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College sports is filled with wonderful stories. It’s also filled with constant change, turnover, and the occasional controversy. Navigating those waters can be difficult, but Arizona State has had a steady hand on the helm for decades. Doug Tammaro heads up ASU’s media relations department. It’s an often thankless job, but the impact he has made for Sun Devils student-athletes, fans, and media members, both professional and student, has been immense. In addition to having impeccable taste in NFL teams, Tammaro has brought a positive, gratitude-oriented mindset to his work. But just remember to clean up your area in the press box.

On this episode, we discuss his early days starring on the basketball courts of western Pennsylvania, the lessons he learned early in his career, his favorite Sun Devil moments, Bill Walton, unsung Sun Devils, the origins of the Kyle Dodd rivalry, the power of a handwritten note, and much more.

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Cincinnati was one of the four teams that joined the Big 12 last season and struggled in their first year in a power conference. Has spring practice offered true hopes for a turnaround? BearcatReport.com Publisher Jason Stamm shares his observations. And I know you guys will get a kick about what he had to say about former ASU QB Emory Jones...

Denver Devil, you are best equipped to provide the troops hockey updates on recruiting and portal news ......i saw a goalie transferred in this weekend, a DEFman from Cedar Rapids Friday or Saturday, and the leading scorer from Wisconsin a month or so ago, in addition to a couple big recruits signing the dotting line

Thoughts on how the team looks compared to last season??

"They didn’t just offer me as a player; they offered me as a person. The reason I feel they were on me the most than other schools was because, as a program, they know me individually the most." Scottsdale Saguaro HS ATH Dajon Hinton goes into detail about his ASU pledge

For the last two years, Kansas State has certainly been one of the more formidable programs in the Big 12, and with the volume of its returning talent, there's no reason to believe that they will take a step back in 2024. Has their spring practice reflected the high level of optimism concerning the team? EMAWOnline Publisher Kevin Fielder shares his observations.

He had a somewhat troubled life on and off the course.
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Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = No More Shellackings

I don't know what criteria our new AD will use to evaluate our Big 3 sports but I hope getting "shellacked by opponents" is on his list of what better not happen from now on in football, basketball or baseball...

Dilly and his staff, when playing this next season in the Big 12, better not have shellacking losses like the Devils had against the Utes last season (55-3) or against the Ducks (49-13) or, worst yet, a 59-23 loss to the Cats...

And, Bobby and his staff better not be losing by scores like 105-60 to any opponent, much less the Cats...

And, Willie and his staff can't be losing by a half-dozen or more runs, after only an inning or two or three, that then require us to score an inordinate amount of runs with which to catch up in order to win, etc...

That kind of nonsense has to stop, in my opinion, even if we win more than 3 games in football this season or have a winning season in basketball or win 30 or more games in baseball...

And, we better win more than 3 games in football, especially since we don't have to face teams like Oregon, USC or Washington anymore (or Texas or Oklahoma, either)...

And, in basketball, why are we having losing seasons in a coach's 9th year at ASU..??

And, in baseball, isn't it time we start making the postseason tournament once again..??

I like that we have Sun Devils running our football and baseball programs and now have an AD who is also a die-hard Sun Devil at heart, but the Valley isn't going to be really Activated until those programs start winning at a high level and aren't getting shellacked along the way, either...

I also like that our new AD - Graham Rossini - meets the height requirement, since he is 6'5," which makes him uncomfortable while trying to sit during a game at our basketball arena...

He's brought that up when talking about the need to renovate the Desert Financial Arena that will require a lot of money in order to do so...

Which brings up the matter of where capital expenditures fit in this newly redesigned Sun Devil athletic dept..??

The Wildcats athletic dept got into a lot of trouble last year, when it was unable to repay a loan made by the school to the athletic dept, in order to upgrade McKale Center where the Cats play basketball...

The loan of $83 million made to the athletic dept had been made years earlier and no part of it had been repaid, which caused all kinds of problems for their athletic dept, that subsequently culminated with their AD being fired...

I'm sure none of that was lost on either president Crow or our Chief Business Officer for Sun Devil athletics, Graham Rossini, who decided that a new approach to funding athletics was needed at ASU...

And, as a result, we now have a new way of doing business within our Sun Devil athletic dept and a new AD who was a primary architect of this new model...

In addition to overseeing 26 sports at ASU, our new AD and his staff will have to deal with the significant pay-for-play NIL platform that is run outside of the university and with the fallout from the NCAA antitrust settlement that may ultimately lead to schools paying their student-athletes directly as employees...

And, if that happens, where are the funds going to come from in order to do so, since our athletic dept is now just another business unit of the school..??

Will the school subsidize this or will the revenue generating sports have to do so or will the cost be shared..??

It's enough to make one's brain swell with lots of anxiety, so I hope and trust that our new AD is up to the task at hand...

But, in the meantime, it's time for our Big 3 sports to always win more than they lose and never to lose by ridiculous margins while competing against any and all opponents...

And, to get to a championship level of play, in the not too distant future, in our new conference, even if it isn't the Conference of Champions anymore...

Have a good Memorial Day and remember what that all means in the "real world" on a day to day basis...

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

Per Jon Wilner in his PAC 12 Hotline column recently (using Fan Duel odds)...

Arizona - O/U 7.5 for Cats - he is betting on the over because the Cats have both Fifita and TMac returning, along with seven home games against middle and lower-tier programs...

Baylor - 5.5 for Bears - he is taking the under because in their first four games they play Utah on road, Air Force at home, Colorado on road and BYU home and, in his opinion, they will need at least a split in those games to get to more than five wins...

BYU - 4.5 for Cougars - he is taking the under since BYU will have to play all of the conference favorites that include Kansas, K-State, AU, Utah and Okie St to go along with non-conference games against SMU and Wyoming...

Cincy - 5.5 for Bearcats - he is taking the over since the Bearcats miss Arizona, Utah, Okie St and Kansas and has a new QB from Indiana to guide offense...

Colorado - 5.5 for Buffs - he is taking the under due to tough schedule and non-con games against N Dakota St at home, Nebraska on road and Colorado St at neutral site...plus rest of Big 12 tired of hearing about the great Prime Time that will put a bullseye on their backs this season...

Houston - 4.5 for Cougars - he is taking under since Cougars have daunting schedule that includes Oklahoma, Iowa St, Utah, AU, K-State and Kansas...

Iowa St - 7,5 for Cyclones - he is taking over but not very confident in that bet since Cyclones have road trips to Iowa, Kansas and Utah...

Kansas - 8.5 for Jayhawks - he is taking the over since Jayhawks miss both Utah and Arizona and have very good QB returning...

Kansas St - 9.5 for Wildcats - he is taking the over even though the Wildcats will miss their QB who transferred to Ohio St but they will need a win against AU early in season, that is not a Big 12 game, since it was already on their schedule...

Oklahoma St - 7.5 for Cowboys - he is taking the over since Gundy has enough talent to once again win at least 8 games...

TCU - 7.5 for Horned Frogs - he is taking the under since roster has holes in it and many tough road games will hinder the team...

Texas Tech - 7.5 for Red Raiders - he is taking the over since he believes the team will be 4-0 in Sept and will miss Utah, Kansas and K-State in conference...

UCF - 7.5 for Knights - he is taking the under since Knights only won three conference games last season and don't figure to be much better this season...

Utah - 9.5 for Utes - he is taking the over since he feels the Utes can beat Oklahoma St on road and AU at home...

W Virginia - 6.5 for Mountaineers - he is taking the under since team will be playing Pitt and Penn St in addition to all conference heavy-weights except Utah...

ASU - 4.5 for Sun Devils - he is taking the under since Devils have to play Wyoming that won 9 games last year and Texas State that won 8 games and Miss St of the SEC, in addition to difficult conference schedule, with a more talented team but probably not enough to win more than four games in his estimation...

It sure looks like Dilly has his work cut out for him...Go Dilly and Go Devils!!!

while ASU Bball still at the Activity Center, I know the name changed but for me, it will always be the Activity Center. Hmmm, that has got to sting BH just a bit.

Wonder if this is ASU's slow walk to having Mullett be the new arena for all sports that previously used the Activity Center. Very interesting move and brings lots of thoughts to mind about ASU's future moves for housing bball etc. @Hod Rabino any thoughts or insights on this?

Regan hasn't been on the roster for months now, so this was a given

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Cactus Sports has these available for pre-order for the first time ever.

As the sun begins to lay down here in MD on a Friday evening and rush hour begins in Phoenix, I know I join all of you in a time of remembering this weekend..... PT42..... and all of our service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Is anyone here on the tailgating committee? I know one was formed but we haven't heard anything. If yes and you can share any info at all, I'd appreciate it. DM is fine if that makes you feel more comfortable with sharing info.

"I just love the scheme and how detailed everything is. They give you all the tools, but it is up to you to make the most of the opportunities." WR commit Cullen Charles goes in-depth about his ASU pledge

Comes from Southern Illinois, so ASU is replacing a Chicago guy with another Chicago guy. Howard was also eight years at Kansas.

Graham Rossini's press conference presented the perfect combination of narrative and delivery. Actions will have to back up those words, but fans should be cautiously optimistic about what he can accomplish as ASU's new athletic director

“We put a lot of effort and energy into this season, been phenomenal teammates to each other, and to see that come to an end is never easy.” The usually scorching hot ASU bats struggled in a season-ending loss to Oregon State

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ASU finally has an athletic director. Over six months after Ray Anderson’s resignation, Graham Rossini has been promoted to the top job in Sun Devil athletics. With guest co-host @Ralph Amsden, we discuss the move, the pros, the questions, and the concerns. Then we bring you an exclusive 1-on-1 conversation with Rossini (36:42) before bringing you the full audio of the press conference featuring Rossini, Kenny Dillingham, and Dr. Michael Crow.

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1) Kyle Whittingham - Utah - his record that includes a couple of PAC championships speaks for itself...

Devils play Utes at home on Oct 11th...

2) Lance Leipold - Kansas - Lance went 2-10 his first year, 6-7 his second year, and 9-4 his third year at Kansas...

Devils play Jayhawks at home on Oct 5th...

3) Mike Gundy - Oklahoma St - has a very consistent winning record with Cowboys...

Devils play Cowboys on road on November 2nd...

4) Chris Klieman - K-State - has 39-24 record at school and is a proven winner...

Devils play Wildcats on road on Nov 16th...

5) Willie Fritz - Houston - new coach who came from Tulane where he turned that program around...

ASU does not play Cougars this year...

6) Matt Campbell - Iowa St - has 53 -48 record at school and gone to six bowl games...

ASU does not play Cyclones this year...

7) Sonny Dykes - TCU - solid coach who played for national championship a year ago...

ASU does not play the Horned Frogs this year...

8) Gus Malzahn - UCF - was 24-16 at Auburn before going to Central Florida...

Devils play Knights at home on Nov 9th...

9) Neal Brown - W Virginia - went 9-4 last season after being on hot seat in Morgantown for poor performances his previous four years at school...

Devils do not play Mountaineers this year...

10) Joey McGuire - Texas Tech - Baylor assistant before taking Tech job...this will be his third season in Lubbock where Red Raiders have been treading water...

Devils play Red Raiders on road on Sept 21st...

11) Kalani Sitaki - BYU - Cougars were 5-7 last season and Sitaki is 61-41 at BYU over his eight years there...

Devils play Cougars at home on Nov 23rd...

12) Dave Aranda - Baylor - Bears won Big 12 in 2021 but haven't done much since then...

Devils don't play Bears this year...

13) Brent Brennan - AU - first season with Cats and did a good job at head coach at San Jose St...

Devils play Cats on road on Nov 30th...

14) Scott Satterfeld - Cincy - was very successful at Appalachian St before going to Cincy last year...

Devils play Bearcats on road on Nov 19th...

15) Deion Sanders - Colorado - Prime Time hit Boulder like a lightening bolt but will the Bolt still have any energy left in it as part of the Big 12 this year..??

Devils don't play Buffs this year...

16) Kenny Dillingham - ASU - Athlon says despite finishing last in their coaching poll, that Dilly will be someone to be reckoned with in the Big 12 since he can recruit...

So, after Dilly's second season at ASU, where will he rate next season in this poll..??

I think that he will go up several places especially if he beats enough of the coaches rated ahead of him in this poll...

I'm ready to take the over 4.5 wins this year and I think we have a pretty good chance to go bowling....

Go Dilly and Go Devils!!!

She will report to Rossini. According to her bio, she joined ASU in 2018 as Vice President of Enterprise Development, working with ASU's senior leadership team to advance corporate and private sector partnership opportunities through executive-level engagement.

At ASU she was the Executive Director for Starbucks Initiatives, leading partnership efforts between ASU and Starbucks, with programs such as the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, Starbucks Global Academy, the Starbucks Technology Center, located in the Sky Song Innovation Zone, and the ASU-Starbucks Center for the Future of People and the Planet.

Got her B.S. from ASU and MBA from U of A.

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A person close to this hiring process did inform me of that