ODDS AND ENDS | So this NY Times interactive graphic on every medalist ever in the 100m dash is pretty cool. Fifty years ago, people were really slow, brah.
Well, as you all know I like photos and space. Here is 360 panorama high definition photo and here is the seven minutes of terror from when Curiosity hit the Mars atmosphere to landing:
Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror (via carlosreyes11)
This sorta hits close to home, but Larry McMurtry is having a huge book sale in Archer City and if I could go, I would.
TRACK AND FIELD | Congrats to Sally Kipyego for advancing in the 5,000m! And Micahe Mathieu advanced in the 200m, but then false starts out of the race.
VOLLEYBALL | Congrats to Miara Cave who was named to the Big 12 preseason volleyball team! Also, LAJ's Tommy Magelssen writes about the very young team, only two seniors, that head coach Don Flora returns and Texas Tech was picked next to last in the preseason poll.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | The basketball schedule was released and you can check it out at the official site and LAJ's Tommy Magelssen has some quotes from head coach Kristy Curry.
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Rush the Courtt is looking at all of the Big 12 teams this summer and they have their summary on Texas Tech:
Texas Tech basketball is on life support right now. Forget TCU — this is the program with the most dire situation in the new Big 12. Bob Knight and all his glory may not have ever reached an elite level in Lubbock, but his staff sustained a model program and overachieved to reach four NCAA Tournaments. With the help of his son, Pat, he recruited solid four-year players and built a winner at a place with little basketball support. He squeezed every bit of life out of prospects and developed stars like Jarrius Jackson and Martin Zeno. He even coached up the school’s all-time leading scorer in Andre Emmett near the beginning of his tenure. Eventually, though, Knight ran out of gas, and Pat was not up to the challenge. When Bob resigned, his recruiting had fallen off and the program had slipped, and Pat just never recovered. That left Billy Gillispie in this giant mess. It really could take years to get out of this one. That’s why Year One was a complete throwaway.
Pretty much this. There will be improvement this year. It might just be incremental, but it's going to get better this year. You can also read all of the summaries for all Big 12 teams.
FOOTBALL |
The coaches were apparently not happy with the energy yesterday. The effort was good, but the energy was not. LAJ's Don Williams and Nick Kosmider has a notebook and here's head coach Tommy Tuberville on the energy situation:
"Disappointed in the intensity," he said. "We got in a tempo the first couple of days, and then today we got in a routine, got to feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit, which is normal, but it ain’t normal for a team that got its butt whipped last year. If we’re going to win some games, we’re going to have to coach and practice like a team that’s going to win every game."
Also noted in said notebook is that Michael Starts has been moved to defensive tackle rather than defensive end, the coaches stating that he doesn't have the quickness to play outside, but is strong enough to play inside.
Defensive end coach Robert Prunty and defensive tackle Fred Tate spoke after practice and after the jump are non-transcripts:
DE coach Robert Prunty: Pete Robertson is more explosive off his legs, Joe Walker has done a great job. I knew he could rush the passer and I wanted to see how he would handle the run, but at 230 he can hold his own. He has great arm strength, Pete is ahead of schedule, especially against the run. Branden Jackson is getting better each day. He needs to use his hands better. He's getting through his block progressions. When you come from a JUCO you have to adjust, once you go through the program, it takes time to adjust. Once they are in the program, then guys are moving better and understand how to control their body at the Division I level. Michael Starts is powerful, in the inside drill, he's hard to move.
DL coach Fred Tate: First day of pads was okay, not as enthusiastic as first day. Get in the film room and see why there is a problem. Most consistent is Kerry Hyder, and Delvon Simmons, and Dennell Wesley, but consistent is Hyder. Leadership has to be out here every day, but if it comes from a teammate it means tha tyou are letting that player down. This is a passing league, need to have 4 or 5 guys that can com ein and out to keep them fresh. Starts is a big guy, but his body won't let him do that. He's very raw, keep working on fundamentals.
LAJ's Don Williams profiles S Austin Stewart, the guy that was hit by a bus. There's video there that is sorta funny and of all things, I thought that Stewart has an interesting accent. Here's Tuberville on Stewart:
"He’s worked a lot with the other safeties in the offseason and the summer," Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said. "He’s got all the ability in the world. He’s got the frame. He’s got the speed. He’s got the quickness, and when you draw up a prototype for a safety, that’s what you’re looking for."
Meet the two deep continues with WR Eric Ward: