Odds and Ends
I Missed A Lot
I went to sleep somewhat early last night, after getting up at 4:00 a.m. yesterday morning, and I think its safe to say that I missed quite a bit. Let's get to the news.
Texas Tech Football
Harrell to Canada
Thanks to the post last night from Tech92, it appears that QB Graham Harrell is headed to Canada to play with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL and Harrell will join WR Eric Morris on the team. I really thought that Harrell would hang on through NFL training camps, but perhaps he felt that his best option was to just get out on the field. This isn't the way that Harrell planned his post-collegiate career, but you make the best of the situation and go from there.
Big 12 Suspends P LaCour
This seems completely out of left field as P Jonathan LaCour, per LAJ's Don Williams, has been suspended for six games by the Big 12. I guess I had no idea that the Big 12 could actually suspend a player for off-the-field conduct. Here's Mike Leach's comment on the situation:
"It reduces our depth a little, but I don’t anticipate any problem,’’ Leach said. "We’ve got a couple walk-ons. I think somebody will step up and punt, and Carona’s looked good punting as well.’’
Williams points out that Ryan Erxleben a freshman walk-on who played for Lake Travis last year and had a 44.3 yards per punt average (yes, this is the same Lake Travis team that had QB Garrett Gilbert). There was also this fairly lengthy article this spring from Don Williams that briefly mentions that K Donnie Carona was also working in as punter, but mainly focused on the work that new special teams coach Eric Williams had with LaCour.
I very briefly looked at the official Big 12 website to look for some bylaws as to what the Big 12 can suspend an athlete, but didn't find anything at first glance.
Reliving OSU
Fox34 with a look back at last year's OSU win:
Scouting the Enemy
Rock M Nation's the Boy with a look at the beyond the box score Texas Longhorns defense.
Dr. Saturday's Matt Hinton predicts Conference USA and it appears that Houston is going to be the head of the class, with Rice finishing near the bottom of West division.
CFN's Pete Fiutuk with some roundtable thoughts on the Big 12.
Rivals.com's Olin Buchanan thinks that the Oklahoma St. Cowboys may be overrated.
Texas Tech Basketball
Burgess in Belize
This is a little out of the blue, but it appears that former Red Raider and point guard, Charlie Burgess, is playing basketball in Belize for the national team (I'm not real sure about all of the details, but he's in freaking Belize, playing basketball, I think life must be pretty good):
Charlie Burgess, from New York City
"I am Charlie Burgess from New York City, when to Texas Tech University and then I was overseas one year. I went to Uruguay and then I was back and now I am here in Belize hopefully to defend the title that we had won previously so hopefully we could bring it back to the level that it needs to be at."
Keith Swift,
"How do you feel to be playing for the national team?"
Charlie Burgess,
"Oh it feels great, especially seeing the smile on my mother’s face because I haven’t seen my mother in a long time and she is actually here in Belize so it is a great opportunity. Not many get this chance so I am just blessed."
Colleen Burgess, Mother
"Oh my God, I can’t even explain how I feel. I feel pretty good. I am so excited. Very excited about this young man."
Keith Swift,
"What can we expect from you?"
Charlie Burgess,
"I am just going to go out there and give it my all. Play every game like it is last. I love winning more than I love lo lose."