College Sports
Red Devil Check
Summer Check-In Where are you working/interning this summer? Company and Location. Horizon Brands, Costa Mesa, Calif. Please describe your day-to-day responsibilities in this position. On a day-to-day basis, I will be shadowing the senior brand manager sitting in on very high-profile meetings and assisting the product marketing team with anything they need to do. Currently […]


Summer Check-In
Where are you working/interning this summer? Company and Location.
Horizon Brands, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Please describe your day-to-day responsibilities in this position.
On a day-to-day basis, I will be shadowing the senior brand manager sitting in on very high-profile meetings and assisting the product marketing team with anything they need to do. Currently we are in the mist of launching 4 new lighting products, so I am going through the necessary process to get the products to market, on top of that I will be developing my own product idea that I will work on and get to pitch to the company to potentially get it put on the market. Working cross functionally with the teams in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and different departments in the California office.
What made this experience appealing to you?
What made this experience so appealing was firstly this internship was with Mark Lehman who has been a mentor for me for the past year, and this gave me an opportunity to gain professional experience hands on, while getting to learn from other experts gaining valuable insight about the professional world and life in general. Furthermore, my teammate, Shane Mundorf, did this internship last summer and after he had a positive experience, so it was a no brainer for me to do the same.
How does this experience relate to your career or life aspirations? What are you looking to personally get out of it?
In relation to my career, I think this experience will provide me with more detailed understanding about how an established business like Horizon Brands operates, and how in which the marketing team works with other departments in developing and producing products. This will give me a better understanding of the professional careers I am interested in pursuing. I want to become better with my critical thinking, I think that with the courses I have taken at Dickinson and my past professional experience I want to be better at applying what I have learned to my work. This internship will give me a platform to apply myself and challenge myself to learn more and get more insight from different experts in their respected fields.
How has your athletics career prepared you for this role?
My athletic career has prepared me a lot for this role. Marketing teams work cross-functionally within the company, collaborating with different departments, and I have experience working in teams through my soccer career with people from all different backgrounds. I have a strong understanding of what it takes to build a successful team and how to be a good teammate, which I can apply directly to the workplace. I’ve also gone through challenges and adversity in my athletic career, and I know that internships can be tough at first while adjusting to the flow of things. The obstacles I’ve faced have helped prepare me for potential setbacks in the workplace and taught me how to deal with them.
What are you looking forward to for this upcoming year for your sport?
I am looking forward to competing again, I love playing soccer and competing with my teammates. We have an exciting team, and a lot of potential as a program and I want to keep building on what we have done so far and push this team to our goals. I am also looking forward to getting back to a refurbished Millier Memorial field, with new practice fields and new game jerseys. We really appreciate the Hare Family for their unbelievable generosity, this has helped Dickinson Sports tremendously.
Is there anything else you are looking forward to this summer outside of this experience?
I am looking forward to exploring California, I have never been to the west coast so I am excited to see it and live this lifestyle in the West.
College Sports
Kleber, Plante don’t hold grudge against Bulldogs who left – Duluth News Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Duluth’s Adam Kleber and Max Plante don’t hold a grudge against any of their former Bulldogs teammates who left the program in the spring via the transfer portal. But the departures of classmates and friends does sting, a little, they said. “The relationships you build, that kind of eats at you, the […]

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Duluth’s
Adam Kleber
and
Max Plante
don’t hold a grudge against any of their former Bulldogs teammates who left the program in the spring via the
transfer portal.
But the departures of classmates and friends does sting, a little, they said.
“The relationships you build, that kind of eats at you, the human side of it,” Plante said. “But they decided they didn’t want to be here.”
Seven players
left the UMD men’s hockey program via the transfer portal
in the spring to continue their college hockey careers elsewhere. Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach
Scott Sandelin is bringing in five transfers,
plus
seven freshmen
in 2025-26.
Kleber
and
Plante
, who are taking part this week in
USA Hockey’s World Junior Summer Showcase
in Minneapolis, were part of UMD’s 11-member freshmen class last season. All but one are returning for their sophomore season as Bulldogs in 2025-26.
“At the end of the day, we want guys that want to play in Duluth, so it’s all good,” Kleber said. “We don’t want guys that are coming for money or things like that. We want guys that want to wear the Bulldog logo and that’s the most important thing. Winning is more important than anything else.”
The Bulldogs have missed the NCAA tournament and finished under .500 the last three seasons, but Kleber and Plante said they both see the 2025-26 Bulldogs being more like the squads that made seven straight NCAA tournament appearances, played four Frozen Fours, three consecutive NCAA title games and won back-to-back national championships.
Kleber said it was “definitely weird” watching so many of the would-be upperclassmen — four would-be seniors and two would-be juniors — hit the transfer portal in the spring, but you have to turn the page.
“There’s always surprises because you go through the season and you think that guys are going to be back based on they have another year. But you never really know what someone’s thinking,” Kleber said. “At the end of the day, it’s hard to judge someone for their decision because maybe it’s the best thing for them and might work out.”
The new-look Bulldogs all got together for two weeks in June for some offseason work. They’ll be reporting to campus in August, with 14 of the 26 players
living in two houses
within a block of each other, Plante and Kleber said.
If that doesn’t help the team bond right away,
a season-opening trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, to play the Nanooks
on Oct. 3-4 should help, as well.
Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group
Plante said the group clicked back in June, and they he’s confident the coaching staff was able to fill any holes that were created this spring.
“It’s a good feeling. I feel like it’s almost refreshing, the new faces,” Plante said of the 2025-26 team. “I liked the guys that were on our team last year, but it’s exciting because the guys that want to be here, are here now.”
College Sports
LSU Tigers Gymnastics Adds Boise State Graduate Transfer to 2026 Roster
BATON ROUGE – The LSU Gymnastics program announced the final piece to their 2026 roster on Tuesday as Boise State graduate transfer Courtney Blackson is set to join the Tigers this upcoming fall. Blackson achieved one of the most successful careers with the Broncos from 2021-2024, where she individually advanced to nationals two years in a […]

BATON ROUGE – The LSU Gymnastics program announced the final piece to their 2026 roster on Tuesday as Boise State graduate transfer Courtney Blackson is set to join the Tigers this upcoming fall.
Blackson achieved one of the most successful careers with the Broncos from 2021-2024, where she individually advanced to nationals two years in a row, including being the national vault runner up in 2023.
She was a nominee for the AAI Award in 2024, which is given to the top senior gymnast in the nation.
“I am incredibly grateful to be spending my fifth year of eligibility at LSU! From the moment I stepped on campus, there was a palpable feeling of belonging that confirmed this was exactly where I was meant to be,” said Blackson.
“I felt truly seen, valued, and inspired from the moment I first connected with the coaching staff, and their genuine belief in me as both an athlete and a person fostered a sense of purpose and belonging that I couldn’t overlook.
“LSU’s culture balances the pursuit of excellence with a strong sense of family, empowering every athlete not just to develop their skills but also to grow as individuals. I feel honored to join a community that challenges me, believes in me, and celebrates every step of my journey with sincerity and compassion.”
Blackson entered the transfer portal a year after completing her final year at Boise State in 2024. Now, the two-time All-American out of Elk Grove, California, plans to use her final year of eligibility with the two-time defending SEC Champions at LSU.
Blackson adds depth on three events for the Tigers this upcoming season.
She competed in all but three meets throughout her four years at Boise State and owns career bests of 10.000 on vault and 9.950 on bars and floor.
Blackson’s Career Accolades:
LSU Football, Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines Trending in Recruiting
LSU Football and Notre Dame Fighting Irish Making Early Impression on Top Cornerback
No. 1 Athlete in America, Five-Star LSU Football Commit Helping Recruit Top Prospect
Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU Tigers.
College Sports
St. Thomas Students Go ‘Beyond the Buzzer’ in Collaboration With Athletics – Newsroom
When College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Bill Tolman and Vice President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten began discussing opportunities for a collaboration, they knew one thing: They wanted University of St. Thomas students to be at the center of the project. The result is a student-driven series of video shorts called “Beyond […]

When College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Bill Tolman and Vice President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten began discussing opportunities for a collaboration, they knew one thing: They wanted University of St. Thomas students to be at the center of the project. The result is a student-driven series of video shorts called “Beyond the Buzzer” and delivered in a big way.
The series was filmed, edited and produced by Digital Media Arts students Corina Sandy ’25 and Max Lidtke ’25, and then released in a social media campaign. Topics covered included sports medicine, broadcast production, gym setup and a preview of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, which will host its first competitive events this fall and winter for men’s and women’s basketball and ice hockey.
“This collaboration between Athletics and CAS provided an impactful learning experience for the students,” Tolman said. “Corina and Max were empowered to express their creative energy and skills to tell stories about people working behind the scenes to support athletic events and programs.”

Corina Sandy ’25
Major: Digital Media Arts
Minors: Catholic Studies, Theology
Hometown: Zimmerman, Minnesota
Future Plans: This summer I’ve begun doing wedding videography more full time, and I also manage social media at Cal & Lily Flower Farm. For the future, we will see where God takes me. I just know I will always be doing videography in some way!
The duo were a natural fit for the project. In addition to their time studying Digital Media Arts at St. Thomas, both had previously worked as members of Tommie Athletic Productions. (TAP). “Our idea was inspired by our personal experiences working with TAP and our desire to highlight the behind-the-scenes work,” Sandy said. “That led us to think about all the other roles within Athletics that many students and supporters may not be aware of.”
“Corina and Max are two very talented folks. To see them work, grow, and thrive in their time at St. Thomas, culminating in their excellent output on this keystone project, was special,” said Assistant Athletic Director and TAP lead Mike Gallagher, who connected the students with subject matter experts and oversaw the final editing process.
Max Lidtke ’25
Major: Digital Media Arts
Hometown: Hastings, Minnesota
Future Plans: My goal is to work in the NHL as a videographer/editor. I am currently a video production intern for the St. Louis Blues so my goals are becoming much more tangible!

Sandy and Lidtke both commented on the value of hands-on, experiential learning emphasized in the College of Arts and Sciences. Lidtke said that “this is the best type of learning. We get to use everything we already know to solve a problem or create something – and when we need help, it’s there.”
Dr. Peter Gregg, an associate professor and chair in the Emerging Media Department, provided key guidance throughout the project, often meeting weekly with Corina and Max to brainstorm topics and develop a robust proposal to pitch to Tolman and Gallagher. “Beyond the Buzzer reflects a student-led, professional media production experience,” Gregg said. “Being able to take the skills they’ve learned in their coursework and connect it to a Division I athletics organization is a significant opportunity and challenge, and the students succeeded in what they set out to do.”
As St. Thomas seeks to expand its impact and visibility as a national Catholic university, academic and athletic excellence will both play critical roles. “This is an area of great opportunity,” Tolman added. “I’m excited by this and other occasions for CAS and Athletics to work together to drive the university forward.”
This experience helped grow my confidence as a creator, pushing me to make decisions and trust them. I often remind myself, ‘Act confident and no one will question you,’ and I found myself leaning on that mindset often as I navigated a more professional environment as a student.
— Corina sandy ’25
College Sports
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is […]

Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention.
Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs.
“Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught,” he said. “That’s not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you’d have to ask those guys.”
More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days.
“I’m just a loyal guy. I’m loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me,” Ball said.
Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to “be in the NIL game from a football perspective.” Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit.
“We have to go outside our state,” Pittman said. “In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that’s been a little bit more difficult in our state.”
Pittman isn’t the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it.
“We present our product in a way where we’re selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it’s been before,” he said. “And I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to keep it together.”
Florida’s 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier’s perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn’t think it’s a coincidence.
“We told them when they came in, you know, look, it’s not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We’re in this thing for the long haul,” Napier said. “I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We’re going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it’s ever been.”
Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn’t exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about.
Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18.
As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process.
“I wouldn’t say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,” Quinn said. “You’ve got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you’re comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that’ll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I’m in a good situation here at Louisville.”
Quinn’s loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty.
“To some degree, it’s capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven’t proven it yet,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “Everybody on the team’s not going to make the same. Fair doesn’t always mean equal.”
But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players “making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.”
“And I think that’s what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let’s retain first, and then whatever’s left, let’s go build the best team we can for those guys,” Lashlee said.
North Carolina State’s Dave Doeren doubled down.
“A guy that’s been on a team three years, that’s playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that’s a proper way to do business,” Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. “Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.”
College Sports
23 forwards to watch for Aug. 1
Carter Meyer is accelerating to be a junior. (Robert Chalmers/Cohen’s Hockey) This will be an interesting opening to college recruitment. For starters, there are high-end players that colleges are already recruiting hard. There is a slew of forwards who are pretty easily projectable as impact college hockey players. On defense, there is quite a bit […]


Carter Meyer is accelerating to be a junior. (Robert Chalmers/Cohen’s Hockey)
This will be an interesting opening to college recruitment.
For starters, there are high-end players that colleges are already recruiting hard. There is a slew of forwards who are pretty easily projectable as impact college hockey players. On defense, there is quite a bit of size, which has become all the rage for defensemen these days.
However, this recruiting cycle will be most interesting because of what happened last year: the CHL ruling.
With CHL players now eligible to play NCAA Division 1 hockey, there will likely be heavy implications on recruiting.
Will programs send out fewer offers? Will they wait for many of these players to develop further, pitting them against current CHL players?
And on the other side of it, will recruits be more hesitant to commit somewhere because of how many CHL players that school is taking in?
Time will tell.
Here are the top first-year eligible forwards to watch come Aug. 1, which is when rising juniors in high school can accept an offer. A separate story will be run on defensemen and goalies.
College Sports
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is […]

Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention.
Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs.
“Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught,” he said. “That’s not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you’d have to ask those guys.”
More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days.
“I’m just a loyal guy. I’m loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me,” Ball said.
Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to “be in the NIL game from a football perspective.” Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit.
“We have to go outside our state,” Pittman said. “In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that’s been a little bit more difficult in our state.”
Pittman isn’t the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it.
“We present our product in a way where we’re selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it’s been before,” he said. “And I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to keep it together.”
Florida’s 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier’s perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn’t think it’s a coincidence.
“We told them when they came in, you know, look, it’s not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We’re in this thing for the long haul,” Napier said. “I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We’re going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it’s ever been.”
Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn’t exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about.
Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18.
As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process.
“I wouldn’t say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,” Quinn said. “You’ve got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you’re comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that’ll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I’m in a good situation here at Louisville.”
Quinn’s loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty.
“To some degree, it’s capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven’t proven it yet,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. “Everybody on the team’s not going to make the same. Fair doesn’t always mean equal.”
But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players “making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.”
“And I think that’s what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let’s retain first, and then whatever’s left, let’s go build the best team we can for those guys,” Lashlee said.
North Carolina State’s Dave Doeren doubled down.
“A guy that’s been on a team three years, that’s playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that’s a proper way to do business,” Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. “Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.”
___
AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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