Sorry in advance for the inevitable curse, but no way I'm missing ASU baseball playing in my birth area at the home of the world champs!

I'll be with a group and very likely will be up to some mischief if anyone on here will be making the trip!

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = Recruiting and the Cult of Celebrity

My working definition of a cult is "that they are groups or communities that fervently worship an object, person or concept" per a definition I found on the internet...

As members of that group or community most are pretty obsessive with what they worship or desire...

So, I wonder if us here at Hod's place (Devils Digest) are cult members devoted to Sun Devil athletics...

I have no doubt that in Boulder that Prime Time is a celebrity leader of a Buffs football fan cult these days...

He's definitely a celebrity being one of the greatest of all times (GOAT) as a DB in the NFL, etc...

So, following that idea, I'm wondering whether Bobby got to ASU far too soon because he has an iconic brand, given his name, and association with men's basketball at multiply levels...

My impression is that Prime Time's celebrity status has driven Colorado giving to all time highs there, that even include NIL donations, so if Bobby was a new BB coach at ASU, would that prompt more NIL donations now due to his celebrity status of sorts..??

And, as we all know, HS and college players like those NIL dollars, as it enhances their celebrity, as well as their wallets and purses...

Or, is it only about the money as in "Show Me The Money" that equates to love and happiness for them..??

Or, has it only perverted the idea of college sports amateurism or am I wrong about that or does it even matter at this point in time..??

Personally, I miss the days of the black-bag, full of cash, guys and gals, who delivered the money to hot shot kids on the sly in the good old days...

Now it's legal and has taken all the clandestine fun out of the recruiting sideshow as far as I'm concerned...

Now the NIL, IMHO, has become a cult like movement that isn't centered around any one individual or school but the idea of celebrity as much as anything else...

And, if that's the case, shouldn't ASU, as an innovative school, have a degree path structured toward getting a degree in celebrity...

Why not start the Taylor Swift school of celebrity at ASU, if she was open to that idea, since thousands more are going to watch the Super Bowl today, given her relationship to a Kansas City player and what that has meant to the NFL in terms of interest for this years Super Bowl...

I'm pretty sure that she is bigger in terms of celebrity status than good old Prime Time up in Colorado...

And, how many NIL donations would ASU receive if she was dating our new athletic director and she made an appeal to fans to donate to our Sun Angel Collective..??

Would the idea of athletics even enter into the equation, in a scenario like that, and would any of us care if it delivered $20 million dollars to the collective over night..??

Relatedly, poor UCLA could use a celebrity in Westwood these days to help with the selection of a new football coach since Chip just left, mainly because he was tired of all the celebrity related NIL nonsense going on in college football currently...

And, a lot of coaches are going to do the same thing because showing the love to kids is just a tiring, very stressful and non-productive thing in their minds...

Ohio St isn't the NFL but I seriously doubt that they have any issues with raising NIL donations with which to buy players...

So, in my estimation, Chip is going to be able to concentrate on coaching football and not on raising money with which to entice players to come to the school in the first place or subsequently stay at the school, after that...

Maybe we should be looking to hire Taylor Swift or another big time celebrity as are next AD...what do you all think..??

Well, enjoy the Super Bowl today, along with the Phoenix Open, that has a cult following all of its own these days...

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

With five selections to the preseason All-Pac 12 team, there's a genuine reason for optimism for Sun Devil baseball, but a revamped pitching staff may truly dictate whether the team can get over the hump and hear their name called to the field of 64

Good evening Huddle members,

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A true and tested recipe that served Arizona State well in previous Pac-12 wins was executed on Wednesday night in a home win over Oregon State. Justin LaCertosa and I break down the Sun Devils' 79-61 victory

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“We have to make decisions if we’re going to crumble or stand up and play like a man. Stood up and played harder.” A lackluster first half by ASU was greatly negated by one of the best second half performances of the season in victory

I hope this more "light hearted" question/topic will help me out, especially some good incite from you ASU locals. I'm retired and a long time ASU football fan, but not an Alum. I am considering a drive from my home in Maryland (2219 miles from my house to the stadium) to either the Spring Game in April OR to Camp Tontozona in August. Which would you choose and why? Is one better for player and coach access afterwards? I have season tickets, but rarely use them....just to support the program. Im excited to be able to drive to the game AT the Univ of Cincinnati in October. Do you expect a group from ASU to travel to that game? That's all for now....thank you so much, in advance for any incite you can share. GO SUN DEVILS

“We talked about trying to take care of business at home, and we haven’t done it the last two times." With four out of their next five contests taking place in Tempe, ASU knows that a potential strong finish for the season starts at home

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It’s almost time to PLAY BALL. To help us get ready for Sun Devil baseball season, we talk with the head man himself, head coach Willie Bloomquist (19:45). Later, we get more insight into the season ahead with DevilsDigest.com reporter @Scott Sandulli (41:21).

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Was watching the morning part of the show, check out Paulie in his ASU t-shirt. Cool Paulie shows up around the 2:30 mark

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