I can tell we’ve extended offers to the following 2024 prospects:

Josh Pickett (IL)
Andrew Crawford (CO)
Brooks Bahr (TX)
Ty Davis (AL)
Isaiah Johnson-Arigu (MN)


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Very physical game that questions our future win total very seriously. They hit your ass!

Northwestern's Class of 2024 is in the final weeks of their regular seasons, check out how all 10 commits did in this week's roundup!

Watching the M game against IU i hear the baritone PA announcer and compare that to the NU "move those chains" guy and it's pathetic. I think he does basketball which he is pretty good at in all fairness. I would hope with the new stadium NU would invest in the game day experience and perhaps make it a little more exciting (outside the game) for the fans.

*note* I don't see Gragg ever doing anything to engage fans so perhaps the next AD can create some "buzz".

Two of the key players to replace Chase Audige are Brooks Barnhizer and transfer Ryan Langborg. I talked to Langborg at Chicagoland Media Day and then Barnhizer at Big Ten Media Day about how they've learned to play with each other, how they plan to fill the hole left by Audige and how they became roommates on such short notice.

They look more inert than we do

Wait, no they’re not. TV ratings are booming.

Can Northwestern football even hope to compete while maintaining its integrity? Doubtful but we shall see!

Ty Berry didn't have the shooting season he wanted to last season, but he made himself indispensable with his defense and rebounding. Now, heading into this year, Collins and Berry expect his shooting to come back and for him to continue to improve across the board. I talked to Berry at Big Ten Media Days about his goals to become a more complete player and his expectations for himself this season.

The kids need the rest and the weather sucks (for attending) but I wish there was a game.

Here's @mshelton33's profile of Boo Buie. FYI, Matt is in Minneapolis today for Big Ten Men's Basketball Media Day. Coach Collins takes the podium at 10:20 am CT.

Amazing comeback by the Cardinal. Too late for me to stay up and watch the end. I wonder if the Stanford players went over to the Colorado student section and waved their diplomas at the shocked Buffalo students/fans? : )