New Campus Pictures. Make sure and check out Totally Texas Tech's new campus photos. Some terrific shots
Houston Board Chair to Pressure for Entry to Big 12. Via College Football Talk, the Houston board chair wants to bully and threaten the Big 12 in allowing Houston to be part of the Big 12:
In a meeting with the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle, Tilman Fertitta, chairman of UH's Board of Regents, suggested that the Texas state legislature should pressure and/or threaten the Big 12 into giving UH a spot in the conference. And by suggested I mean he just flat-out said it.
"Put pressure on the presidents; say, ‘If you don't do this, we're not going to fund you for this,'" Fertitta said of the state legislature's role in meeting his goal. "It's just the way it is. That's the way to do it. ...
"Be a big boy, step up and put this school that has almost 50,000 students and is so high-profile, has so many of the top schools in the United States, it's a tier one university - we belong in the Big 12. We're a big, major school with an unbelievable history in athletics and academia."
To be fair, the Houston President and Chancellor (this is just one person) is backing away from Fertitta's stance, but man, this is just a terrific. And yes, the history in athletics and academia is unbelievable, so don't even go there.
Pre-Spring Big 12 Special Teams Rankings. Well, this was the last position group ranked by the ESPN Big 12 Blog Bros and it was not good news for special teams coach Darrin Chiaverini:
9. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders ranked 114th in kick returns and 124th in punt returns last year. Cameron Batson and Jakeem Grant are capable as returners, but they didn't produce. The Red Raiders' coverage units, however, were steady, and didn't allow a TD all season. Someone will have to fill Kenny Williams' tackling prowess on special teams. Taylor Symmank had a solid year punting, though Tech will be breaking in a new place-kicker.
I didn't think the special teams was awful, but yeah, I do think there needs to be more yards in the return game and I think that will happen. They also have a roundtable to discuss the best overall and individual Big 12 position units that mentions DeAndre Washington.
Miscellaneous. I didn't get to read this (because way too busy) but here's SB Nation's Ian Boyd on the future of the dual-threat quarterback . . . also wanted to mention that Texas has recently offered 100 quarterbacks and that includes Texas Tech commit Tristan Wallace . . .