Some Stuff: [Note by Seth C, 09/26/09 8:24 AM CDT ] I just wanted to point you to a couple of additional links this morning. First, the SB Nation college football sports stream is a good place to get your fix for all of the games this morning. Second, is the FanShot of the guys from Patton Productions with the Red Raider Roadshow. Lots of good pre-game video from last week's game.
Rivalry Renewed: LAJ's Don Williams writes that the UH vs. TTU rivalry is coming at a time when Houston is playing lights out. Williams talks with RG Brandon Carter, who is excited that the Cougars are playing at the top of their game:
"So early in the season, I think they’re still going to be hungry to play and excited to play," Carter said. "I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want them at their best, I want us at our best so we can have a good football game."
And CB Brent Nickerson is concerned about the calls that UH offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen will be familiar with on the Texas Tech defense:
"The challenge is, with coach Holgorsen being there, they know a lot of what our defense does," Tech defensive back Brent Nickerson said. "They know a lot of our checks, what we like to do as far as the secondary, as far as our blitzes and as far as our defensive line. But we have great play-calling on defense as well, so we’ll know how to counter their attack."
Jones Becomes a Man: FWST's Dwain Price profiles DT Richard Jones, who acknowledges that had he stayed home in the Houston area, he may not be the man he is today:
"I know if I would have stayed home there’s no telling what kind of trouble I would have been in," Jones said. "Just me being far away from home, I had no choice but to grow up.
"I had to learn how to survive on my own, I had to wake myself up every morning for classes, I learned how to grocery shop, and it made me a better man."
And Brandon Carter has some high praise for Jones:
"I’ve always enjoyed going against him because he challenges me and I believe and hope that I do the same for him," Carter said. "He’s a great athlete with his hands ... not many can move as fast and as quick as he can. I never see him taking plays off."
Go read the whole thing.
Five Good Minutes with Brandon Carter: ESPN's Tim Griffin sits down with RG Brandon Carter to talk about last week's Texas game and the Houston game this week. I thought this answer on the struggling running game was and is worrisome:
Your running game has struggled a little bit early in the season. What are you going to try to do to help improve that against Houston and during the rest of the season?
BC: With the running game, we’re just as close as we can be to getting it fixed. We’re one block from making some of those plays happen. We just can’t afford to make mistakes like that. We did better against Texas, but we’re still far away from where we want to be. And I think eventually, we’ll get there.
Carter sounds positive about the progress, but saying "we're still far away" makes my stomach hurt.
Craig James Set to Call Game: LAJ's Adam Zuvanich talks with ESPN color guy, Craig James, who is set to call a game with his son, Adam James playing. Craig says that he's going to be respectful about the game:
"You can be 100 percent certain that inside I will be going crazy excited about it," he said earlier this week. "But I’ll be fair and have integrity for the broadcast and for University of Houston fans and for college football fans. They don’t want to hear me up there being a homer."
Another Test for Texas Tech: DMN's Chuck Carlton writes that this is the second week in a row that Texas Tech is tested against a very good team.
Texas Tech Blogs: RA's ayleein on why Texas Tech hates Houston . . . TR's dedfischer with some thoughts on college football . . . RRS.com's Joe Yeager looks at the matchups . . .
Houston Cougar Links: The Chron's Steve Campbell dubs QB Case Keenum as Captain Case, who will hopefully lead the Cougars to a win . . . DMN's Kevin Sherrington writes that the Cougars are looking for national respect (as ayleein noted in his article, this was the same thought that Texas Tech fans were asking last year) . . . LAJ's Adam Zuvanich writes that Kliff Kingsbury and Dana Holgorsen bring the knowledge from Lubbock to Houston . . .
Writer Picks: Dr. Saturday's Matt Hinton with some thoughts on a Texas Tech win . . . kinda funny, Sporting News Dave Curtis picks games against his grandmother, his grandmother picks Texas Tech and she has a better overall record . . .RRS.com's staff picks a handful of games . . . NY Times staff is somewhat on board with a Texas Tech win . . .
Big 12 Links: Big12Sports.com's Wendell Barnhouse previews all of the Big 12 games . . . SAEN with a preview of the Big 12 games . . .
2010 Recruits Update: Last night, it appears that Scotty Young was pulled somewhat early as his Denton Ryan Raiders defeated Ft. Worth Rider 52-7 and Young was 21-36 for 320 yards 2 touchdowns and no interceptions (game story) . . . for those of you who want to see a great football game, Southlake Carroll is set to take on Houston area North Shore at 6:00 p.m. on FSN, while Texas Tech commit Jackson Richards for SLC and NS has a Texas commit Trey Hopkins, which should be a great battle . . . ESPN's Julie Turner sits down with LB V.J. Fehoko:
"My brothers both are so supportive. One thing that I know and my brothers told me is that I got to go and see all my trips for myself if I fit in that program," he said. V.J. has one official visit planned so far, a trip to Texas Tech on Nov. 20.