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Only TCU

So I’m taking a bunch of non-credit classes at TCU, the program is called Silver Frogs. You have to be over 50 to join and this semester they offered over 100 different courses on virtually any subject you can think of. Last semester I took the first of a 2-semester course on whiskey. It was taught by the head of TCU’s chemistry department (he taught chemistry at A&M for a dozen years) and the course covered whisky history, types, structures, mixology, and small selected tastings. The 2nd semester was cancelled because TCU told him he couldn’t pass out samples or display bottles on campus. He told me “At A&M the administration took the class.”

Having your Home Air Ducts cleaned?

I own an older home('76) in Austin, the AC unit looks to be around 15 years old. I just had a Rep. from The Steam Team, I've done business with his boss the GM, do an evaluation of my air duct system and it was in good condition(no mold/mild dirt). I change out my air filter about every 1-2 months. The Rep felt the system was in good condition, but he suggested a cleaning since I've never had the ducts cleaned. My air quality "seems" good and no one has had any issues, but my '90 y.o. mother lives with me, so I felt this made sense.

I feel that I received a good quote for cleaning: Clean register covers, small junction boxes, metal/flex duct lines using positive air agitation & HEPA vacuum capture of loose particles.
Return clean: grill covers, box under HVAC using direct negative air agitation & HEPA vacuum. Finally, Air Duct fogging: apply antimicrobial throughout the system.

Has anyone had this done and did you feel it was worth the money?

Stock Market

TOPIX index lost nearly 6% last night. Tech is underwhelming in terms of price action this earnings season. Intel announced they are stopping dividends. Nvidia doesn’t report until the end of the month so it’s hard to say where the elephant in the room for tech is standing. Jobless claims rise to highest number since August 2023. Think the next few weeks might be interesting to see which direction US Markets ultimately go.
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Looking for some landscape lighting advice

I'm on a community board for our local downtown area, and we are considering a project to light up our downtown square by wrapping trees and adding accent lights all around for a year round lit feature. I'm a bit out of my element here...anyone out there have any experience in this sort of thing?

I need to get some examples of what we might be able to do, but I'm not 100% sure where to start outside of going to amazon and buying the same stuff I have at my house.

security cameras.......what is working best now

Really have been thinking about upgrading from Nest. Door camera if fine but first one burned up in the direct sun. Upper one cannot read a license plate. I have about 50 yards to the road so I would really like that option. RE read the old thread but was wondering what people are people are successfully using now as many of the cameras and services have changed since then. We are using trail cameras out on Scout properties tied to internet which work reasonably well for that but are limited in distance.

What say ye? What have you found that works well and for how much?

Friday TIDBITS, sponsored by Paul Cleveland State Farm

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Ags largely healthy going into Starkville
A&M's injury report was pretty small last night, with QB Jaylen Henderson listed as doubtful and WR Terry Bussey upgraded to probable. OL Ar'maj Reed-Adams and TJ Shanahan are both off the list entirely. I don't think Shanahan will start at center tomorrow, but I do expect he will play a significant amount.

State, on the other hand, has some big names on defense on the list. Starting DT Kedrick Bingley-Jones is out and starting corner Brylan Lanier is listed as questionable. Lanier would be a big loss, as he's third on the team in tackles.

Gameplan for Saturday may be pretty simple
With Bingley-Jones out, Mississippi State's biggest interior lineman is gone. And this is a team that is giving up 5.1 yards a carry anyway. The Aggies are averaging 5.6 yards a rush, and Le'Veon Moss is averaging 6.9 yards a rush on his own. This could be a game where A&M lines up and goes right at State and until they stop them.
So...
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Big flip could be imminent
I've been saying for a couple of weeks now that I thought Mesquite Horn 4-star OL Lamont Rogers was likely to flip from Missouri to A&M after the demolition at Kyle Field. There have been a few indicators today that the flip could be coming really soon, so that's something to keep an eye on.

Aggies to get a big 2026 commit today?
I'm trying to get tidbits done quickly because 3-star DT Trashawn Ruffin is announcing his commitment sometime this afternoon. The North Carolina standout is now up to 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, and has a fantastic offer list that includes Ohio State, LSU, Georgia, Florida, USC and Texas. But Landyn and I both have futurecasts in for him to pick A&M, so it looks like the Aggies are about to get their second 2026 commit in as many days.

Weigman back in 2025?
Before the season, it looked like Conner Weigman's last season at A&M would be 2024, one way or the other. He'd either have a great season and go pro, or he'd transfer somewhere else where he could find a system that would allow him to put up big numbers.
What nobody counted on was the AC joint sprain that cost him three games.
Right now, Weigman is still viewed as potential by NFL scouts, and while he's intriguing, the inability to stay healthy now hangs over him like an albatross. He would have to not only stay healthy, but put up huge numbers in the next six games for him to get in a position where it makes sense for him to declare for the draft.
To their credit, Marcel Reed, Miles O'Neill and Husan Longstreet have made no indication that they're looking to bolt with the possibility of Weigman returning next year looking increasingly likely. On the other hand, Jaylen Henderson may have to transfer in order to give himself a shot to play and position himself for a chance at the NFL.

Look to the portal for WR help
Now, I want you listen to this very closely. I do not have any indication that the following players are interested in transferring yet, or that they would pick A&M. But it's pretty evident that the Aggies are going to need to look to the portal for WR help next year, and there are several players that A&M had serious interest in and came in second for that could be looking for other opportunities.
First is USC's Zachariah Branch. The 5-star had some superstar moments last year, but this year only has 23 catches at a little over 10 yards a clip in Lincoln Riley's offense. This comment isn't speculation: he's being wasted out there. I was big on him three years ago and he'd be a guy I'd expect to come in and compete for an immediate starting spot.
Another player is former 5-star Micah Hudson up at Tech. Hudson only has six catches on the season for 85 yards. That is unexpected, to say the least.
Lastly is Colorado's Drelon Miller. The Silsbee product almost committed to A&M twice last year, but ended up going to Camp Prime. He has 12 catches on the season, but Shedeur Sanders has already thrown him under the bus for a pick six against Nebraska that was all Sanders' fault. That would probably not sit well with me.
So don't go spouting this anywhere else. But I wouldn't be shocked if any or all of these guys go portaling, and if they do, A&M would likely have real interest. The wideout portal tends to be one of the hottest every year, and this year shouldn't be any different.

Right now, A&M's returning receivers for 2025 could be Cyrus Allen, Noah Thomas, Micah Tease, Izaiah Williams, Terry Bussey, Ernest Campbell, Jake Bostick and Ashton Bethel-Roman, and I don't expect all of them will return.

Goldee's

Goldee's is a FW BBQ joint currently holding reign as the #1 spot in Texas according to Texas Monthly. Cheeky's been, I haven't. This is in today's Ft Worth paper:

Goldee’s, a backroad barbecue shack run by Arlington friends who took the spotlight away from Austin brisket, is among the local restaurants invited to the Michelin Guide announcement, co-owner Jonny White said Wednesday. The first Michelin stars for Texas restaurants will be announced at the ceremony Nov. 11 in Houston. Goldee’s could be honored at one of six levels by the Paris-based Michelin Guide, publishing its first list of star-ranked Texas restaurants.
Goldee’s, a weekend-lunch-only restaurant at 4645 Dick Price Road south of Kennedale, has gained statewide and national attention since 2021, when it was named the best barbecue joint in the state by Texas Monthly magazine.


I would imagine if they are invited to a Michelin Guide Stars-awarding ceremony that they would be getting a star or two. Now I'll never get in.
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Quinn Ewers Alert

When this season began, Dr. Pepper was running their Fansville commercials featuring Quinn Ewers as the new deputy. Ewers refused to call for backup in the scene and reminded the sheriff that he made the college football playoffs last year without a backup. After running the commercials for several weekends, Ewers got injured in a game and actually needed his backup on the field. Dr. Pepper pulled that particular commercial shortly thereafter.

Dr. Pepper just started running that commercial again, just in time for Georgia this weekend.

D1 Baseball Top 10 programs 2024 (2 of 2)

5. Arkansas

Arkansas

2022 Rank: 2. 2019 Rank: 3. 2017 Rank: 13. 2015 Rank: 12.

The Razorbacks are still chasing the program’s first national title, but it’s safe to say they’ve still had a plethora of success over the past few seasons under the direction of long-time and legendary head coach Dave Van Horn. The Hogs recently went 44-16 overall, 20-10 in the SEC, and earned the No. 5 national seed before getting upset in the Fayetteville Regional. Before this past season, the Hogs had gone 43-18 overall (tied for the SEC regular season crown with Florida) in ’23 with a No. 3 national seed and yet another Regional host while also going 46-21 overall in ’22 with a trip to the College World Series. And in ’21, the Hogs went a miraculous 50-13 overall with a 22-8 record in the SEC. That year, the Hogs were the top overall national seed before getting upset in the Fayetteville Super Regional by NC State. Yes, not winning a national title – yet – is a knock on the Hogs, but literally everything else is checked. The Hogs are a perennial power, they’re insanely consistent in the toughest conference in college baseball, and the resources are plentiful in Fayetteville. Baum Stadium is exceptional, the player development facilities are the nation’s best, and the program is well-positioned in the NIL era. The Hogs are in a fantastic spot moving forward. — Kendall Rogers

4. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt

2022 Rank: 1. 2019 Rank: 2. 2017 Rank: 2. 2015 Rank: 1.

In each of the first four installments of our Top 100 Programs series over the last decade, Vanderbilt ranked either No. 1 or No. 2, flip-flopping with Florida in the top spot. The Commodores had an incredible decade, winning national titles in 2014 and 2019, and finishing as CWS runners-up in 2015 and 2021, while also winning regionals in 2017 and 2018. But over the last three years, Vandy has slid out of that rarified air of the ultra-elite. The Commodores still make regionals every year — they haven’t missed one since 2005, in Tim Corbin’s third year at the helm — but they also have not won a regional since 2021, which is a long drought relative to this program’s absurd standards. The NIL era has allowed other SEC superpowers to catch up with and even surpass Vandy, and it will be fascinating to see how this proud program adapts to the new landscape moving forward. Obviously this program remains strong, which is why it retains its spot in the top five. Corbin has built a special culture that attracts winning players, and the Commodores still recruit at a very high level, but they no longer dominate the recruiting circuit the way they once did. Still, as the premier academic institution in the nation’s best baseball conference, with a Hall of Fame head coach and state-of-the-art player development facilities, Vanderbilt will remain a major force in the SEC. Time will tell if the Commodores can return to the very apex of the sport, but they aren’t far off. — Aaron Fitt

3. Florida

Florida

2022 Rank: 4. 2019 Rank: 1. 2017 Rank: 1. 2015 Rank: 3.

Kevin O’Sullivan has created an absolute monster during his tenure in Gainesville, and the Gators moved up one spot from No. 4 to No. 3 in our latest ranking of the nation’s premier programs. To give you an idea what kind of culture the Gators have, look no further than last season. UF entered the 2024 campaign with high expectations. But for a myriad of reasons, they didn’t reach their full potential until the tail end of the season. Not only did the Gators squeak into a Regional, they won a Super Regional and made yet another trip to the College World Series. You also could argue they were a Jace LaViolette catch at the wall away from playing for a national title for a second-straight seasons. UF played for the national title two seasons ago against Paul Skenes and LSU, and finished that campaign with a 54-17 overall record. In ’22, UF went 42-24 overall, hosted yet another regional and was the No. 13 national seed, while going 38-22 overall back in ’21. The Gators are synonymous with Omaha and the College World Series, and this program remains in excellent shape with an incredibly rich recruiting ground, a fantastic overall facility, and a tradition over the past decade that is only rivaled by a couple of programs in our sport. O’Sullivan is the epitome of consistency in the modern era of college baseball. — Kendall Rogers

2. Tennessee

Tennessee

2022 Rank: 17. 2019 Rank: 69. 2017 Rank: NR. 2015 Rank: NR.

Tony Vitello has built a behemoth in Knoxville, in very short order. It’s almost unfathomable that the Volunteers have skyrocketed from outside our Top 100 Programs list in 2015 and 2017 all the way to No. 2 on the list by 2024. The rise started when Vitello led the Volunteers to regionals in 2019, his second season at the helm, snapping a 14-year postseason drought. But since the pandemic, Tennessee has kicked its ascension into hyperdrive, going an absurd 211-62 (.772 winning percentage) over the last four years, resulting in four straight trips to supers, along with three CWS appearances, capped by the 2024 national title. Clearly, Tennessee is the hottest program in college baseball, and not just because it is the reigning national champion; its domination of the rough-and-tumble SEC and its four consecutive postseason runs are just plain loud. The Vols only land behind No. 1 LSU because the Tigers are also hot, and have a longer track record of sustained excellence. But Tennessee feels like an unstoppable rocket ship right now, and the future looks even brighter with extensive (and long overdue) renovations to Lindsay Nelson Stadium on the way. This program is a recruiting juggernaut, repeatedly hitting on its evaluations on high school players and transfer portal players alike, and developing talent with remarkable prowess. Soon enough, we’ll find out if the Vols can sustain this dizzying level of success, or whether they will slip back to the pack a bit like recent SEC national champions Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Maintaining such an elite level of play is exceptionally difficult in the modern SEC, so it’s not a given that this locomotive will keep on chugging the way it is right now — but it certainly feels wise to bet on Tennessee remaining one of the very best programs in the country in the years to come. — Aaron Fitt

1. LSU

LSU

2022 Rank: 7. 2019 Rank: 4. 2017 Rank: 3. 2015 Rank: 5.

The Fighting Tigers take over the No. 1 spot in the D1Baseball Program Rankings for good reason. The Tigers were No. 7 in our program rankings two years ago but ascended to the top spot after winning the program’s seventh national title two seasons ago with two of the best players in the modern era of college baseball in pitcher Paul Skenes and center fielder Dylan Crews. The Tigers have had great success since Jay Johsnon took over the program following the 2021 campaign. LSU went 40-22 in Jay’s first season at the helm before winning that title last season. This past season, the Tigers certainly had their fair share of ups and downs, but played a strong brand of baseball in the Chapel Hill Regional — ending the season with a 43-23 overall record. The prognosis looking ahead is great for the Tigers with another elite recruiting class coming in, along with a strong and imapctful transfer class. LSU, as with many programs in this area, checks every single box. I consider the Tigers to be the ‘Yankees’ of college baseball. There is not a more passionate fan base in college baseball than LSU fans. And though Alex Box Stadium could use a few upgrades, it’s still one of the best — if not the best in the postseason — atmospheres in our sport. In essence, LSU is one of many reasons why college baseball is where it is today. Tradition, passion, a premier national brand on the recruiting trail, and a strong NIL operation to go along with those pluses? Yeah, I’d say the Tigers are in an outstanding spot, with Tennessee hot on its heels. LSU is the top overall program in our sport. — Kendall Rogers



D1 Baseball 2024 top 10 programs (1 of 2)

2024 Top 100 College Baseball Programs: 10-6​

Analysis D1Baseball Staff - October 14, 2024



10. Florida State

Florida State

2022 Rank: 13. 2019 Rank: 7. 2017 Rank: 7. 2015 Rank: 11.

The last five years have been something of a roller coaster for Florida State, at least by the program’s absurdly consistent historical standards. After FSU scrapped and clawed its way to Omaha in Mike Martin’s 2019 swan song, the Seminoles made regionals in both of Mike Martin Jr.’s two completed seasons as head coach, but both seasons were fairly pedestrian, as FSU saw its remarkable streak of 40 straight seasons with 40-plus wins snapped in the COVID-altered 2021 campaign, then followed it up with a 34-win season in 2022. Florida State quickly changed tack, replacing Martin Jr. with former FSU star Link Jarrett, fresh off leading Notre Dame to Omaha. Expectations were high for the Jarrett era, but his debut season was a disaster, as the Noles cratered to 23-31 overall and 9-12 in the ACC, snapping their streak of 44 consecutive regionals with a resounding thud. But year two was the polar opposite, as Jarrett quickly led FSU back to national prominence, guiding his rebuilt squad to a 49-17 record and a trip to Omaha. It’s safe to say Florida State is officially back, and under Jarrett’s leadership this program should remain an elite national powerhouse for many years to come. The tradition and culture are top-notch, the recruiting base is strong, the facilities are still attractive despite getting a bit long in the tooth, and the fan base is passionate. Florida State baseball remains a very powerful brand, and we expect this machine will keep on rolling now that it has regained its footing. — Aaron Fitt

9. Texas

Texas

2022 Rank: 12. 2019 Rank: 16. 2017 Rank: 20. 2015 Rank: 15.

A strong case can be made that Texas has a more glorious baseball history than any other program, with a record 62 regional appearances and 38 College World Series appearances (13 more than any other program), to go along with six national titles (behind only USC and LSU, which won its seventh last year). So it’s striking that Texas did not rank inside the top 10 in any of our previous Top 100 Programs lists since this exercise began in 2015. The program remained in the top 20, but clearly it started to slip in the final years of the Augie Garrido era, and the David Pierce era that followed had its ups and downs. But its fair to say there were more ups than downs, as Pierce led the Longhorns to Omaha in 2018, 2021 and 2022, along with a super regional in 2023 and regional trips in 2017 and 2024. Only 2019 was a failure, resulting in a last-place finish in the Big 12. Nonetheless, Texas decided to move on from Pierce after this past season, and made a big splash with the hiring of Jim Schlossnagle, fresh off a CWS runner-up season at arch-rival Texas A&M. That transition was filled with drama, but when the dust settled, Texas AD Chris Del Conte had his man, and there’s no questioning Schlossnagle’s status as one of college baseball’s elite head coaches, given his five CWS trips at TCU and his two trips in three years at A&M. Schlossnagle also brought star recruiting coordinator Nolan Cain and rising pitching coach Max Weiner with him from College Station, and kept Troy Tulowitzki from the previous staff, giving the Longhorns one of college baseball’s best coaching staffs. Combine that with everything else Texas has to offer — tradition, facilities, fan base, academics, brand power, recruiting base and now a move to the SEC — and it’s easy to see why Texas has returned to the top 10, even coming off back-to-back seasons that ended shy of Omaha. It’s the dawn of a new and exciting era in Austin. — Aaron Fitt

8. Mississippi State

Mississippi State

2022 Rank: 3. 2019 Rank: 8. 2017 Rank: 16. 2015 Rank: 21.

Mississippi State is a tricky program to rank. The Bulldogs were riding high when last we conducted this exercise in 2022, one year removed from their first national title and three straight CWS appearances, along with four consecutive super regionals. We gave MSU a pass for its startling 9-21 SEC finish in 2022, chalking it up to a post-championship hangover — but then the Bulldogs matched that 9-21 SEC mark in 2023. It was a jarring fall from grace, but Mississippi State regained some momentum with a strong 17-13 showing in the SEC last year, getting back to regionals. So while MSU has clearly slid since 2021 — as reflected in its five-spot drop in these rankings — it feels like the Bulldogs have righted the ship and positioned themselves to get back to the sport’s pinnacle in short order. Certainly, this program has some incredible built-in advantages, even relative to the other SEC superpowers: Dudy Noble Field remains the crown jewel of college baseball facilities, and the enormous crowds this program draws make Mississippi State feel big-time in a way very few programs can rival. And the coaching staff of Chris Lemonis, Jake Gautreau, Kyle Cheesebrough and Justin Parker remains one of college baseball’s best. Add in that 2021 national title, on the heels of four straight years of excellence, and Mississippi State has just enough to remain ahead of rejuvenated historical powers Texas and Florida State. — Aaron Fitt

7. Texas A&M

2022 Rank: 11. 2019 Rank: 11. 2017 Rank: 10. 2015 Rank: 14.

Texas A&M

Texas A&M would have been even higher in these rankings if not for the coaching upheaval that engulfed the program immediately after fell one win short of its first national title in June. Certainly, A&M reached incredible heights in Schlossnagle’s three years at the helm, making Omaha in 2022 and the CWS Finals in ’24, but his departure for Texas created just a bit of uncertainty. We are optimistic that Michael Earley is up for the task of taking over the head job after serving as Schlossnagle’s assistant, but it’s worth noting that A&M is the only program in our top 30 with a head coach who does not have any experience as a head coach. It’s natural to expect some kind of learning curve, although bringing on former Washington head coach Jason Kelly as associate head coach/pitching coach was a strong play, providing some stability. Of course, it’s entirely possible that the talented and charismatic Earley will simply hit the ground running and keep this program among the national elite. He certainly has every resource necessary to win, with perhaps the largest coffers of any college baseball program, which translates to a robust NIL program and more facility upgrades on the way to Blue Bell Park, which is already a marquee venue with one of the best atmospheres in college baseball. The in-state recruiting base remains an asset, and the Aggies are positioned to continue crushing the transfer portal, which has become such a critical part of success in the new landscape of college athletics. — Aaron Fitt

6. Virginia

Virginia

2022 Rank: 15. 2019 Rank: 12. 2017 Rank: 5. 2015 Rank: 2.

In our inaugural Top 100 Programs list in 2015, Virginia was fresh off a national title and back-to-back trips to Omaha, resulting in a No. 2 ranking — and it was a coin toss with Vandy for the No. 1 spot. The program dipped a bit over the next four years, culminating in back-to-back seasons that ended without a trip to regionals in 2018 and 2019. But Virginia has stormed back to national prominence emphatically with three CWS trips over the last four years, re-establishing itself as the premier program in the ACC. With seven trips to Omaha and 18 regional appearances in 20 years as head coach, Brian O’Connor is already an ABCA Hall of Famer, and he’s still just 53 years old, which means he has many years left to lead this program with his steady hand. And associate head coach Kevin McMullan has been by his side for that entire span, giving this program unmatched leadership stability. The Cavaliers continue to lure blue-chip high school talent to Charlottesville and then develop stars year after year, and they have proven adept at nailing their evaluations in the transfer portal, even though they have not done much big-game hunting. Disharoon Park is a beautiful ballpark that keeps getting better, and Virginia has created perhaps the ACC’s best game-day atmosphere during O’Connor’s tenure, giving the program something else to sell recruits along with premier academics and a sterling track record of talent development. — Aaron Fitt
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