Double-T Nation News:
There's a really good conversation going on at Rock M Nation regarding expectations for Missouri's football team going forward, in particular competing with Texas and Oklahoma year-to-year (Part I and Part II). This is something that I want to explore more in the offseason.
DTN Appointments:
- Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss Preview has the offensive line scheduled for a noon posting.
- Texas Tech vs. UTEP Preview and Open Game Day Thread for scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. posting, tip-off is at 8:00.
Mike Leach Watch:
FWST's Dwain Price talks with the Captain, about the contract, the Heisman, the coaching award, and the three-way tie breaker in the Big 12 South. Make sure and click on over and read the whole thing, but I did want to single out some blockquotes. Here's Price and Leach:
Leach guided Tech to an impressive 11-1 record and a share of the Big 12 South Division title this season. Shortly after the regular season ended, the Raiders extended Leach’s two-year contract to five years — bringing the contract offer to $12.1 million — but he has yet to sign it.Leach said: "It’s a work in progress.’’
Asked if he’ll sign the contract before Tech plays Mississippi in the Jan. 2 Cotton Bowl, Leach said: "I don’t have any idea. We’ll just have to see how it goes.’’
If the rumor is true, that Leach is also trying to secure better deals for his assistant coaches, then all of this makes sense and I kicking myself for noth thinking of it first. It explains the delay and if it's true, then I can live with him waiting to sign a new deal.
If the school can afford to better Leach's deal, then his assistant coaches, i.e. first mates, deserve a better lot as well.
I'm still tapping my foot, but at a much slower pace.
And Captain Leach is humbled by receiving the George Munger Award for the Coach of the Year:
"I’m very humbled by the fact that if you just consider all the other people in this profession, and to be recognized in such a fashion, is just really a thrill for me,’’ Leach said. "To be considered in the same company as some of the others that won the award, I don’t know what to say.’’
Texas Tech Football:
I'm sure you guys already knew this, but receiver Michael Crabtree was named to the first-team Associated Press All-America Team, while guard Brandon Carter was named to the second team and guard Louis Vasquez was named to the third team. Congrats to all for the accolades. I think all we lack is the Sporting News teams, which might come out today and Mr. Crabtree should be first team there as well. At that point, Mr. Crabtree will be given a wallet with "BMF" on it.
ESPN Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin has his Texas Tech Season Review, which he's done for every Big 12 team. I might argue that defensive end Brandon Williams is the teams defensive MVP, but McBath was pretty good all year too.
The FWST released their All-Big 12 Team and lots of Red Raiders make the cut, including Crabtree, Rylan Reed, Brandon Carter, Brandon Williams, Darcel McBath, Jamar Wall, Daniel Charbonnet, and Eric Morris. Congrats to all. Coach of the Year went to our wonderful Captain:
Coach of the Year Mike Leach, Texas Tech - Leach led the Red Raiders (11-1) to a share of the Big 12 South Division title, a school first. He has the team at No. 8 in The Associated Press poll heading into a Cotton Bowl matchup against Mississippi. With a triumph on Jan. 2, Tech would establish a school record for victories in a season, breaking the mark held by the 1973 team (11-1).
Cotton Bowl:
DMN's Bobbi Roquemore checks in on the Ole Miss practices. And per David Brandt of the Clarion Ledger, defensive end Greg Hardy was 20 minutes late and guard Maurice Miller is taking care of some academic issues.
Texas Tech Basketball:
LAJ's Jeff Walker has more on the sit-down with Junior Knight and Bob Knight regarding Texas Tech's team defense, the focus being about about a defensive mindset:
"I sat down with my dad (Sunday) and we talked because it’s just frustrating (that) a kid’s mentality, the first thing they want to do is play offense and the hardest thing to do is get them to play defense," the younger Knight said. "He helped me a little bit and we had an all-defensive practice (on Sunday). These kids can guard. It’s not like we’re giving up 47 points in both halves. I know they can do it. It’s just getting them to do it all the time. So, we really hit them hard (Sunday)."Snip
"I’m not going to use the words I used, but I was like, ‘My guys will not defend in the second half,’ " Pat Knight said. "We had a really good, long talk about kids in general and some other things — what we can do in practice, the fact that we just played a game, should I back off, what can I do from a full-court situation, (what can I do) mentally. … It was just nice to get another opinion and the opinion comes from somebody who knows what he’s talking about."
Also, guard Nick Okorie and forward Michael Prince don't have any timetable for returning, so they are both probably out of tonight's game.
Want to know what the odds are for Texas Tech to win the national championship?