Wow.....

Continue reading this post »

How many of you guys are really excited about this "game" ?

Even though its Central Texas its the heart of my Red Raider country. Maybe its just I am Dallas and Id rather be on vacation, than host but you really cant beat the Hill Country (yes, I am assuming rain in 2012)

Its early enough it will still be warm, hopefully great weather.

We should all have some dove in the freezer by then,

and its a game we should be able to be confident.

Continue reading this post »

These quotes were taken at the After-games Press Conference (WBB: Tech v ATM). The presser is worth reading or watching.

It was the first Press Conference where I thought Curry was angry. None of the Lady Raiders were at the PC and Curry was short with the reporters. But she still found a way to stay positive. The Lady Raiders can still turn this around and get to the NCAA Tournament.

HC Kristy Curry

On getting defensive stops but not converting on offense

“We kept explaining we are three stops out, we are four stops out, we could get enough stops we just couldn’t come down and capitalize, whether it was an easy chip in or a drive and finish and we couldn’t get it to go in tonight and we just have to stay positive and continue to work on things and encourage them that they can make shots but it’s also important that they understand that starts in practice and game speed to continue to come in and at this point our backs are against the wall and we’ve got an opportunity with nine game s to go to do something about it and we control our own destiny.”

On how Kierra Mallard played

“I thought she played with a lot of energy, obviously she looked a little rusty on her finishes and she couldn’t get anything to go either, but I was pleased with her effort. I think the thing that perplexes me more than anything is how Shauntal Nobles just wasn’t with it like she was on Saturday and it’s not just talking about Shauntal and I don’t mean to be negative but I am perplexed, perplexed greatly at our level of inconsistency from so many spots, again it’s understanding that everyday in this league you have to bring great energy and great effort and find consistency and the only person that controls that is you individually which impacts our team as a whole.”

////////////////

I mentioned it a bit in the Gamethread the other night. I like Coach Blair. For one he is a fellow Red Raider and he is proud of that and proud of Texas Tech. I like how he talks. He is always positive and he always has kind and supportive words for the opposing team and players. In the quote below he also talks well of BCG and how hard and physical the Big 12 Basketball is (both men and women).

Texas A&M HC Gary Blair

On aggressiveness of game

If y’all want sitting pretty ball, you are in the wrong conference. The Big 12 is a very physical conference. That is how we play. You just hired the most physical coach in the Big 12. When he gets his players, that is how he plays, with Billie. I watched it first hand; I built my defense around a lot of what he does. By taking charges, diving on the floor for balls. So, physical is part of it. If you are going to get to the NCAA, nobody complains about Connecticut, Tennessee, or any of those teams playing physical. That is basketball, the next level is where you have to get physical. WE got into foul trouble in our post, but look at my five position. I am rotating two bigs in there. They had 19 points and 18 rebounds, and that was the difference. They were making some mistakes on Mallard, but Mallard was missing her shots. She hadn’t played, she hadn’t made a shot in about four games until today. So they did a pretty good job. The second half, I thought we ran some good stuff. I alternated when they went to man, I put Carter at the point, because she can get by. My freshman is a work in progress, she is going to be good. But she is a freshman, just like Monique was when she was a freshman here. Now Monique is one of the top three point guards in the league.

Below Coach Blaire talks about his time at Tech and the re-alignment and the future of playing the Aggies

On last trip to Lubbock and conference realignment

This doesn’t have to be the last time. If y’all want to play we will sign a contract now. It was a good trip. I went to lunch with Jim Duncan, my old intermural partner. He could guard and he could shoot lights out, and Rick Lynch. We had some good people, we drove around campus a little. We went over to Will Rogers all painted in red. It’s memories. Then I drove by the dorms. I used to be at Thompson Hall, and look what you have done. You have created another Ole Maine. That is a beautiful building. And you are re-doing the baseball field, just like we are re-doing ours. I went up to that club you’ve got above the football field. Y’all have got a lot to be proud of. I’ve got a lot to be proud of because I am a Red Raider. So I am going to be coming back, weather there is a ball game or not. I am going to come back. Hopefully, once all the dust settles. And it will settle. All the egos will be put aside, because we need to keep playing each other. Like I said in the paper today, do you want a non-conference game against Washington or UCLA? Or do you want one against us?

AJ_DavidDavid Just on Twitter. "Texas Tech RB Ronnie Daniels has been reinstated after being suspended for the final 10 games last year". I don't know if this means Daniels has resolved all of his "issues" or not. But with the lack of depth at running back, we need him on the depth chart. I guess we'll see this play out during spring training. Coupled with the announcement that Marquez would see some playing time at running back, it should be an interesting battle for the starting position. There are no guarantees that Eric is going to return completely "whole" after that injury, so we need Daniels back in body, mind and soul.

Graham Harrell Via Facebook posted he is starting up a QB school starting this summer. One will be in Dallas and the other one in Lubbock, cool pics on site though.

http://www.harrellpassing.com/

Space filler, if you havent seen this youtube video, its only been on the web for > 4 weeks and has over 43 million views...and yes its real..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9NF2edxy-M

blah blah blah blah

Seth, I'm sorry but that place is a joke. They call out people who criticize the current coach yet trash the former coach because he couldn't recruit. Well you know what the former coach only had 1 losing season in conference. The current one has a 2 year losing streak as well and 1 overall losing season.

That place doesn't want posters, they want sunshine pumpers who will praise Tuberville. I'm sorry, I can't do that. Not with the record he has produced so far. I don't know why I even bother reading that site. I guess I'm glutton for punishment.

From Inside Texas Tech

Disucssed Commercialization of Technology and encourage patents and copyrights for TTU and the goal is to make "cold hard cash" from ideas at Tech.

We have some start up companies from the ideas at Tech.

Some things being worked on now is: Cancer drugs, "fracking", wind technology. Other exciting stuff too.

Raised 184 million in 2011.

"My hope is that everyone gives to Texas Tech". Suggests students get a graduate degree too. "For homework, we'll work pirate maneuvers and stuff like that."

Saw this Phil Steele article via Ubben on ESPN, out of all 120+ FBS schools Tech ranks 2nd in returning starters. If this isn't Tubervilles best chance to do something in the Big 12 then its no question we should be looking for a new coach in 2013. I do think we will have a pretty nice season, hopefully at least 8 regular season wins. I think if he gets 8 wins he stays, although we should expect at least 9 with how the Big 12 is going to be this year, but expectations are a lot lower then they used to be. Barring injuries which have been a killer for us under Tuberville, I don't see why we cant compete for the Big 12 title this year. Also having UT/OU at home doesn't hurt

Returning starters for all FBS schools

Last off-season, we had some fun talking about the earliest developments of gridiron football in China.

It looked unclear if they would have success with the game or not.

This off season, I did not know what to expect when I looked again, because sometimes huge movements in China can disappear overnight, but this did not happen. Football in China appears to be growing at a healthy pace!

I am glad, because the life-lessons of the game have a lot to offer, and with such a large population, I think China will be better off with football, than without football. Right now, Chinese new year is on - the big holiday, and families are gathering. Maybe a few of them will relax and talk some football like we do over the holidays?

What I find most interesting is that it is still very early for them, so the football looks cleaner and more pure without some of the silliness we sometimes see. It must be like football was like here in earlier times. That's actually refreshing. They also look like they having fun with it and understand most of the meaning behind it also.

Last year it was interesting to point out that, in Chinese game-film, the Chinese were playing at a higher level of intensity and passion, and did not look uncomfortable with themselves compared to the new football starting to grow in England.

I made a quick check of game film available on YouTube and found that, this year, the Chinese appear to have held their ground and perhaps grown it, but it is worth recognizing that some of the British teams have made improvements, while others have not. The sport appears to have grown significantly there, also, but sometimes they look like high-school teams, and they do not appear to be as comfortable with the sport as the Chinese yet overall.

It appears that they have everything in place to be successful with this game, and good for them.

There are new videos to watch on YouTube, the Beijing guardians have a new website that looks fairly good.

Even the NFL, or a Chinese version of it- is there now.

http://www.nflchina.com/eng/

Footage from the founders bowl, that took place on Nov 27th of 2011 is below. Shanghai won against Beijing 35-7, and there were some amazing passes during the game, so don't miss those in the highlights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuqN2WpzJn4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQjq2I9dLVk

And here is a press release on the bowl game:

http://gamedaychina.com/founders-bowl-i

Beijing guardians website, with a video section where you can watch them struggle against Shanghai from a QB helmut-cam. It may look ungraceful to us, but this is a brand new sport to them, so they do well considering the circumstances. Seems that the teams have a handful of western players on each side, and I bet this will change as they get more experience:

http://www.beijingguardians.com/

I am not sure if I can find the official Shanghai team website.

I'm sure this isn't what you expected to read on DTN, but I didn't feel that I could reach enough people on Facebook to spread the good news. While I'll try and cover some football in this post, I can't promise I'll cover much. What transpired the last two hours is a somewhat a story of gluttony and passion. I love Whataburger Ketchup. Some would call it a borderline relationship based on insanity. I have a Whataburger Ketchup shirt with the recipe on it. I really love the stuff.

Big News after the jump...

Continue reading this post »