The Litter Box

I received an e-mail a few days ago scolding me for once again talking about the lameness of Sonoma State's mascot, the Seawolf. In fact, I'm fairly sure that I've made some kind of remark about said mascot every time I've mentioned it.
So, out of spite, here is an entire post about the CCAA's mascots, and where I rank them in terms of lameness. Needless to say, Sonoma State is right there at the top of the list.

Here are your rankings:

1. Sonoma State: You can't just make stuff up.
Does anyone know what a seawolf is? I know Mozilla's spell check doesn't. I didn't know it was OK to just select a random animal and combine it with "sea" to make your school's mascot. Hawaii Pacific shares this idiocy; they're the Sea Warriors. But at least you might actually find a warrior out at sea, like a pirate or a viking or something. There's not that sense of random combination that you get with Seawolves. Don't believe me? It is, quite literally, a wolf next to the sea.

2. Yawn, Cal State Stanislaus.
I've never been a fan of any team called the Warriors, not because war isn't cool, but it's such an ambiguous name (you'll later see that Chico State suffers the same affliction). Maybe if I knew more about Turlock I could say that Stanislaus should have picked something more representative. As it stands now, the Warriors are stuck with a boring mascot and a boring logo:

3. You're not even the cool Ford model, Cal Poly Pomona.
While Cal Poly San Luis Obispo gets to be the Mustangs, the CCAA's Cal Poly gets Henry Ford's gas-guzzling, halted-production utility vehicle. Even if you are looking at it from the point of view that a Bronco is a hard-to-tame beast, nobody would ever know it because the logo is so stagnant:

4. Nobody has ever seen a gator in San Francisco, ever.
Trying my best to ignore S.F. State's hideous purple-and-yellow color scheme, it's still easy to find plenty to harp on. Of all the things to call yourself if you're from San Francisco, I wouldn't imagine a Gator would be anywhere even close. If there was ever a city in the CCAA that really could lend its own culture to a team name, this is it. A sea lion is a rare exception of a cool animal with the word "sea" in front of it, and it fits. The Gatekeepers, perhaps? Nobody else has it, because nobody else has the Golden Gate. And if Gators is a play on words trying to use "Gate," then it's a bad pun and I'm angry about it. I've seen two S.F. State logos; one is ultra-busy and the other is ultra lame:

5. It's a three-way tie for blandness.
Cal State San Bernardino (Coyotes), Cal State L.A. (Golden Eagles) and even dear old Chico State (Wildcats) don't incite anger, but they don't do much for me, either. They're all just...fine. I'm tempted to dock off points from Cal State L.A. for trying to ritz up something as blah as an Eagle by throwing a color in front of it, but honestly, Chico State's word combination isn't much sexier. I am happy to see that Cal State San Bernardino has taken some initiative and at least made it so their coyote is howling, presumably at the moon. That's pretty iconic of what coyotes like to do. I might also add that I really do think Chico State's logo is the sharpest of all in the CCAA.

6. OK, so a Toro isn't actually a real thing.
But Cal State Dominguez Hills gets points for creativity, and a mascot that really has some character to it. Everybody knows that when you mess with the bull, you get the horns, and the Toros' whole presentation at least threatens as much. It seems like Dominguez Hills really embraces this thing, too. They've even got a cartoon version of their logo on their Web site. But while the bull is cool, what I like is the DH with the horns on it. Simple but creative, and with a name like Cal State Dominguez Hills, it's a nice gesture to the people who have to type about them to keep the nickname short and sweet.

7. I refuse to acknowledge the Little Mermaid implications.
Still, UC San Diego has a pretty cool trident-chucking merman that looks like he could not only ruin you, but that he's about to. It's also not a mascot you hear every day and that helps make it unique to the school. It's a powerful-sounding nickname that maybe doesn't blend with the laid-back vibe most people get when they hear San Diego, but it could definitely be worse (see: Sonoma State).

8. Much better, Bay Area.
The Otters of Cal State Monterey Bay haven't been good at any sport since they've joined the CCAA, but that doesn't mean their moniker isn't sweet. When I think of Monterey, I think of that aquarium, and when I think of the aquarium I think of otters. It's a perfect name for a team so close to Cannery Row, and the logo (a fuzzy otter just kinda lurking over the school's name) doesn't try too hard. Cal State Monterey Bay knows what it is: A school that people go to because it's a beautiful part of the state, and to its credit, doesn't try to be anything more than that. Another major bonus: The basketball gym in Seaside is called the Kelp Bed. You can't beat that with a stick.

You can, however, beat it with an ax...

9. The 'Jacks' ax, that is.
While I'll admit that I hate it when Humboldt State calls itself the Jacks, the Lumberjacks are right on the money with an original mascot and a very decent logo. The green is even area-appropriate. Arcata is, so I've heard, a nice agriculturally driven place that relies heavily on its logging community. Plus, the Lumberjacks have a football team. Few things are more manly than being a lumberjack, but Humboldt State has kept it nice and non-gendered by having a logo that is just an ax forming a "J." Personally, I think they could have worked a chainsaw (much more Jason, much more intimidating) into the mix, but Humboldt State loses my lameness contest. Congrats to them.

Posted by Travis Souders at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It's hard to find much to write about when it comes to the Chico State men's basketball team anymore. Even with what many, including myself, are calling the CCAA's biggest upset with last Friday's win over Cal State San Bernardino, the Wildcats followed it up with a dud against Cal Poly Pomona.
But, because I think the win over the Coyotes finally proved that, given the right circumstances, the Wildcats can compete with the competition in this conference, there are things to take away from that game that Chico State fans hadn't seen all season.

Defense. And no, not just defensive intensity, a "goal" of the Wildcats' nearly every year. This was real, actual 37.3 percent shooting allowed, and even more importantly, a 23.8 percent mark from the Coyotes on 3-pointers. This was significant because Chico State had been the conference's absolute worst in that category. The last time these teams played at Acker Gym, it was the Coyotes' defense that stood out as the dominant force; in San Bernardino, the Wildcats were whistled for just 15 fouls. The big surprise: Andrew Ferrin -- Andrew Ferrin? -- had six steals.

You'll stay in and like it! That means you, Darroll Phillips. The guard with the sweet 3-point stroke played all 40 minutes, and it was pretty clear that Puck Smith's strategy was to preserve him for open looks alone. Phillips shot the ball 18 times (15 from 3-point range). That likely forced the Coyotes to defend the perimeter a little more, and when Chico State can do that, things happen. Like Frank Igbekoyi getting a solid 27 minutes (nine points, six rebounds). Justin Argenal stayed in for 32 minutes, shooting the ball just twice while doling out 12 assists. Inside-out offense is a nice theory, but for a team like Chico State, it might not be a feasible focus. Igbekoyi is the only true back-to-the-basket player on the squad.

Breaking in the youth. Since the great MM shoe debacle, freshmen Rod Hawkins and Josh Jackson have seen their starts disappear and their minutes dwindle. This has meant more playing time for Jesse Soto, who frankly has played worse as the season has progressed. Another night rife with turnovers (seven of them in just 11 minutes) is probably the only thing that kept Hawkins and Jackson on the floor much. To me, it seems like those two can be legitimate players (free throw shooting aside) in this conference. Jackson has great touch from the floor, and Hawkins is an energy guy who rebounds fairly well given that he's usually overmatched in terms of size with other power forwards. I would guess that this is a perfect time to get those guys some quality minutes against some extremely decent CCAA competition.

Posted by Travis Souders at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The home games have been big ones lately for the Chico State women’s basketball team, still ranked No. 2 in the West Region behind perfect Seattle Pacific. Friday the Wildcats will host Sonoma State, which at 11-5 sits two games behind Chico State and Cal State San Bernardino (both 13-5) in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings.

While it is an important game for the Seawolves, who have beaten Chico State at home already this season (that was what can be referred to as the Game of Inches), it’s even bigger for the Wildcats if they want to hang on to the top spot. Let’s assume two things here by saying that they’ll beat middle-of-the-pack Humboldt State on Saturday, and that the Coyotes will take care of business against 7-9 Cal Poly Pomona on Friday. That makes two first-place teams with identical CCAA records (Chico State and the Coyotes) playing second-place teams with identical records (Sonoma State and UC San Diego, respectively) that have already beaten the team with the better record at home.

The difference, of course, is that neither the Wildcats nor Cal State San Bernardino have lost in their own gyms this year. If you’re playing the odds, the best bet would probably be to say that the CCAA will look the same after the weekend is over. Of course, Chico State has to take care of its own business to make that a possibility, and beating Sonoma State — a team that coach Molly Goodenbour has repeatedly acknowledged is never fun to see — is, as we saw Jan. 19, not a given.

What to watch for this time around:

For one, grab the ball. The Seawolves outrebounded Chico State 40-23, and the Wildcats’ usual boarding suspects were nowhere to be found in the effort. Cory Edwards had the most rebounds of the Chico State bigs with five; after that, Amanda Monteith contributed just one, while Renee Goldoff was boxed out to the tune of zero. Sonoma State’s 6-foot guard Genny Anderson had nine rebounds, a game-high.

Clang! Chico State did not shoot well (35.3 percent on the night; 30.8 from 3-point land). That included the last tough shooting performance Melissa Richardson had, and it was a doozy: 1-of-9 from the field, 0-of-5 from 3, two points, 27 minutes. No, it wasn’t her fault the Wildcats lost, and Richardson has actually won games for Chico State recently (San Francisco State, anyone?). The shooting figures should improve at home.

Take a break. Double-meaning here.
For one, Chico State rotated just seven players in all game, with Jade Smith-Williams playing all 40 minutes, and Audriana Spencer in for 38. Of course, you want your best on the floor if the game is close, so it’s important for the Wildcats to build a lead early (as opposed to any other game, when you wouldn’t want to. Man I’m lame). But well-rested players are effective players, and effective players have a better chance at converting the final three possessions of the game into points, something Chico State couldn’t do in the final minutes in Rohnert Park.

The other meaning is the fast-break point scored in the last matchup: Zero. Every bucket came in the halfcourt game, which isn’t surprising considering the Wildcats turned the ball over just five times. It probably also explains both teams’ low shooting figures, and it makes a little more sense since Goldoff, Monteith and Co. weren’t grabbing boards and finding outlets per usual.

Posted by Travis Souders at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Usually when people don’t follow through on obligations for a week, there’s some ill will involved. Because of that general societal norm, there is a slight pang of guilt associated with me not updating this bad boy as regularly as promised. Originally I’d planned on it being a daily blog, and for a while it went pretty well.

But, three factors have been instrumental in the slow decline in number of posts to The Litter Box lately. One, its author is still attending classes, and this time around actually cares about his grades beyond the mantra of “Cs get degrees.” Two, I don’t get paid any extra to write this thing. And three, I don’t get many chances to actually see Wildcat teams in person. Like that three-game series last weekend against Mesa State? It had to go uncovered because the E-R doesn’t have the manpower to allow me out of the office for three straight days in the event of a rescheduled series.

Basically, The Litter Box is an enterprise in masochism, a self-imposed obligation of mine that I write because I enjoy feeling like what I write about is important to the people reading about it. And, to be frank, when I don’t get complaints about not updating it, the importance of this blog wanes a little bit in my view. Every once in a while I would apologize for some past due posts, with the somewhat tongue-in-cheek assertion that the small amount of readers I get might be upset. Here’s the thing: I wasn’t trying to be cute. I really do assume that there’s a small amount of readers.

Yet, to my surprise, there has been roughly a 20 percent increase in readership as more Chico State nuggets have been buried in this box since its conception. So, on the wind of that good news, I’ve decided that I’ll not only refrain from ditching this blog, but I’ll do my best to keep the thing updated a little more regularly.

Oh yeah, I was considering ditching this blog. And add a fourth reason to the considerations for it: Mozilla just quit, as applications on these ancient, decrepit “computers” in this office are known to do from time to time to time. To time. Not a lot of fun updating your blog when it takes a few tries to get it down.

In short, though, I will have updates soon. Keep reading.

Posted by Travis Souders at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Checking out the Chico High girls basketball game yesterday, there was a familiar face in the crowd — alum and Chico State's own Audi Spencer, who is kinda a big deal in that gym.
Another Wildcat and former Panther, Taylor Lydon, has been to a couple games this season as well.
But, back on the subject of Spencer, it seems the woman is in many places at once these days — including the Chico State record books, where she's now tied with Kim Abts for all-time 3-point makes. She's also this week's CCAA Player of the Week.
As the accolades pile up, it becomes more and more clear what Spencer has meant to the program in her three-plus years there. Molly Goodenbour has said one of her favorite things about Spencer is her quiet intensity, but what I notice about her is that she plays with just the slightest chip on her shoulder. When defenders swipe at the ball or jump out to defend her, she almost looks like she wants to laugh at them before she drops that high-arcing bomb.
Jade Smith-Williams has been given plenty of credit (including in this blog) for giving the Wildcats an identity, and rightfully so, but Spencer gives off a fair share of swagger that Chico State feeds off of, too.

Posted by Travis Souders at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Baseball teams are a little harder for me to gauge than basketball teams. Not that this is important in any way, because in the grand scheme of things — well, even in the ungrand scheme — it's not like my take matters. But, if you're reading this, you probably care a little bit, so here's what I think.
The Chico State club is good, and it starts with defense. It's security blanket-good. Watching third baseman Bret Ringer through the first four games I've seen, I'd assumed his value was with his bat. It is, no question, but his range, hands and arm at the hot corner are unbelievable and, I dare say, his greatest tools. Andrew Pluta and Mike Robbins would probably agree.

What is there to say about Robbins and Pluta that can't be explained through the numbers alone? Well, I get paid to write words about things, so I guess I can't use that cop-out. What it does, really, is set up the Wildcats with some options for their rotation. With Pete Mickartz looking like he'll be the No. 1, Chico State has three solid options to play around with at No. 2. The spot is Kyle Woodruff's for now, but Dave Taylor's said that he'll need to keep improving to hang on to it. With Pluta and Robbins doing what they did — and with Robbins being a left-hander, no less — there's a little more pressure on Woodruff. And that's OK. It's a nice problem for Taylor to have.

The offense, meanwhile, looks like it can rake. I think the Friday night game in which they stranded a million runners was an aberration. Yes, the pitching will get tougher once the Wildcats reach conference play, so it's unlikely those 7s and 12s won't be as ubiquitous in the long run. But Chico State has the rabbits at the top of the order in Shane Farmer and Jimmy Dodos (though he left the first game Saturday with a bruised finger) and some pretty decent punch in the middle, with Nick Victor, Matt Bitker and Josh Meagher all having big weekends.

I think Victor could be an interesting one to watch, since that left field spot isn't 100 percent shored up. He made a case for himself by winning everyone in Nettleton a cheeseburger with a sixth-inning blast, but more than that, he drove in seven runs. That's serious production in a lineup that definitely gets the guys on ahead of him. Joey Burke is a viable option out there, but he's more of a contact type of guy better suited for the top of the lineup. Victor (I keep typing "Victory," by the way, and deleting all the Ys is annoying) has pretty good pop at first glance.

Posted by Travis Souders at 06:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you ask, "What drama," I envy you.
Unless you have some kind of disease. I can do without that.
But if you have been following Chico State basketball the past week, you know there's been plenty of off-court issues for the men's team.

AND NOW, WITH LARGE BOLD LETTERS AND EXCESSIVE PUNCTUATION, THE DRAMA CALENDAR!!!

Wednesday: Mike Martin is dismissed from the team. What that means is that I can no longer blame losses on the team's refusal to get him the ball on the blocks. It also means the Wildcats lose the ability to do it in the first place.

Thursday: Rod Hawkins, Josh Jackson and Jesse Soto show up with their beloved former teammate's initials scrawled on their sneakers. Hawkins' "MM" is about an inch tall and easily the most visible, while Soto's is a tinier mark on the instep of his sole. Jackson's is somewhere in between. Following what Sportsfan broadcaster Mike Baca has cleverly referred to as "Shoegate," Hawkins and Jackson are benched for the second half for showing up coach Puck Smith.

Friday: Apparently Soto's shoes went unnoticed on Thursday by people who decide if he plays basketball. Such wasn't the case against UC San Diego, as he became benchmates with Hawkins and Jackson. No word yet on when any of them will play again.

The fun part of this whole thing for me?

...........

That's right. A bunch of little periods. What that means is that it hasn't been fun at all for someone who gets paid to be objective. Do I have an opinion on it? Sure I do. But it doesn't matter. The way I see it, there are two sides to this story and I get paid to present them both. I don't want (or get) to pick sides. I'll cheat you in video games, but I have a thing about being fair professionally. It's not really my job to hang anyone out to dry.

Posted by Travis Souders at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)