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Texas Tech Sunday Morning Notes - Tackle The Guy With The Ball Edition

By Seth C

Double-T Nation News:

I woke up this morning and thought that today was Monday, even going so far as to not use my weekend-coffee-cup, but opted for my weekday-coffee-mug. It didn't hit me until I was stirring the coffee, but what a great feeling . . . knowing that you've got 24 more hours in your life that don't involve work. So, Happy Sunday, May 16, 2008 to everyone and enjoy your day.

Texas Tech Football:

Mr. Michael Crabtree was named to the Playboy All-America Team, and, surprisingly to me, is the 8th Red Raider named to the squad. Those 7 others include the following:

E.J. Holub (1960), Dan Irons (1977), Ted Watts (1980), Tracy Saul (1992), Ricky Williams (1999), Aaron Hunt (2002) and Joel Filani (2006)

Here's Captain Leach:

"This is a tremendous compliment to Michael and his talents," Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach said. "He is deserving of every award that comes his way, and to be named to the Playboy All-America team is no exception. This is a highly coveted award and he is in the company of many great players, past and present, who have been named to the team."

I'm not sure who was responsible for this press release, but it may be wise to remove Michael Vick's name from the list of former players, thinking that he's probably not the best role-model right now (emphasis added).

The publication is celebrating its 52nd year of the Playboy All-American tradition, a tradition that has included such players as Dan Marino, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Michael Vick and Peyton Manning. Coaches such as USC's Pete Carroll and former Alabama great Paul "Bear" Bryant also have been honored by the publication.

Catching up with former Red Raider, Zach Thomas (hat-tip Blogging the Boys) and I did like this exchange:

Naturally, most will think Thomas is too small to play inside on the 3-4, and compared to last year's starter, he is smaller. James will check in at 240 pounds. Ayodele was 240, too. His main competition for the starting job, Bobby Carpenter, goes a cool 248, and Kevin Burnett, who also will be given a chance and played mostly as one of the inside backers on the nickel defense last year, might check in at just 227 but at least he's 6-3.

"This gives us the chance just to really utilize his ability to make plays," Jones said.

Thomas' ears don't burn.

"They said when Nick Saban brought in the 3-4 I wouldn't fit because I'm a smaller guy," the Texas High School Hall of Fame member said of the Dolphins former head coach when he switched the team out of the 4-3 defense of Johnson and Dave Wannstedt.

When Saban arrived? Heck Zach, they said that about you when Jimmy drafted you. You have been eternally "too small."

"Right!" he said, laughing at the stereotype, knowing he's made a mockery of it his entire NFL career, having led the Dolphins in tackles in 10 of his 12 seasons while earning the most Pro Bowl selections in Miami history.

"It's something people don't understand; there's really not three guys on the line of scrimmage, there's five, and in the 4-3 you've got four, so you're more protected, and I love it. It fits me more than the 4-3, even though Jimmy Johnson brought me in for that 4-3. The 3-4 I would recommend over any defense out there.

"Just run and tackle the guy with the ball, it's simple."

Texas Tech Baseball:

That lovable old curmudgeon Bob Knight answers his cell phone during a speaking engagement with Florida Atlantic University, this is NSFW (hat-tip AOL's Fanhouse):

Texas Tech Baseball:

Date Texas Tech Baylor Result
Fri. 05/16/08 @ 6:05 p.m. 7 (W: Zach Stewart, 3-2) 4 (L: Shawn Tolleson, 5-4) Boxscore
Sat. 05/17/08 @ 2:00 p.m. 3 (L: Chad Bettis, 4-5) 13 (W: Mace Thurman, 3-1) Boxscore
Sun. 05/18/08 @ 1:00 p.m. Nate Karns (2-6, 9.00) TBA Boxscore

It just wasn't supposed to happen this year. Chad Bettis is roughed up and the Red Raiders lose to Baylor, 13-3, effectively ending their season with today's game. Freshman pitcher Chad Bettis seemed to struggle a bit over the past few starts and Saturday he pitched 3.0 innings, giving up 8 hits, 8 runs (all earned), 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Cory Large contributed 4.1 innings, giving up 6 hits, 4 runs (all earned), walked none and struck out 6. Paul Gonzalez and Owen Brolsma helped close out the game as well.

The Red Raider bats were relatively quiet, managing only 8 hits all day with Willie Rueda continuing to make something happen at the top of the lineup, going 1-3 with a run scored and a walk, while Jason Seefeld went 3-3 with a homerun, his 13th of the season. Joey Kenworthy (2-3) and Roger Kieschnick (1-5) each had an RBI.

LAJ's George Watson recaps Saturday's loss (link not permanent). Here's Hays:

"We've been doing that a long time," head coach Larry Hays said. "We're going to try to win (today). It's our last game here and we'd like to try and win the series, and we'd like to win for our seniors at Dan Law. I don't know if we really had any more to play for than that, but we've got a lot to play for."

And senior Jason Seefeld, who along with Jon Capuccio, Owen Brolsma and Doug Thennis will play their last game for the Red Raiders today:

"It's tough," said senior first baseman Jason Seefeld, who homered, doubled and drew a pair of walks. "It's starting to sink in a little bit but we've got one more game (today) and hopefully we can come out and get a win at home and that would be good for us. We played well (Friday) but we lost some momentum early and gave up some home runs, and I think that took it out of some guys."

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