Odds and Ends
Tuition Increase
I'm sure most of you have heard by now that the Texas Tech Board of Regents decided to raise the cost of tuition, although even with the increase, Texas Tech is still an affordable university as the 7th cheapest university in the state. You never like to see your school raise tuition, however, if Texas Tech is going to be a player for those Tier One funds, then more money is going to have to be spent on research as well as increasing faculty pay.
I've got a 5 Things scheduled to be posted at 10:00 this morning and I'm taking a look at the special teams. Some pretty interesting statistics and after it's all said and done, I can't help but think that new special teams coach Eric Russell is going to make an immediate impact on this team.
Texas Tech Football
Scout.com's Top 100
Scout.com released their Top 100 and as of right now, the Red Raiders have 5 current commitments. QB Scotty Young checks in at #21, DE Jackson Richards at #54, DE JaQwalin Arps at #62, DE Kedrick Dial at #63 and LB Zachary Winbush at #78. Most of these players commit fairly early, although there are still quite a few that are undecided. I haven't had the time to look at how the other Big 12 schools are doing, but would imagine that the same ones are still doing well.
Picking the Big 12
CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd predicts the Big 12 and thinks Texas Tech finishes 4th in the Big 12 South:
4. Texas Tech -- The Red Raiders slip back to the 8-4 level this season. You know the drill: Potts will throw for eight million yards. There will be a 1,000-yard receiver or two. Mike Leach will be his usual quote-machine self. However, last season was a once-in-10-year event. There is payback waiting at Texas, at Oklahoma State and at Nebraska.
Around the Big 12
Since we're getting closer and closer to the start of football season, I thought it would be a good idea to start linking to articles dealing with some of our Big 12 brethren and Texas Tech opponents:
One of the reasons the hype consistently faded is that the Cowboys didn't win any of those games: After vaulting into the national consciousness with its upset at Missouri -- which had lost almost all its luster by the end of the season as the Tigers struggled to finish 1-3 against winning teams the rest of the way, the one win coming in overtime against Northwestern -- Oklahoma State had four big games, against Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oregon, and lost them all, the last three by double digits.
Oread Boom Kings " Strengths & Weakness: Okie State
One of the biggest mysteries of last year to me is still the pressure they were able to get on Chase Daniel in Columbia. Honestly, they only had 15 sacks on the entire season and yet, Missouri’s o-line couldn’t keep them out of the backfield all night. And we all know what happened when Chase had to move that fat ass. But looking ahead, the Pokes didn’t have a legitimate pass rush all season and unless they’ve improved dramatically, a big change isn’t on the horizon.