The NEW Official Thread of the Augustana Vikings

[vikingfaithful]

We have activity.


Bad news first, Hink is moving on.

https://x.com/i/status/2031076296487256212


Good news. Augie has a new guard with bounce.

https://x.com/i/status/2031144671192428924

https://x.com/i/status/2026306737708343551

Caden Hinker getting attention,

(1) Jamie Shaw on X: "Caden Hinker tells @On3 he’s heard from the following schools since entering the transfer portal… Tulsa Rice Kent State Florida Gulf Coast William & Mary Missouri State Youngstown State UT Chattanooga Southern Illinois Montana Southeast Missouri Denver UT Martin https://t.co/cObq1huyq1" / X

[fanofnsic]

The old school part of me wishes players stayed at one university for the duration of their career. My brain knows that era is gone though.

I have no doubt Ferguson will have success at a Summit or Mo Valley-level school of his choosing. Maybe higher? IDK. Tough loss for Augie, but best wishes to Ferguson. He stood out like nobody else in the NSIC this year.

What I would like to see if compensation back to the smaller school by the larger ones who get these guys. As current the D2 level is basically Juco ball as you develop the player, player moves on only difference is it can be for more years but the goal of some of these players is to move up and then make money.

The lower schools should be compensated when this happens as they put in the money, resources, time, ect to develop these players and they have to continually do it year over year which is difficult. This would compensate the program back for the work they did. It would need to have tiers but I think you could break it down by conference alignment to give tiers of money back.

Idea being

D3 to D2, LowD1, MidD1, HighD1 - D2 provides 10K, LowD1 provides 20K, MidD1 provides 40k, High D1 provides 75K Note I am just making up these numbers you can put any number you wish in place, its always debatable on what it should all be.

You can have this same payment amount all the way through from each level or tier so it would then also compensate the lower tier as this also is the case with the lower D1s losing players as well to higher levels.

If you want to drop lower then there is no compensation back to the school.

I know this won't happen but it would help the schools losing these kids after putting in the time and development in them only to see them leave mainly for the money but also higher level of play. Reward the programs who develop.

[Augieholic]

We have activity.


Bad news first, Hink is moving on.

https://x.com/i/status/2031076296487256212


Good news. Augie has a new guard with bounce.

https://x.com/i/status/2031144671192428924

https://x.com/i/status/2026306737708343551

[laker]

I know Augieholic's perspective of "adapt or die"

I watched The Alamo yesterday. If Augieholic had been there, he would have used his height advantage to post up that little runt Santa Anna, backed him down and dunked on him, while screaming "This is Augie Country" on his way back down court.

I watch a lot less D1 men's ball now for the very reasons that your stated. D2 women's ball is still fun because there isn't as much movement as in the men's game. Lucky for MSU some of their women have gotten offers but they have chosen to stay. I hate looking at a team and thinking- who is this, I don't even know their name? Hopefully this mess gets straightened out in a few years. There is no way the money can keep going down the drain like this. Look at the crowds that we used to have- now there are too many empty seats, even for big games.

Colleges have lost their way. They can't keep raising tuition- there are other options. The money will run out sooner or later.

[MrAugustana]

Ferguson officially in the portal, per X. Wish him luck. Looking forward to seeing what Talley can do at the point.

This is college sports in 2026.

I completely understand that "this is just the way it is" and there's a roughly zero-percent chance it's going back to how it was, but this new era really isn't for me. I'm not arguing that players shouldn't have rights, not suggesting these athletes shouldn't be able to do what's best for them, etc. I get all of those arguments and if that's the direction it's going, then it is what it is.

At the same time, while I can acknowledge the reality of the situation, for me, personally, I can't help that it's sort of killing my passion for following sports at the D2 level. I liked seeing kids develop over the course of a career. Sure there were guys like Corey Macintosh or Mike Busack who only came in for a year or two from time to time. But watching guys like Dan Jansen and Jordan Spencer develop from their freshman years to senior years was special. These days, I'm willing to bet neither of those two would've stayed in Augie blue and gold all four years of their career, and I highly doubt that National Championship trophy would be sitting in its case at the Elmen in today's landscape.

I know Augieholic's perspective of "adapt or die" is the only way to win in this new era, and I certainly hope Cody continues to adapt and develop winning teams whether players like Tam stay or go each year, but whether or not that's the future of college sports, it just makes it a lot less enjoyable for me.

I've been impressed by Cody's ability to keep things going and not fall off after taking over the program. It's clear the future of Augie Men's Basketball is in good hands. He definitely has the right demeanor and positive attitude to connect with kids in this generation, so I hope he keeps winning. It's just tough to get excited about more or less starting over after seeing Cody develop Tam into a Player of the Year as a sophomore and then watching him leave for greener pastures.

[cat fan]

That didn't take long...Tameron Ferguson has already declared for transfer portal

(3) Tameron Ferguson (@Tameronferguson) / X

The old school part of me wishes players stayed at one university for the duration of their career. My brain knows that era is gone though.

I have no doubt Ferguson will have success at a Summit or Mo Valley-level school of his choosing. Maybe higher? IDK. Tough loss for Augie, but best wishes to Ferguson. He stood out like nobody else in the NSIC this year.

[vikingfaithful]

That didn't take long...Tameron Ferguson has already declared for transfer portal

(3) Tameron Ferguson (@Tameronferguson) / X

[Stanger86]

Can anybody answer this question. Why do NSIC travel south for pre-conference games every year? We should host tournaments and games. Boycott MIAA-GAC.

They don't always. Some schools have these preseason "challenges" on rotations. This year, SMSU traveled to Fort Hays. Last year it was in Marshall.

[Blue Ridge Viking]

Ferguson officially in the portal, per X. Wish him luck. Looking forward to seeing what Talley can do at the point.

This is college sports in 2026.

[Blue Ridge Viking]

Shoulder injury. I believe he'll be ready for next season.

Good to hear -- not the injury part but that he'll be back next year. Augie will need all the size it can get.

[Augieholic]

Does anyone know what happened to Conner Kraft? He disappeared the last half of the season.

Shoulder injury. I believe he'll be ready for next season.

[Augieholic]

Can anybody answer this question. Why do NSIC travel south for pre-conference games every year? We should host tournaments and games. Boycott MIAA-GAC.

Money and resources.

In early to mid November D2 schools already have to commit resources to run volleyball and football events as the post season approaches. Some NSIC schools also have D1 hockey games underway. Early season basketball isn't a priority for some/most schools and therefore events like the ones in St Joseph are an efficient way to get non-conference D2 games. It's not ideal that most NSIC teams have to travel but we wouldn't be complaining about this so much if the top NSIC teams had just played better than they did this season.

[Augieholic]

Hartigan sounded very uncertain as to Hinker's future after the game tonight. I think it's realistic that we could lose our entire starting five.

Sam, Tanner, and Helgren are out of eligibility.

Tam has played his way to at least a mid-major D1 opportunity with a 6 figure pay day. I have enjoyed watching him play immensely and can't wait to see where he goes and who he puts in the blender next.

Hinker could get D1 offers with some NIL money if he decides to enter the portal for his last year of eligibility, but I have a non-zero level of hope he could be back next season.

[vikingfaithful]

Can anybody answer this question. Why do NSIC travel south for pre-conference games every year? We should host tournaments and games. Boycott MIAA-GAC.

[Blue Ridge Viking]

Does anyone know what happened to Conner Kraft? He disappeared the last half of the season.