'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics

'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics Podcast
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Sports

The official podcast of Weber State Athletics featuring the top guests in an around Wildcat athletics. Hosted by Weber State Director of Athletic Communications Paul Grua.

  1. 3d ago

    2026 Weber State Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony

    The ceremony for the 2026 class of the Weber State Athletics Hall of Fame. On September 18, 2026, Weber State inducted five members to its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2026 class consists of Mary Kay Amicone (softball coach), David Blair (men's track and field), Cameron Higgins (football), Randy Rahe (men's basketball coach), and longtime University Administrator Dr. Norm Tarbox, who received the Reed K. Swenson Award. Mary Kay Amicone transformed the Wildcat softball program and left an unmatched legacy in Weber State and Big Sky Conference history. Amicone, a former Wildcat player, was the head coach at Weber State for 11 seasons from 2014-24, and guided the Wildcats to 10 Big Sky Championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances, and the first NCAA regional win in conference history. She is Weber State’s and the Big Sky’s all-time leader in wins with 297 and is also first in overall winning percentage. The softball complex at Weber State is now Mary Kay Amicone Field at Miller Park in her honor. David Blair was a member of the Weber State men’s track and field team from 1994-99 and was a two-time Big Sky champion. He was part of four championship teams at Weber State and also set three school records during his Wildcat career. He also earned All-Big Sky honors nine times. Following his collegiate career, David went on to an international championship career. He has captured eight total major international medals, including two Paralympic medals and six World Championship medals. He won the gold medal in the discus at the 2016 Paralympics and won a bronze medal in 2024. Cameron Higgins came from Hawaii to play quarterback for the Wildcats for four seasons from 2007-10 and rewrote the Weber State record book. Weber State was his only scholarship offer. He still holds the WSU school record with 12,274 passing yards and threw for 98 touchdowns! He is also second in school history in total offense yards. He was named the Big Sky Offensive MVP and earned All-America honors as a sophomore in 2008, as he set a school record with 4,477 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in leading Weber State to a Big Sky Championship. Coach Randy Rahe was the head coach of the Wildcats from 2006-22 and left a lasting legacy in Wildcat basketball history. He finished his career as Weber State’s and the Big Sky’s all-time leader in wins. He won 316 games in his 16 seasons as head coach of the Wildcats. He also led the Wildcats to five Big Sky regular season championships, three trips to the NCAA Tournament, and was named Big Sky Coach of the Year a record four times. Coach Rahe also recruited and coached some of the best Wildcats of all-time. He coach six players to Big Sky MVP honors, and coached three players who were drafted in the NBA, including Wildcat legend Damian Lillard. Dr. Norm Tarbox was the Vice President of Administrative Services at Weber State University from 2002-25. His leadership played a significant role in the success and growth of Wildcat Athletics for nearly 25 years. During his tenure, he helped guide numerous campus improvements and played a key role in the development and enhancement of facilities and services across the university. As the university administrator responsible for athletics, Tarbox provided oversight and support for the department throughout his time at Weber State. Under his leadership, Wildcat teams combined to win 66 Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament championships and made 30 NCAA Tournament appearances. Tarbox worked alongside six athletic directors and played an important role in the hiring of several successful Hall of Fame coaches. He also served as the interim president of Weber State University in 2018.

    2026 Weber State Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony

  2. Oct 1

    Dave Champlin on retirement after more than 50 years working in college athletics

    Dave Champlin has been working in and around college athletics throughout the state of Utah for over 50 years, including the last 13 years as the General Manager at Weber State Sports Properties. And now he is retiring. In this ‘Cat Tales' podcast, Dave looks back on his career working in college athletics, including his memories at Weber State. He reflects on building successful partnerships in athletics, technology changes, relationships, marketing memories, memorable games, family, retirement plans, and much more.

    Dave Champlin on retirement after more than 50 years working in college athletics

  3. Sep 10

    Weber State freshman Zach Smith on his memorable first two games

    It’s been quite a two-week start for Weber State football freshman Zach Smith. Through two games, Smith has an 85-yard interception return, a blocked punt recovery for a touchdown, and a blocked extra point attempt. In the season-opening win at Northern Colorado, Smith blocked an extra point attempt in the final seconds to seal a Wildcat win. In Saturday’s game at Southern Utah, Smith had an 85-yard interception return and scooped up a blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown. Early in the second quarter, Porter Hadley blocked an SUU punt and Smith scooped it up and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, with the Wildcats trailing 41-36, Smith intercepted a pass at the WSU one-yard line and returned it 85 yards. It ranks as the third longest interception return in Weber State history. The return set up the Wildcat offense that scored a touchdown on the next play. In this ‘Cat Tales podcast, Smith talks about the first two games of the season and the plays he has made. He also talks about just returning from a church mission in May and jumping right back into football. He talks about his journey growing up in South Weber, playing high school football at Northridge High, committing to Weber State, and much more.

    Weber State freshman Zach Smith on his memorable first two games

  4. Aug 27

    Raimoana Tinirauarii on his journey from Tahiti to team captain at Weber State

    From Tahiti, to one season of high school football, to being a team captain. That’s just part of the journey for Weber State fifth-year senior linebacker Raimoana Tinirauarii. He grew up in Tahiti and came to Utah for high school. He played football only in his senior year of high school, then didn’t play for three years before beginning his career at Weber State. He’s now the oldest player on the Wildcat team and begins his fifth season at Weber State, where he was recently selected as a captain by his teammates. In this ‘Cat Tales' podcast, Raimoana discusses his journey to Weber State, as well as his last four seasons on the field with the Wildcats. He also talks about balancing life as a husband and father, studies, future plans, and more.

    Raimoana Tinirauarii on his journey from Tahiti to team captain at Weber State

  5. Jul 31

    Weber State transfer quarterback Devin Brown

    Hear from transfer quarterback Devin Brown on his journey from high school to Weber State, by way of Ohio State and Cal. From a high school MVP to a national championship to Weber State. It’s been quite a journey for Devin Brown to where he is now as a senior quarterback transfer on the Weber State football team. A native of Gilbert, Arizona, Brown played his senior season of high school for coach Eric Kjar at Corner Canyon, where he was named the Max Preps State Player of the Year and the Deseret News State MVP in 2021. He threw for 4,881 yards and 57 touchdowns as a senior. He committed to USC during high school but later changed his commitment to Ohio State, where he spent the 2022-24 seasons and was part of the Buckeyes' 2024 National Championship team. He played in 17 games over three seasons in Columbus before transferring to Cal for the 2025 season, where he played in nine games with the Bears. Brown reunited with coach Kjar at Weber State and joined the Wildcats during the spring 2026 season. He now enters his final season of college football with the Wildcats. In this latest ‘Cat Tales podcast, Brown talks more about his journey to Weber State. He discusses recruitment, joining coach Kjar at Corner Canyon, his time at Ohio State and Cal, and why he came to Weber State. He also talks about why he wears number 33, his favorite quarterback, what he loves about the position, his future plans, and much more.

    Weber State transfer quarterback Devin Brown

  6. Jul 20

    July 2026 Weber State coaches show

    It's the July 2026 Weber State Coaches Show, presented by Young Automotive Group. This month’s show talks about the upcoming Weber State football and volleyball seasons with new football head coach Eric Kjar and volleyball head coach Jeremiah Larsen. Both coaches preview their upcoming seasons and look at their rosters and schedules heading into the year. This month’s show took place at the Young Auto Ogden Hyundai location.

    July 2026 Weber State coaches show

  7. Jun 22

    Damian Lillard on his role as Weber State men's basketball General Manager

    It’s been one year since Wildcat legend Damian Lillard was named the General Manager of Weber State Basketball. In this latest Wildcat All In interview, the NBA superstar discusses why he took on the role of General Manager and what that means for him. He also talks about his involvement in the coaching search process and what he sees in new Wildcat head coach Kaleb Canales. Lillard talks about helping build the Wildcat roster and how Weber State moves forward in the new era of college athletics. In addition, Lillard talks about his excitement to return to playing in the NBA after missing last year with an injury and his excitement to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. He is entering his 15th season in the NBA, and he explains how long he sees himself playing. All that and more with General Manager Damian Lillard in this Wildcat All In interview.

    Damian Lillard on his role as Weber State men's basketball General Manager

  8. May 11

    Wildcat All In - New Weber State men's basketball head coach Kaleb Canales

    Get to know new Weber State men’s basketball head coach Kaleb Canales in this latest Wildcat All In interview. with Paul Grua. Hear from coach Canales on why he came to Weber State, how he got into coaching, his 18-year NBA coaching career, and his vision and goals for the Wildcats. Coach Canales also talks about building the Wildcat roster for next season, scheduling, style of play, competition, relationship with Damian Lillard, giving back, family, and much more. Canales was hired as the 11th head coach in Weber State’s Division I history in April and brings nearly two decades of coaching experience. He also spent last season as the associate head coach at Troy, where he helped lead the team to the NCAA Tournament. Canales came from Troy University last season, where he helped guide the Trojans to a 22–12 record and won the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships, to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. A native of Laredo, Texas, Canales began his coaching career in 2001 as a high school assistant coach before moving to the collegiate ranks at UT Arlington for the 2003-04 season, where he helped lead the Mavericks to a Southland Conference title. He then embarked on an 18-year career in the NBA, beginning with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2005 as a video intern. He was promoted to video coordinator, then to assistant coach in 2009. In 2012, he served as the Trail Blazers' interim head coach for 23 games and became the first Hispanic head coach in NBA history. He also served as Portland's head coach in the NBA Summer League. Canales then spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks (2013–18), followed by two years with the New York Knicks and one season with the Indiana Pacers. In 2023, he was named associate head coach of the Texas Legends in the NBA G League. He also served as head coach of the Calgary Surge in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. He and his wife Cristi, have a son, Bauer, and a daughter, Sloane.

    Wildcat All In - New Weber State men's basketball head coach Kaleb Canales
See All (127)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The official podcast of Weber State Athletics featuring the top guests in an around Wildcat athletics. Hosted by Weber State Director of Athletic Communications Paul Grua.

Information

  • Creator
    'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics Podcast
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    'Cat Tales - Weber State Athletics

You Might Also Like