ODDS AND ENDS
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| BACK IN THE SADDLE |
Never really realized how much traveling can take out of a person. Flight was delayed and didn't get into bed until 3:45 a.m. yesterday morning and had an 8:00 a.m. appointment. I worked until 2:00 p.m. yesterday and then went home and slept until I woke up for dinner and I was pretty much back to my normal self. The trip itself was good, I'll have to tell you about it some time when we're not so busy.
I've also had to just throw everything together because there's just so much out there. I know we have things to do, but just give me a few days to get around to everything.
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL
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| SPRING GAME AND COMMITS |
We're going to get with some Red Black Spring Game links. I'd love to link to everything, but I'm just going to be short of time.
OFFICIAL SITE | Doege Paces Texas Tech In Annual Spring Game (Photos, official stats and video)
LAJ | Tech notes: Swindall switch clicking | Glasgow nurturing Tech’s defense through infancy and beyond | Doege strengthens bid to become Tech’s QB with strong spring game
DT | Passing, running games shine in spring game | Tech shows off new offensive formations | YouTube: Tech participates in annual Spring Game | Spring game not as important as it may appear
I think that's it, at least for the traditional media markets. I did see a review from the National Football Post's Dave Miller and ESPN's David Ubben. I don't know that these are any better than anything linked above, but they're there.
It was also apparent that it was a busy weekend for commits. There are a couple of things to note, the first being that from what I could tell, there were four 2012 commits and one 2011 commit. The second thing to mention is that Okafor committed back in January, which is why he wasn't mentioned. I just haven't had time to prepare any sort of write-up.
2012 COMMITS
WR Reginald Davis (6-1/185) | Rivals | Scout | ESPN
LB Erick Hallmon (6-1/190) | Rivals | Scout | ESPN
QB Clayton Nicholas (6-3/205) | Rivals | Scout | ESPN
OL Christian Okafor (6-6/300) | Rivals | Scout | ESPN
ATH Keenon Ward (5-9/176) | Rivals | Scout | ESPN
2011 COMMIT
DB Thierry Nguema (6-0/175) | Rivals | Scout | ESPN
LAJ's Don Williams has a bit about Nguema, who should be here this fall, and also talks with Okafor being a firm commitment (grain of salt) to Texas Tech and LAJ's Williams also has a bit on the four commits from this past weekend, including a bit on Abilene Cooper's Clayton Nicholas from his coach:
"It’s just the way it comes out of his hand — he’s got a great release," Spradlin said. "And he’s got all the intangibles. Boy, he’s savvy and smart. He only threw seven interceptions in 13 games, and four of those were late in the half, not late in games. He just has a great presence about him."
Snyder's Keenon Ward from his coach:
"He’s an outstanding athlete," Snyder coach Chad Rogers said. "He’s got great lateral movement and very, very good speed. He threw the ball well for us. He has a real quick release and a real strong arm. He makes great grades, too, so he’s an all-around (prospect)."
Tenaha's Reginald Davis from his coach:
"Probably on our level the biggest difference between him and most of the guys he plays against is his speed," Terry Ward said. "He has a knack for getting to the football and making big plays. He’s hard to tackle when he wants to be. I think his biggest asset in college will be his size, his ability to jump and catch the football and his ability to make plays after he catches it."
And Cardinal Gibbon's Erick Hallmon:
Hallmon said Tech coaches gave him the impression he’d play strong safety if he stays about the same size or he could move to linebacker if he gets much bigger. Cardinal Gibbons offensive coordinator Matt DuBuc, who played at Tech, described Hallmon as "a speed guy who comes off the edge pretty well."
There are also local stories on Nicholas and Hallmon.
TEXAS TECH BASKETBALL
COMMITS
Texas Tech's newest basketball coach, Billy Gillispie, was busy, adding some height to the team with two commitments, both are from Tyler JC:
2011 COMMIT
SF Jaron Nash (6-7/175) | Rivals | Scout | ESPN
C Kade Tapsoda (6-10/200) | Rivals
LAJ's Courtney Linehan has a bit on Nash and Tapsoda from their head coach, Mike Marquis:
"He’s a long, athletic guy who’s a more perimeter-oriented Quincy Acy type of player," said Marquis, comparing Nash to the former Baylor Bear. "He handles the ball well."
Snip.
Marquis said Tapsoba improved more in two years than any other athlete he’s worked with. But the sophomore center knows that at 200 pounds he’ll need to keep growing if he wants to remain a competitive shot blocker when he moves to Division I basketball.
LAJ's Linehan also has a bit about Gillispie not rushing into hiring his staff, and to remind everyone, Gillispie did hire former Red Raider, Bryant Moore.
TEXAS TECH BASEBALL
RED RAIDERS WIN 2ND SERIES
I've got very little time left, but wanted to mention that the Red Raiders won their second series to open the season. The official site, LAJ's George Williams and DT's Jose Rodriguez all have stories on the third game and series-clinching win.
Also, Jamodrick McGruder was named the Big 12's Player of the Week:
Jamodrick McGruder, Texas Tech, So., 2B, 5-7, 155, Mesquite, Texas (Lubbock Coronado)
McGruder hit .500 (7-for-14) with three extra-base hits, a .650 on-base percentage and a .786 slugging percentage. The sophomore finished the week reaching base safely in 9-of-11 plate appearances. In TTU's series victory against Nebraska, he went 5-for-9, going 3-for-4 in Saturday's contest with a triple, RBI and two walks. The Red Raiders have now won back-to-back series to open Big 12 play for the first time since 1999. He began the week going 2-for-5 with three RBI, a double and a run scored against Dallas Baptist while leading Tech to a come-from-behind win at Patriot Field. The Mesquite, Texas, native ranks fifth in the league with a .389 batting average and 35 hits.
Congrats to Jamodrick!