DTN's Top Three:
- BOTC with the weekly Big 12 Outlook.
- Yeesh. mgoblog with the MSU player slashing a Michigan player that's unconscious.
- Basketball Prospectus' John Perrotto on Pat Knight.
Myles Wade Committed to Texas Tech
According to LAJ's Don Williams, four-star defensive tackle Myles Wade has committed to Texas Tech. Here's Wade on his decision (emphasis mine):
"I committed to Texas Tech," Wade told Scout.com. "They were all happy and excited. It felt like family. I appreciate it more than my first commitment to Oregon. That happened on the phone. "All the pieces fit the puzzle. I’m done. I’m ending my recruitment with Texas Tech."Snip
"They had all the intangibles," Wade said in the Scout.com story. "The first time they talked to me, I spoke with coach (Dennis) Simmons. The second time they brought two coaches in for an in-home visit. Then I went on my official visit and the very next day they came back with three coaches, including the defensive coordinator and head coach. Two minutes into the conversation I told them."
This is huge news for Texas Tech, but keep in mind that verbal commitments are non-binding and signing day is a little over a week and one-half away (Wednesday, February 4, 2009).
Also, anyone suprised that Captain Mike Leach made an appearance? I hear that he's really into defense.
Now, if we can just get some defensive ends to commit, because if Texas Tech can offer one thing, it's playing time after this season, and a lot of it.
Dave Campbell's Winter 2009 Magazine
I'll be honest, I had no idea that there even was a winter edition to Dave Campbell's, but LAJ's Don Williams previews the magazine, including mentions of Texas Tech's recruiting class:
In the magazine’s recruiting section, 11 of Tech’s commitments are ranked in the top 10 at their position. That includes seven who are ranked in the top five: Friendswood’s Jacob Karam is rated the No. 5 quarterback; Wichita Falls Rider’s Eric Ward the No. 2 receiver; Denton Guyer’s Kyle Clark and Lewisville Hebron’s Joel Gray the Nos. 2 and 3 offensive linemen; Dallas Carter’s Jarvis Phillips the No. 5 multi-purpose athlete; and Abilene Cooper’s Will Ford and Garland Naaman Forest’s Terrence Bullitt the Nos. 4 and 5 safeties.
Track/Football Athlete Commits
This really doesn't fall under the heading of football, but one day it could. LAJ's Adam Zuvanich and Don Williams write that Bryce Lamb a football and track athlete from Chandler, Arizona has committed to the Texas Tech track program. Lamb is a great long-jumper, but he was also recruited by some top-tier teams to play football:
He also played running back and safety for his high school football team and said he has football offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, UCLA, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, Washington State, Oregon State, Air Force, Texas-El Paso and Minnesota. Lamb, who is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, said most of those schools recruited him to be a defensive back.Asked whether he preferred one sport over the other, Lamb said, "I don’t think I enjoy one more than the other. I just think I work harder for track than football maybe."
By NCAA rule, an athlete on track scholarship can’t play football his first two years on campus. To do so any sooner, he’d have to give up the track scholarship.
Knight to Continue Teaching
Knight said he talked to his father last week. Bob Knight told his son to refrain from getting frustrated, to continue teaching."You’ve got to show them on tape. I mean, it’s monotonous. You kind of beat yourself over the head as a coach," Pat Knight said. "You’ve got two things: Either don’t talk about it or go back to square one. We went back to two-ball passing, machine-gun dribble passing, all the seventh-grade drills, but you’ve got to do it.
"We bring each kid in individually and show him his turnovers. It’s monotonous, but eventually it’s going to click. That’s all we can do. There’s no secret formula. You’ve just got to keep teaching, and that’s what we get paid for. . . You don’t give up on them. You scratch and work and be patient."
This is the Pat Knight that I love. Reasoned, hopeful and a guy who continues to work. I wish he had said the bolded quotes rather than quotes about being frustrated with the players in general. It makes it a lot easier to like a struggling program and coach when the coach is likable too.
Lewandowski Mention
I thought this mention by KC Star's Blair Kerkhoff's about freshman center Robert Lewandowski is spot on, and yes, I love watching him play:
With every game, Robert Lewandowski becomes more of a factor for Texas Tech. The 6-10 freshman forward who helped Blue Valley West win the 2007 Kansas 6A championship scored a season-best 16 points in the Red Raiders’ loss to Missouri on Saturday. Lewandowski has started Tech’s last seven games.