Jesse Talaugon: Committed.

I'm not really even sure if there are people out there reading this other than my mom and Auntie, but I'll apologize to the world wide web for my lack of posts lately. My life these last two weeks has been incredibly hectic, due in large part to the planning of Midnight Madness in a record breaking eight days, with an immense amount of help from several other organizations on campus, and as always, SAAC. Midnight Madness is the traditional kick off of Basketball season for both our men's and women's teams. We filled the night with team introductions under the spotlight, performances from our dance and cheer team, giveaways, a live DJ, 2ball competition, dunk contest and the biggest crowd pleaser was the dance off to close the night. It was something I was unsure I was even going to be able to pull it off, but in my four years here, we had the largest number of people in attendance. From what I have been told, everyone had a great time and it was appreciated by all of the athletes who got some well deserved recognition from our peers. It was definitely well worth the stress and the lack of sleep. It got me real excited for this upcoming basketball season.

In SAAC, we have one of our projects underway which is gathering people to joining the "SSU BLUE CREW", which is our attempt at creating a rally crew, if you will, filled with spirited people in support of athletics. We have made shirts and are asking for an $8 donation to Breast Cancer Awareness, Make A Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma County in exchange along with specialized seating at all sporting events. We are hoping this promotes more support school wide for athletics and we get more people out and attending these games.

As far as softball is concerned, things have not stopped or slowed down in the slightest bit. We started getting into goal setting, which is a big focus for our team, and individually, so we can really track our growth and focus on achieving something attainable. You focus on a long term goal, then your short term goal pertains to how you will achieve that goal, and then your operational goal is each step you will take in order to conduct your short term goal. My goals consist of one defensive, which I have made in order to improve my blocking. Offensively, my focus is staying linear to the ball, and my last goal is managing my stress of classes, softball, SAAC, graduating, life after graduating, etc. This weekend, we play William Jessup in a double header this Saturday which will be nice to get some live competition in and really enjoy the few games we get to squeeze in this fall.

School is going, with two successful Psychology and Media Law midterms under my belt, it's time to prepare for the next one this upcoming Tuesday. The PR/Ad team I was apart of in a trial run this semester is not working out as anyone had planned, so I guess I'll begin writing for the Sports section in the schools paper from here on out. I have no experience in writing for a publication, but I'm sure I'll find a way to get myself adjusted to this new avenue of writing. Lastly, my goals for this week are to file for graduation which is still unreal to me and meet with my advisor to choose my final classes of my college career here at Sonoma.

In case any of you were wondering I am 100% frustrated with the performance of my boys, the New York Yankees in this post season right now. If the offense doesn't improve and our bullpen can give up less bombs, we'll make it out of this series by the skin of our teeth. But, until that time, we're gonna have a hell of a time competing with the Rangers, who seem to be everyone's favorite team now that the post season has arrived, them and the Giants....sheeesh. I'm still hopeful so now it's time to cease the typing and let the biting my finger nails continue in hopes of a Yankee win at home tonight. Go Yanks!

Women's Basketball: Oly Larkin

Hello to all!!

My name is Olivia Larkin, but I am going to put you on to a little secret, you can just called me OLY (O-LEE). There, now we are friends. Whew glad to get that out of the way. I am a senior on the women's basketball team here at Sonoma State. It's sad to say that I am the lone ranger when it comes to being a senior on this team, but by all means I don't feel alone at all, I've got my girls. On the other hand, I don't mind the spotlight that comes with being one! Well I guess I can start off by telling you this is my first time blogging anything and in saying that I was nervous to even get started. I mean, are people really going to read what I write?...Welp, I got you didn't I?!

I decided to start blogging on this very day because tonight is our traditional Midnight Madness, a pep rally to kickoff the 2010-2011 basketball season and the rest of the fall sports here on campus. I am a member of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and have been extremely invovled in tonight's preparation for this event. Ultimately, we are doing this event for our athletes. Together, our athletes are the biggest, most influential club on campus and we would like to show them our appreciation and support. I am anticipating a great turnout. For a sneak peak, our heart-throbbing Auzzi's from the men's basketball team are going to be our MC's for the night. Oh, how I wonder what they are going to wear... Probably spiffy suits with gator boots? Who knows but one thing is for sure, they are going to dress to impress. There is a dunk contest, too, in which I am sad to tell you I won't be doing this year, tough to hear I know. That's all I can say for now, you'll have to read my next blog in order to get the details. (** hint hint, I am trying to create a fan base here people so tune in!)

Now on to something involving our team specifically. Tomorrow marks our FIRST OFFICIAL PRACTICE OF THE SEASON! It's finally here people!! Lace up the hyperdunks and roll the basketballs out, it's BASKETBALL TIME BABY (in a Dick Vitale voice)! I can't tell you how excited I am for this basketball season to get underway. Our team had a excellent preseason. We constantly creating good habits (hobbits for those on the team) followed by positive attitudes. The dynamic of our team has changed durastically. We have added eight new players to our already eight returning roster, three of which are JC transfers. Our talented group of five freshmen have tremendous potential to make an positive impact for this team. Being that this is my last year playing collegiate basketball, I know understand what the seniors before me meant when they said, "cherish it while it lasts, because there is a world outside of basketball that isn't so forgiving." I really feel like I can cherish this year, I am no longer "wide-eyed and bushy tailed" as what my coach used to say to me when I was a freshman, trying to figure out where I fitted in. I am aware of what's going on, I am in control. I think this team has helped me with that. This past six weeks of training, we have gotten after it, worked it, ran it, lifted it, pushed it to our limits and now the time is here, what we all been waiting for. All this work has to pay off, mind you that it might not be immediate but the harder we work, the luckier we get. Its funny how things work out that way.

Well, don't tell my coach this but I am writing this in study hall (just the last 15 minutes though) so I probably need to open up a book or something. Adios until next time! And there will be a next time so help me out here and read my blogs! Leave comments , opinions, likes, or what ever. Thanks for hearing me out!

-Oly THE SENIOR

Bill Fusco: Bookend Events Saturday Leave Lasting Impression

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first post of the 2010-11 school year by Bill Fusco, Senior Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Sonoma State University.)

I knew Saturday, October 2 was going to be a long day.

SSU CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL
Up at 5:40 a.m. without the help of an alarm, I was off to Spring Lake for
SSU's first invitational cross country meet in two decades. The minute I
arrived at the Boat Dock area of Spring Lake, I could sense the great wave of energy that was taking place before me. Our student-athletes were out in force with SAAC members leading the way offering "Blue Crew" T-shirts (for a donation of course) and also providing the tailgate buffet of juice, fruit, coffee and bagels for all of us brave enough to venture out on a foggy, wet morning. (Lobo T. Seawolf must have slept in).

As our Women's Cross Country team was warming up, I tried to imagine how exciting it must be for them to run in a real "home" event. Student-athletes from many of our teams came out in force to cheer them on and offer their support. Our Seawolf runners did not disappoint dominating the women's race and posting a perfect team score of 15 ahead of NCAA Division II and III opponents CSU Monterey Bay, Mills College and Dominican University. Every SSU runner posted a personal best time in the meet which was an impressive feat in itself.

Our coaching staff (Mark and Chandra) did a wonderful job hosting the meet. The SSU Admin staff (Yvonne, Megan, Michael, Tyler and Bo) were also in top form carrying out all the details necessary to make this race a reality. This was important for our intercollegiate athletics program as we are scheduled to host the CCAA Cross Country Championships in 2011 here at Spring Lake. This was a test run for next year and everything went exceptionally well giving us the confidence and enthusiasm to host next year's big event.

Pulling away from Spring Lake after the event, I couldn't help but feel this was a great start to a long Saturday.

Back to the office for some work time then home for the requisite Saturday yard work, I found myself (after a shower)heading back to SSU for the next event on the agenda.

11th ANNUAL SSU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION DINNER
If you haven't been inside the Green Music Hospitality Center, you need to make it a priority to stop in and check it out. The restaurant and bar area where we were hosting our 11th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner is an elegant, five star environment. This was a perfect setting to honor our
four inductees in the class of 2010.

Three of the four inductees, Ed Beaulac (Football), Fehlandt Lentini (Baseball) and Patricia Carrillo (Women's Soccer) were there to celebrate with friends and family. The fourth inductee, Tim Walsh, SSU's former head football coach was busy coaching the Cal Poly SLO Mustangs against Fresno State on ESPN at the same time our dinner was taking place.

Each of the four inductees (Walsh via DVD), in their own unique way spoke emotionally of their experiences as a student-athlete (and coach) at SSU. They all described how much their teammates, coaches and friends still made an impact in their lives today and how much they cherished the experience of being a student-athlete. This event never ceases to amaze me hearing the inspirational and sincere messages from some of the greatest student-athletes in the history of our program. Next year, when we induct our class of 2011, I hope we will be able to invite some of our current student-athletes to attend and experience a very special evening. Thanks to our great administrative staff of Megan, Nancy and Tyler, the dinner was a huge success and was one of the best ones I have attended since we started in 1998.

By the way, while we were enjoying the Hall of Fame Dinner, across campus, our Women's Volleyball team was dismantling the #21 nationally-ranked CSU Monterey Bay Otters 3-0. I was following the match during dinner via iPhone Live Stats and was impressed how quickly the Seawolves took care of business at The Wolves' Den.

By 10:00 p.m., the last of the rowdy Hall of Fame Dinner crowd was on it's way out the door. I headed back to the office to make some notes from this year's Hall of Fame Dinner and the Cross Country meet to make sure I remembered all the great things that were accomplished by hosting these two significant events.

Driving home, I reflected the events of this long day and how fortunate I am to be associated with our exceptional student-athletes and coaches (past and present). It is a privilege to have an administrative support staff that is dedicated daily to making our intercollegiate athletic program the best it possibly can be. I look forward to more days like this one.