Double-T Nation News:
Initial draft of this week's BlogPoll and a review of last night's win over Sam Houston State were posted earlier this morning. A little late on the BlogPoll, but such is life.
Texas Tech Football:
LAJ's Don Williams writes that the Red Raiders will get their first real chance to see Sam Bradford, after knocked out early of last year's game in Lubbock and Texas Tech views this as a bigger challenge. Here's senior safety Daniel Charbonnet:
"Not only because we didn’t play against him last year, but also because he has a whole ’nother year under his belt. That makes a big difference for a quarterback,’’ Tech safety Daniel Charbonnet said Monday. "Last year, he was a freshman. This year, he’s a sophomore with a lot of experience. I think that’s what makes the biggest difference.’’Snip
"He’s the best professional (quarterback) prospect we’ll face,’’ Charbonnet said. "He’s got the size. He’s got the arm. He makes good decisions back there. He moves well, too. He can run around a little bit and make plays with his feet. He’s a pretty good all-around package when it comes to a quarterback.’’
LAJ's Williams Red Raider Football Notebook there are notes regarding the hostile crowd expected in Norman, that the Baylor game will be televised on the Versus Network, and that this team is not expecting a letdown, per the Captain:
We’ve prepared well pretty much throughout the year, I’ve felt like," Tech coach Mike Leach said. "That’s the good thing about this group is the consistency they’ve had preparing."
DMN's Brandon George writes that Ruffin McNeill has simplified the offense and McNeill still listen's to his father's advice, who calls him after every game. Here's George and defensive end Jake Ratliff on McNeill:
But that's only because his son knows Tech's players better than anyone. McNeill isn't just a coach. He's a father figure who preaches tough love. In many eyes, McNeill is one of the key reasons why the Red Raiders are No. 2 in the BCS rankings and have a chance to clinch their first Big 12 South title with a win Saturday at No. 5 Oklahoma."He's as much a friend to you as he is your coach," senior defensive end Jake Ratliff said. "He'll be the first one to get in your face and tell you what you're doing wrong, but he'll be the first one to come slap you on the back and tell you you're doing a good job."
DMN's George also with a notebook of sorts, talking about Barry Switzer and Graham Harrell's Facebook.
FWST's Dwain Price writes that Mike Leach has quite a history with Oklahoma and OU head coach Mike Stoops. Here's Stoops:
"What I really appreciated with Mike is he does what he does and he does it well," Stoops said. "He’s always been very emphatic to be really excellent and good at what you do."Not that he doesn’t look for different wrinkles, because he always has added little things. But the meat and potatoes of what he does is still there [today] that was here when we started in ’99."
Lots of other football notes, including Kansas State's head coach Ron Prince, a former player for Ruffin McNeill at Appalachian State, has high praise for McNeill:
"From the business side of things I can see where they not only upgraded their roster over a period of time, but they’re really playing flawless," Prince said. "From a mistake standpoint, they just don’t make them."They play against a very large offensive line every single day [in practice]. They really have to try to push the pocket against those kind of people, and I think because of that they’ve become very good and very disciplined in their rush lanes."
DT's Alex Ybarra writes that the plot between Stoops and Leach thickens. Stoops again:
"(Kentucky's offense) worked well, so I started thinking that would be a great way to start here," Stoops said in a Big 12 Conference call last week. "That was the reason, just the way they work the ball. Another reason was we didn't really have a quarterback on campus, and bringing Mike here with that style of offense would attract quarterbacks being that Tim Couch had just finished up for them."
I should probably be saving this for a full feature, but CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd talked with Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe and had this to say about the President Elect, Barack Obama, comments regarding a college football playoff:
"I am extremely delighted that he is our president and excited that he is going to lead our nation," Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said. "I am disappointed that there isn't more full discussion before he comes to a conclusion on this. I would hope only that the leader of our country would take under full consideration all the aspects."The simple solution is easy to state. We're not in charge of a professional league where we have the entertainment value to consider. That should be fully considered. This isn't something you should make a rash decision about."
Snip
"I'm concerned about it," Beebe said of Obama. "Obviously he is in a powerful position. If it makes people think along those lines without fully considering all the ramifications, that's the main thing. A one-game single elimination type playoff works well for the NFL, it works well for our basketball championship but it doesn't mean you end up with the best team winning it all."
You gotta be sh!##ing me! I find it absolutely amazing that Beebe, actually I don't, but I find the audacity of those comments to be threatening. Beebe is assuming that Obama or any other fan out there, haven't fully considered all of the ramifications, almost as if he's not capable of making a determination on his own. That is quite an assumption on Beebe's part and I'm quite frankly amazed that he belives that Obama or any other fan hasn't taken into consideration all of the aspects.
I hate the BCS.
Texas Tech Basketball:
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A look at the new uniforms. |
"I don’t remember Tech having a two-guard as physical as Nick Okorie," Sam Houston State head coach Bob Marlin said. "He probably got a nosebleed one time there in the second half he was up there so good for an offensive rebound. He’s certainly a very good athlete."
The play that Marlin is talking about is where Okorie went up real high for a rebound, tipped the ball to Roberts who layed it in for two. It was an impressive play.
And Junior Knight on Mike Singletary, who scored 18:
"He showed up," Knight said. "It’s pretty simple. He showed up and played, so that was good to see."I give him credit. He didn’t play well the last game, but he’s not a pouter. He didn’t moan or complain. He was happy we won the last game. He’s one of our leaders, so I liked that."
Also, Trevor Cook was apparently a little under the weather, which is why he didn't play last night. Nothing big.
DT's Alex Ybarra also has his game story from last night. Nick Okorie already feels comfortable playing with Voskuil and Roberson:
"We pretty much got a bond real early in to practice," Okorie said of his relationship with Roberson. "We just feed off of each other. Me, him and Alan are just real comfortable with each other on the court, so we know what each person is capable of doing."
And Pat Knight on the fact that Voskuil has struggled early, but there are other guys to pick up the slack:
"Our guys are running our motion I think pretty well right now because we're getting a lot of buckets from a lot of guys," Knight said. "Hopefully they'll start keying on him, but now what happens, Voskuil gets hot. We have guys that can get streaky, which is good in a sense from when guys start keying on people."