College Confidential

TCU PA Jeff Smith named NCAA announcer of the year

TCU public address announcer Jeff Smith was named the first NCAA recipient of the Bob Sheppard P.A. Announcer of the Year Award by the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers.
Smith, who does multiple TCU sports, including football, baseball and women's basketball, is also the announcer for the Texas Brahmas and Fort Worth Cats. Smith received the award last fall.
He has been announcing athletic events and graduations for 27 years. Smith has announced TCU athletic events the last eight years.
“I feel humbled to be recognized as the 2011-2012 Bob Sheppard P.A. Announcer of the Year by my peers,” Smith said.  “It really is a privilege to be a member of such a select group of public address announcers.”
The award is named after Sheppard, the legendary Yankee Stadium announcer who did P.A. for the Yankees for 57 years.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

Baylor guard Rose to transfer to another school #Baylor

Baylor guard L.J. Rose, a freshman guard on last year’s men’s basketball team that won the NIT championship, will transfer to another school, Bears coach Scott Drew announced today. Rose averaged 0.9 points and 1.2 assists per game in his lone season at Baylor. Rose did not announce a future destination. Rose’s departure leaves Baylor with six returning lettermen from last year’s 23-14 team, plus a five-member signing class.

_ Jimmy Burch

Kentucky, Kansas given best odds to win 2014 NCAA men's BKB title in Cowboys Stadium #kentucky, #kansas

With the recent addition of Andrew Wiggins, one of the nation’s top-ranked high school recruits, Kansas joins Kentucky among the early favorites to win the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball championship, based on odds released today by Bovada Sports Book (www.bovada.lv).

Based on today’s odds posted by the website, the primary teams to track as likely participants in the 2014 Final Four, to be held April 5-7, 2014 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, will be Kentucky (5/1 title odds), Kansas (11/2), Louisville (17/2) and Michigan State (12/1).

Louisville won last month’s 2013 title in Atlanta, defeating Michigan, 82-76, in the championship game.
Among Texas-based colleges, the teams with the best 2014 NCAA title odds are Baylor (50/1), Texas (100-1) and Texas A&M (200-1). Odds for other projected frontrunners in next year’s Big 12 race include Oklahoma State (50-1), Iowa State (100-1), Kansas State (100-1) and Oklahoma (200-1).

Below is a look at all teams that were giving individual odds to win the 2014 NCAA men’s basketball championship, which will be settled in Arlington:

2013-14 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Odds to Win    
Kentucky                              5/1
Kansas                                 11/2
Louisville                              17/2
Michigan State              12/1
Duke                            14/1
Arizona                                 15/1
North Carolina                    16/1
Florida                                  18/1
Ohio State                    20/1
Syracuse                              25/1
Connecticut                         33/1
Indiana                                  33/1
Memphis                              33/1
Michigan                              33/1
Colorado                              40/1
UCLA                            40/1
Baylor                           50/1
Creighton                      50/1
Georgetown                        50/1
Gonzaga                       50/1
Iowa                                       50/1
Marquette                            50/1
Missouri                               50/1
NC State                       50/1
New Mexico                        50/1
Oklahoma State            50/1
Pittsburgh                            50/1
St. Louis                              50/1
VCU                             50/1
Wisconsin                            50/1
Butler                                     66/1
Illinois                                    66/1
Minnesota                            66/1
St. John's                     66/1
Tennessee                           66/1
UNLV                            66/1
Villanova                       66/1
Virginia                                 66/1
Wichita State                 66/1
Florida State                 75/1
Notre Dame                  75/1
Alabama                               100/1
Arizona State                100/1
BYU                             100/1
California                             100/1
Cincinnati                             100/1
Iowa State                     100/1
Kansas State                100/1
Miami Florida                     100/1
Ole Miss                       100/1
Oregon                                 100/1
Purdue                          100/1
San Diego State            100/1
Stanford                       100/1
Texas                                    100/1
Vanderbilt                     100/1
West Virginia                      100/1
Arkansas                              150/1
Boise State                   150/1
Colorado State              150/1
Dayton                                  150/1
St. Mary's                     150/1
Temple                                  150/1
USC                             150/1
LSU                              150/1
Georgia                                200/1
Georgia Tech                200/1
Harvard                         200/1
Maryland                              200/1
Oklahoma                            200/1
Texas A&M                   200/1
Washington                         200/1
Washington State          200/1
Xavier                           200/1
Clemson                       250/1
Davidson                      250/1
South Carolina                   250/1
St. Joe's                       250/1
Virginia Tech                 250/1
Wake Forest                       250/1
Boston College                 500/1
Northwestern                 500/1
Mississippi State           500/1
 
Andrew Wiggins - Will he be selected #1 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft?   
Yes                   -300     (1/3)    
No                    +200     (2/1)
 
Andrew Wiggins - Average PPG in the 2013-14 NCAA Basketball Season?
Over/Under                   18
 
_ Jimmy Burch

May 31 deadline approaching for fans to apply for tickets to 2014 Final Four at Cowboys Stadium

May 31 is the deadline for fans to apply for tickets to the 2014 NCAA Final Four, to be held April 5-7, 2014 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Applications will be taken online at the link below:

http://www.ticketingcentral.com/V2/Home.aspx?I=sWjeOgAAAAAMfBqlAAAAAABE%2fv%2f%2f%2fwD%2f%2f%2f%2f%2fDU5DQUFfTUZGXzIwMTQA%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f8%3d

 

Each applicant may request up to four tickets and must apply in his/her name from his/her street address (no P.O. boxes). Completed applications must include a $20 non-refundable application fee for shipping/handling. The fee also includes a Final Four championship program.

Any applicant not selected for tickets will receive a refund, minus the $20 application fee. Duplicate orders will be cancelled without notification at the conclusion of the application period.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Texas Wesleyan sets college basketball showcase

Texas Wesleyan has scheduled a college basketball showcase at 1 p.m. June 30 inside the Sid Richardson Center. Area college and junior college coaches will be in attendance, the school said. Cost is $25. Call assistant coaches Tim Bellmon (256-651-8367) or Ricky Dotson (903-541-7936) for more information.

Baylor BKB guard Bello to transfer to another school

Baylor guard Deuce Bello, a key reserve for the Bears’ men’s basketball team the past two seasons, had decided to transfer another school, coach Scott Drew announced today. Bello, an athletic defender, averaged 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game during his two seasons at Baylor. Bello, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played in 66 games at Baylor and Drew said the Bears “wouldn’t have been able to make it to the Elite Eight in 2012 or win this year’s NIT championship” without Bello’s contributions off the bench.

Bello did not mention where he plans to transfer.

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor adds Freeman, former UCLA signee, to its men's BKB recruiting class #Baylor

Baylor added Al Freeman, a heralded 6-foot-4 guard who originally signed with UCLA in November, to its men’s basketball recruiting class today.

Freeman, who led Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev. to a 35-1 record last season, was granted a release from his letter of intent with UCLA after the Bruins changed coaches in March. He opted today to join a five-member Baylor class that is ranked No. 13 nationally by ESPN.com and No. 15 by 247Sports.com.

Baylor coach Scott Drew said Freeman, ranked as the nation’s No. 15 guard recruit by Scout.com, is “a very versatile player who can do a lot of things well” as both a scorer and defender. He joins Kenny Cherry, a point guard who excelled in the junior college ranks, as the primary backcourt members of the Bears’ signing class.

Baylor return three starters from last year’s 23-14 team that won the NIT Championship, including two All-Big 12 players in the frontcourt: forward Cory Jefferson and center Isaiah Austin, an Arlington Grace Prep graduate.

_ Jimmy Burch

Oklahoma State QB Wes Lunt to transfer

Oklahoma State sophomore quarterback Wes Lunt will transfer, coach Mike Gundy announced Thursday. Lunt started five games as a true freshman in 2012. Lunt said he did not have a transfer destination set.

Lunt was part of a three-man quarterback competition at Oklahoma State this past spring with fifth-year senior Clint Chelf and sophomore J.W. Walsh from Denton Guyer.

Barnes to chair NCAA men's basketball committee for 2014-15 season

Scott Barnes, vice-president and athletic director at Utah State, has been selected as chairman of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball committee for the 2014-15 season, officials announced Wednesday. Barnes will oversee selection of teams that compete in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

He will spend next year serving as vice-chairman to Ron Wellman, the Wake Forest athletic director who will be chairman of the committee for the 2013-14 season. Wellman will oversee selection of teams for the 2014 event, which will culminate with the 2014 Final Four at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Final Four games in Arlington will be played April 5-7, 2014.

Mike Bobinski, last year’s committee chairman, ends his term in September.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

TCU golfer Brun selected as one of three finalists for 2013 Ben Hogan Award #TCU, #Colonial

TCU golfer Julien Brun, a three-time winner of college tournaments this season, has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2013 Ben Hogan Award, given to the nation’s top college golfer.

Brun, a sophomore from Antibes, France who turned heads by winning a 2012 European Challenge Tour event while competing as an amateur, was joined on today’s list of finalists by California’s Michael Kim and Washington’s Chris Williams.

Brun, a semifinalist last year, is the first TCU golfer to be chosen as a Hogan Award finalist by members of the selection committee. He will join Kim and Williams, also semifinalists for last year’s Hogan Award, at the May 20 announcement of the winner in Fort Worth during tournament week activities at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

An All-American and first-team All-Big 12 selection, Brun has posted eight top-10 finishes in 11 college events in the past year, including a runner-up finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships. Selection committee members consider a golfer’s performances in college and amateur events over the past 12 months when voting for the winner.

Brun, who became the sixth amateur to defeat professionals in a European Challenge Tour event at the 2012 Allianz Open Toulouse, is on pace to set the TCU record for lowest season scoring average (70.45). He ranks fourth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and is third among college players in the Golfstat Cup.

But his fellow finalists also offer lofty credentials.

Kim, a sophomore, is the top-ranked college player in both the Golfstat Cup and the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. He has won four college events this season and was selected Tuesday as the Pac-12 Player of the year. In 12 college tournaments, Kim has yet to finish below 11^th in any event this season.

Williams, a senior, is the top-ranked player in both the World Amateur Golf Rankings and the Scratch Players World Rankings. He received the 2012 Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s top-ranked amateur and is slated to play in both the 2013 U.S. Open and 2013 British Open. But Williams is winless in 10 college events this season, although he has three runner-up finishes and seven top-10 placements.

Before Brun reached the finals in balloting for the 2013 Hogan Award, the best finish by a TCU golfer had been two semifinals appearances: Brun in 2012 and Adam Rubinson, a Fort Worth Paschal graduate, in 2003.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

CBS, TBS to split telecasts of 2014 Final Four at Cowboys Stadium, a first for TBS

Officials at CBS Sports and Turner Sports announced today that coverage of the 2014 Final Four in North Texas will include Saturday semifinals games on TBS, with the Monday championship game on CBS.

It will mark the first time for Final Four games to be carried on the cable network. CBS has been the exclusive provider for all Final Four telecasts since 1982.

The new broadcast schedule, part of the networks’ exclusive joint coverage agreement of the NCAA Tournament that runs through the 2024 season, also will be in effect for the 2015 Final Four.

In addition, network officials announced that coverage of regional semifinals and regional finals will be split by TBS and CBS during the remaining tournaments under the agreement (2014-2024). Earlier round games will continue to be divided between four national carriers: CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV.

Starting with the 2016 Final Four, CBS Sports and Turner Sports will alternate coverage of the Final Four games on an annual basis. TBS will televise all Final Four games in 2016, with CBS handling all telecasts at the 2017 Final Four.

In a statement issued Tuesday, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus called the future broadcast plans a “win-win arrangement that continues to help us extend the reach of this marquee property by combining the resources of our two organizations … From the beginning, our partnership with Turner Sports has exceeded every one of our expectations.”

David Levy, Turner Broadcast System’s president of sales, distribution and sports, said his network was “thrilled to have the opportunity to televise the Final Four” starting with next year’s event in Arlington. The 2014 Final Four will be played April 5-7, 2014 at Cowboys Stadium.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Former TCU coach why West Virginia surprises in baseball, Sooners coach says

From SoonerSports.com:

"No. 10 Oklahoma (33-12, 10-5 Big 12) faces West Virginia (27-19, 9-6) in a three-game weekend series at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, W. Va. The Sooners hold their first-place winning percentage over Baylor by a margin of 2 percent. The Mountaineers sit fourth, tied with Kansas State with the league's third best record, despite being picked to finish last in their debut season in the conference. ..."

West Virginia was picked by Big 12 coaches to finish last in the league, but Sooners coach Sunny Golloway says the Mountaineers have thrived and "are absolutely loose as a goose and that's how you like to play this game."

Last June, as the former Big East member began its realignment transition, the school snatched Randy Mazey, a six-year assistant from the other Big 12 newcomer, TCU, to lead the course.

Golloway: "They've got a coach who knows our league. A coach who has competed. A coach that went in with TCU and won a Super Regional in Austin. So he clearly had no fear and had his guys have no fear. So that's why they're sitting where they are right now."

More Golloway: "Randy Mazey ran the offense for TCU. You get people's approach, their offensive approach. High-energy guy. He's a guy who believes you've got to get in the box and swing at the first pitch. There is no take at any time. They believe you've got to hit the ball to score...if it's close, swing. It's worked really well."

Notre Dame's Kelly says NFL teammates "will respect" Te'o despite girlfriend hoax once they get to know him

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly predicted San Diego teammates “will respect” former Irish linebacker Manti Te’o, a second-round pick who duped in a fake girlfriend scandal that surfaced in January, once they get to know their new teammate.

Kelly, in Arlington today to tour Cowboys Stadium in preparation for the team’s Oct. 5 appearance at the venue against Arizona State, said he talked to the Heisman Trophy finalist after the linebacker fell out of the first round to offer support. But Te’o, Kelly said, remained upbeat to the point that “he cheered me up.”

Asked about Te’o dealing with the hoax as an NFL rookie, Kelly said: “It really didn’t impact him. All the wanted was the opportunity to get on a football team and put all of this behind him. Now, he knows, the first couple of weeks, he’s probably going to get ribbed about the situation that he went through. But he’s a man of strong character and that locker room will respect him once they see how he works on a day to day basis.”

_ Jimmy Burch

Kelly says former ND star Lewis-Moore, a Weatherford grad, making "good progress" from knee surgery

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said today that defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, a Weatherford High School graduate taken with a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens, has made “really good progress” in rehabilitating a torn ACL suffered Jan. 7 and has not ruled out the possibility of playing as an NFL rookie this season. More underwent surgery soon after the injury.

Kelly said Ravens officials have indicated they plan to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach with Moore when he gets to the team’s training camp in July rather than placing him immediately on the physically unable to perform list with an eye toward spending the 2013 season on injured reserve.

“The last two weeks going into the draft, I probably got more conversations (from NFL executives) on Kap than I did on Manti Te’o and Tyler Eifert,” Kelly said, referring to Notre Dame’s two highest picks in the 2013 draft. “He’s a very intriguing prospect. He played at 310 pounds in the national championship game and was playing very well … He’s seen as a high-value pick in the sixth round. I know coach (John) Harbaugh was excited to see him on the board at that point.”

Asked about the Ravens’ plans in regard to Lewis-Moore in 2013, Kelly said: “They’re not sure whether he’s a PUP (list) guy yet. They’re going to wait and see. He’s made really good progress.”

_ Jimmy Burch

Notre Dame's Kelly envisions future expansion of college FB playoff system

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly has more experience with national championship games than most of his peers.

He coached in last year’s BCS championship game and won two of his three consecutive appearances in Division II title games at Grand Valley State (2001-03). After a Thursday tour of the place that will host the first championship game played under the new College Football Playoff umbrella, Kelly said Cowboys Stadium offers “an incredible venue” to crown major-college football’s initial champion of the playoff era.

But he made it clear that the four-team playoff following the 2014 regular season is only the start to something bigger, in his estimation.

“I don’t know that four is where we’re going to finish this thing. I think it’s a great entry into where we want to go,” said Kelly, who toured the stadium in preparation for his team’s Oct. 5 matchup in Cowboys Stadium against Arizona State. “Moving forward, I think the focus … will be on whether it’s eight or 16 (teams) or whatever the number is.”

Although Kelly envisions and supports a larger playoff field in the future, administrators with the College Football Playoff have stressed that they will not expand the bracket beyond the four-team model during the 12 years of its inaugural cycle. The initial title game in that 12-year cycle will be played at Cowboys Stadium on Jan. 12, 2015.

Because the Arlington facility also is the site of the 2014 Final Four and will be the venue when the AT&T Cotton Bowl hosts semifinal games in the new playoff format, Kelly said “all eyes are on this geographic area and, in particular, this venue.” To him, that makes the decision for Notre Dame to move one of its 2013 home games to Cowboys Stadium as part of its “Shamrock Series” a case of excellent timing. And a recruiting coup.

“There’s no question that when you talk about playing in Cowboys Stadium, that gets every recruit’s attention. They know that venue and they want to play here,” said Kelly, whose roster includes three Texans expected to contribute this season: RB/KR Cam McDaniel (Coppell), WR Torii Hunter, Jr. (Prosper) and CB Jalen Brown (Irving MacArthur).

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas Tech evacuates athletic department offices after winds damage light tower at football stadium

Strong winds have damaged part of a light tower at Texas Tech's football stadium and forced evacuation of some nearby buildings as a precaution.

School officials in Lubbock on Thursday afternoon announced the southeast light tower of Jones AT&T Stadium has suffered unspecified wind damage. Work crews were examining the site. No injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service reported gusts topping 40 mph and a wind advisory Thursday afternoon on a blustery spring day in Lubbock.

The area surrounding the south and southeast ends of the stadium, which seats more than 60,000, was vacated. The structures include the south end zone office building, the football training facility and the athletic training center.

Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution.

-- The Associated Press

Strong winds have damaged part of a light tower at Texas Tech's football stadium and forced evacuation of some nearby buildings as a precaution.

School officials in Lubbock on Thursday afternoon announced the southeast light tower of Jones AT&T Stadium has suffered unspecified wind damage. Work crews were examining the site. No injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service reported gusts topping 40 mph and a wind advisory Thursday afternoon on a blustery spring day in Lubbock.

The area surrounding the south and southeast ends of the stadium, which seats more than 60,000, was vacated. The structures include the south end zone office building, the football training facility and the athletic training center.

Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution.

Texas adds fourth guard to its men's BKB signing class #Longhorns

Texas has added Martez Walker, a left-handed guard from Detroit, Mich, to its men’s basketball signing class, coach Rich Barnes announced today. Walker, who averaged 20.4 points per game last season for Pershing High School, is the fourth guard in a four-player class that Barnes described as being the culmination of a “concerted effort to improve our skill and athleticism on the perimeter.”

Texas’ top two scorers from last year’s 16-18 team, guards Myck Kabongo and Sheldon McClellan, will not return next season. Kabongo opted for early entry in the NBA draft and McClellan has announced plans to transfer to another school.

Other guards among Texas’ signees include Demarcus Croaker, Isaiah Taylor (Houston) and Kendal Yancy.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Dallas could host multi-game kickoff to college BKB season at AAC in November

Discussions are ongoing to start the 2013-14 college basketball season with a multi-game event at American Airlines Center in Dallas featuring some of the nation’s top teams, ESPN.com reported today.

The one-day event, which could feature up to four games on a yet-to-be-determined date in November, would be run by bd Global. In the ESPN.com report, bd Global president Brooks Downing told the website: “We’re still tying up some loose ends but hopefully we’ll be able to announce something soon.”

Downing declined to name potential teams but said the idea is to use the event as a tip-off to the college season and “generate a lot of excitement and hype about college basketball in the city that’s hosting the Final Four.”

The 2014 Final Four will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

_ Jimmy Burch

Former TCU WR Josh Boyce nearly a Dolphin; discusses favorite memories as a Frog

Former TCU receiver Josh Boyce was thinking he was headed to Miami for about two minutes. 
Just before the New England Patriots picked him with the fifth pick of the fourth round during Saturday's NFL draft, the Dolphins called Boyce to tell him they were taking him with the seventh pick. But the Patriots called Boyce before their AFC East rival got the chance. So Boyce went from sunny Florida to frigid Foxborough in a matter of moments. 

“As soon as I got off the phone the Patriots called me,” said Boyce, who’ll join former TCU teammate Stansly Maponga today for a media appearance on TCU's campus. 
Maponga was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round.
A recent foot injury may have pushed Boyce down a round, but he’s not complaining.

“You never know,” he said. “I’m just glad God gave me the opportunity to get drafted. I can go forward from there.”
He was watching the draft with family at home in Copperas Cove, the same place he played high school football with Robert Griffin III, who is now the Redskins quarterback.
He’s excited about adding New England’s Tom Brady to the list of elite quarterbacks he’s played with. As a redshirt freshman in 2010, Boyce became one of senior Andy Dalton’s favorite targets at TCU. Dalton is now the quarterback at Cincinnati.
“It’s great,” Boyce said the day he was drafted. “All three of them are great guys, great quarterbacks. I’ve been blessed to play with great quarterbacks my whole career.”
As for playing in cold weather?  Please. Two of Boyce’s greatest games came in cold weather. In 2011, Boyce had 163 yards and three touchdowns in TCU’s heart-stopping win at Boise State in 40-degree weather. And last fall he came up huge late at West Virginia in 30-degree weather (it felt much colder to me on the sidelines during the fourth quarter). Boyce burst on the scene nationally when he led TCU with 126 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-7 rout at Utah in 2010. It wasn't that cold that day in Salt Lake City, but as hot as Boyce was it wouldn't have mattered.

“I’m pretty comfortable in cold weather,” he said.

Boyce’s choice

But speaking of those great Boyce moments … what does he consider his favorite TCU memory?  He leaves TCU owning many all-time Horned Frog receiving records. More vividly for TCU fans, he was smack dab in the middle of some of the most exciting TCU moments of the last 10 years.

Was it the 94-yard touchdown catch from Trevone Boykin to force overtime at West Virginia in 2012? 

Or was it his ultimate clutch catch on a two-point conversion pass from Casey Pachall at Boise State in 2011?
“I’ve got a lot of good memories,” Boyce said, first mentioning the Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. “It’s probably the two-point conversion against Boise, or the long one against Utah my freshman year. Those are two very good memories.”

It's hard to choose, but I'd probably go with the West Virginia game for Boyce. That thing was over. The season looked cooked. Less than two minutes remaining and TCU was 94 yards from the endzone. And he breaks loose for a 94-yard touchdown? How did that happen? That's a special moment for a special player. And to top it off, he came up with a very tough catch on a low pass from Boykin to clinch the win in double overtime.
It was a jaw-dropping series of events in Morgantown. But three years ago in Utah, Boyce helped start an embarrassing 47-7 blowout of Utah by scoring on two touchdown passes from Andy Dalton in the first quarter. The second was a 93-yard beauty that had 50,000 Utes fans gasping in horror.
Here's one of the cooler photos from that game. Boyce is celebrating his 26-yard touchdown with former teammate Jeremy Kerley, who's now a receiver for the New York Jets. See how this all came back to the draft?


Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

TCU signee Texada earns trip to state in 100-meter dash

TCU football signee Ranthony Texada posted Saturday's fastest time in the Class 4A Region II 100-meter dash final, earning him his first bid to the track and field state championships.
Texada, a defensive back in football, broke a first-place tie with Mount Pleasant's K.D. Cannon after Friday's preliminaries, taking sole possession of first place in the finals with a time of 10.65. Cannon finished second at 10.74.
The Class 4A state running events will be held at 6 p.m. Friday May 10 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

-- Travis L. Brown
@Travis_L_Brown

SEC enjoys record-setting performance in 2013 NFL Draft

Not only did the SEC set a record in the 2013 NFL Draft with the most picks from any conference (63), but the league’s varying divisions scored as high or higher than any other league during the three-day session. The breakdown of players selected from the SEC division, as well as other FBS leagues: SEC East (32), SEC West (31), ACC (31), Pac-12 (28), Big 12 (22) and Big Ten (22).

The previous mark for most picks from a single conference in one draft was 55, set by the Pac-10 in 1983.

_ Jimmy Burch

Four Texas Tech players land FA deals in flurry of NFL signings; OSU's Taylor, Sharp find homes, too #RedRaiders

Although the Texas Tech football program was shut out during draft weekend for a second consecutive year, four Red Raiders agreed to terms on free-agent deals Saturday.

The list included free safety Cody Davis, a Stephenville High School graduate who signed with St. Louis. Other signees include quarterback Seth Doege (Atlanta), offensive lineman Deveric Gallington (Oakland) and offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle (Detroit).

Two former Oklahoma State players from Tarrant County high schools also landed free-agent deals: offensive guard Lane Taylor, an Arlington Martin graduate, signed with Green Bay and kicker/punter Quinn Sharp, a three-time All-American from Mansfield Summit, agreed to terms with Cincinnati.

Other players from area colleges who announced free-agent deals include Baylor receiver Lanear Sampson (Indianapolis), Texas A&M defensive back Steven Terrell (Jacksonville), Texas A&M defensive back Dustin Harris (Dallas), Texas A&M receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu (Houston), Stephen F. Austin/former Baylor defensive end Willie Jefferson (Houston), Oklahoma State linebacker Alex Elkins (Detroit).

_ Jimmy Burch

Oklahoma QB Landry Jones drafted by Steelers 115th overall

In a fourth-round run of quarterbacks Saturday in the NFL Draft, Oklahoma's Landry Jones was taken 115th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Draft analyst and former Dallas Cowboys personnel guru Gil Brandt noted on Twitter: "Husband and wife drafted in same month. Landry Jones to Steelers in #NFLDraft and Whitney Hand to WNBA's San Antonio Silver Stars"

Jones, who was named after Cowboys coaching legend Tom Landry, was married last summer to Hand, from Fort Worth and the daughter of former Texas Rangers pitcher Rich Hand. Whitney lost most of her senior basketball season at Oklahoma after a severe knee injury.

Trent Dilfer on ESPN says Landry Jones is a "high-ceiling guy" and defends Jones by sharply criticizing the Oklahoma play-calling and receivers as "brutal" and the offense as "a joke" in 2012. Dilfer says he looks at 2011 when evaluating Jones: "I like him."

And Dilfer on the Sooners in 2012: "Their whole offense is built around getting a lot of flashy numbers and not scoring points."

The Sooners, of course, took Jones off the field in favor of "The Belldozer" package with running QB Blake Bell in goal-line situations and short third downs.

Jones lost a notable shootout game to Robert Griffin III and Baylor in 2011 but won a stunning 50-49  shootout game with Geno Smith and West Virginia in 2012.

He did not look good in this year's Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M, which shut down the Sooners offense. And he didn't  perform well in the Senior Bowl.

-- Vince Langford

 

TCU's Josh Boyce drafted by Patriots, Texas' Alex Okafor by Cardinals early in fourth round

TCU wide receiver Josh Boyce was drafted by the New England Patriots as the fifth pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, the 102nd selection overall.

Texas defensive end Alex Okafor went next, No. 103 overall to the Arizona Cardinals.

Boyce, who bypassed his senior year with the Horned Frogs to enter the draft, goes to a Patriots team that lost 100-catch receiver Wes Welker in free agency to Denver while signing onetime Dallas Cowboys receiver Danny Amendola away from the St. Louis Rams.

Boyce, from Copperas Cove, Texas, drew praise from the ESPN analysts, who noted Boyce's continued success despite TCU's abrupt change in quarterbacks in 2012 and his ability to win a lot of "50-50" balls despite being 5-foot-11.

Boyce had an eye-opening Scouting Combine with a 4.34 time in the 40 and showing surprising strength.

On NFL.com, analyst Mike Mayock says Boyce would have gone higher "if it wasn't for a foot injury this year."

Okafor's prospects were hurt by having to play inside to plug holes on the Longhorns' defensive line, but had a big Alamo Bowl with 4 1/2 sacks against Oregon State.

TCU signee Ranthony Texada is Region II's fastest man Friday

ARLINGTON -- TCU 2013 signee Ranthony Texada posted the fastest time in the preliminary 100-meter dash Friday for Frisco Centennial in the Class 4A Region II track meet at UT Arlington.
Texada, a defensive back in football, tied with a 2014 TCU target, wide receiver KD Cannon, from Mount Pleasant. Both posted times of 10.63 in different heats.
Texada has used the track season over the past two years to help increase his already great speed and running ability and now has the focus of four years with the Horned Frog football team on the horizon.
"I get [to TCU] June 9 and that's when I start the workouts," Texada said. "That's everything I'm working for right now."
As for now, Texada said he's determined to finish with one of the top two times Saturday, earning him his first trip to the state meet.
Also participating in the 4A Region II meet was 2014 TCU commit Emanuel Porter (Dallas Lincoln), whose relay team qualified for Saturday's 4x100 relay. Porter participated in Friday's 400 dash, but finished last when he tweaked a hamstring on the final straightaway. He said he should be fine to run by Saturday afternoon.

-- Travis L. Brown
@Travis_L_Brown 

UNT coach McCarney back after surgery last week

North Texas head football coach Dan McCarney returned to the office on Friday, seven days after undergoing a surgical procedure at a local hospital, the school announced Friday. Doctors recommended the surgery after a routine office visit.  

“The medical staff was outstanding,” McCarney said in a written statement. “I put my future in their hands and everything went great. I have already begun the road to recovery and am excited to be back in the office working toward making the Mean Green football program better.”

 

Oklahoma State, Boise State to play two-game series

Oklahoma State and Boise State have agreed to play a home-and-home football series, the universities announced Friday morning. They will play Sept. 15, 2018, in Stillwater and Sept. 18, 2021, in Boise, Idaho. 

Saints praise "high football IQ" of former Texas safety Vaccaro, their first-round pick #Longhorns, #NFLDraft

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said team officials were most impressed with the football IQ of Kenny Vaccaro, the former Texas safety the team selected with the 15^th overall pick in Thursday night’s opening session of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Vaccaro, a big hitter known for his versatility during this college career, had success a blitzer, a run stopper and a cover man at Texas.

“He’s got very good football intelligence,” Payton said. “Part of  being a pressure guy from the back end is anticipation, snap count and disguise. I think he’s an instinctive player, and you see that on tape. He’s got a high football IQ. I think that’s important ... He’s had a lot of snaps down over the slot and a lot of snaps where they were in the base package as opposed to the nickel package. He’s got that toughness and suddenness that you’d like at that position.”

Vaccaro becomes the 12^th defensive back from Texas on an active NFL roster, most of any school, and is the first Longhorn to be taken in the first round since 2010, when Seattle selected safety Earl Thomas.

Ironically, Vaccaro said he’s already talked to Thomas about adjusting to the NFL and plans to follow his advice.

“Earl Thomas told me to come in, have a chip on my shoulder and put an impact on this league,” Vaccaro said. “(Thomas said), ‘Don’t just sit around and wait for someone else to take your job.’ I am excited ... This is just the beginning. I am ready to do whatever the Saints want me to do.”

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Coaches support Cowboys Stadium as inaugural playoff venue, although official approval still has yet to surface

Although no official announcement has been made on the status of Cowboys Stadium as the site for college football’s first national championship game of the playoff era, the venue already is drawing favorable responses from coaches whose teams have played in the facility. The stadium is expected to be selected as site of the Jan. 12, 2015 contest today in Pasadena, Calif., where conference commissioners are scheduled to take the formal vote this afternoon, followed by an announcement of the venue chosen between the two finalists: Cowboys Stadium and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

During today’s conference call with SEC coaches, Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said the Arlington facility would be an appropriate place to being college football’s playoff era following the 2014 regular season.

“Without a doubt, they can handle it,” said Sumlin, whose team defeated Oklahoma 41-13 on Jan. 4 at the 2013 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, played annually at Cowboys Stadium. “The combination of the hospitality … and one of the best venues in the country, Cowboys Stadium is just a fabulous place to play in.”

Baylor coach Art Briles has taken his team to Arlington multiple times for neutral-site contests against Texas Tech. He said the flexible seating configurations inside the dome stadium should be a huge asset for college football administrators seeking to make a positive statement with the first game under the umbrella of the new College Football Playoff, which officially replaced the BCS on Tuesday.

“I don’t know how they’ll configure the seats, but they can hold up to … 100,000 people in there and you’ll never have bad weather,” Briles said. “I’m all for it. I’m all for a national playoff and all for it being in (Cowboys Stadium), because it’s a great stadium.”

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Report: College FB title game headed to Arlington but local officials have yet to hear that

ESPN is reporting that Cowboys Stadium has enough votes among administrators who will make today’s decision to be announced this afternoon as site of the inaugural college football championship game of the playoff era.

The network, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, said the decision between Cowboys Stadium _long considered the prohibitive favorite in the bidding process _ and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. “was closer than a lot of people thought it would be” but the game will be headed to Arlington on Jan. 12, 2015.

In addition, ESPN also reported that the AT&T Cotton Bowl will be announced as one of six bowls that will be part of the semifinal rotation during the playoff era. The network also cited an unnamed source for that information.

The Associated Press also reported the same information shorly before noon Wednesdsay (Central time), citing a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decisive vote had yet to be taken. Conference commissioners were scheduled for a formal vote on the title game Wednesday afternoon, with a formal announcement slated after that.

But officials from Arlington at the meeting in Pasadena, Calif. said Wednesday they are unaware of any updates and expect to learn of their status when today’s vote is concluded and announcements are made in regard to the site of the title game and the Cotton Bowl’s status in the playoff mix.

Since January, multiple industry sources have cited Cowboys Stadium as a prohibitive favorite to land the championship game and the Cotton Bowl as a prohibitive favorite to become a regular part of the playoff rotation.

During a Monday news conference at Valley Ranch, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said: “I’m anxiously awaiting that decision Wednesday. Excited to have the opportunity … We think we have the facility, with our partnership with the Cotton Bowl, we just think we’ve got the tools to make it the best place to have that game.”

In January, an industry sourced told the Star-Telegram that the likelihood of the 2015 championship game coming to Arlington was 95 percent. Arlington’s status as an overwhelming favorite in the bidding process has been reinforced in multiple interviews in the past week but all individuals consulted stressed nothing was a done deal.

Throughout the process, Cotton Bowl officials have expressed optimism about their opportunity and made it clear they will be a regular bidder for championship games, which will be bid out on an annual basis during the era of the College Football Playoff, which officially replaced the BCS brand during Tuesday’s meeting in Pasadena.

Tommy Bain, chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, has described the group as “cautiously optimistic” about its opportunity to land the 2015 contest.

In January, Bain said: “Our goal is to host the first one. We’re totally optimistic about hosting national championships, and we’re cautiously optimistic about hosting the first one.”

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Patterson's love of music plays into practice, but there's radio silence if things aren't going well

TCU coach Gary Patterson is a known music fan. And Horned Frog fans know the guitar-strumming coach has often played music at practices during his 12-year tenure.
San Antonio Express-News reporter Tim Griffin was surveying Big 12 coaches' use of music during Tuesday’s teleconference and asked Patterson about it.

"We’ve been doing it for years, especially early, before practice, when the kids come out to get them energized and ready to go,” Patterson said. “We do it quite a bit for crowd noise. People have to communicate with their hands. It plays a big part. Late in practice we keep it in the background to kind of kill the monotony but it’s not loud enough that you can’t do your teamwork and do all the things you need to do.”
Patterson credits music with keeping spirits high during the grind of August camp or in the middle of the season. But if the practice isn’t going well, he’ll turn it off. Imagine the sound of a needle being ripped off a vinyl record.  (What’s a vinyl record? Here's a picture for you kids.) 

That’s the effect music being stopped can have during a practice if he doesn’t like what he’s seeing. It's happened a couple times the last four years.

“If we’re not getting done what we need to get done then we just don’t have any,” he said. “It’s kind of a reward. I think you have to find ways to get through a grind of a season. For us, through the years, it has helped us with success, I think.”

Before practice, as players makes their way to the field to stretch, the playlist is more current with songs his players are probably more familiar with. During practice, it’s Patterson’s picks, with classic rock staples such as Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down, Guns N' Roses' Welcome to the Jungle and Trooper’s Raise a Little Hell.

“If I play anything during practice I play my music, so at least I’m happy,” he said.

Do they ever complain about your choices, Griffin asked?

“Oh, yeah. But that’s part of life,” Patterson said. “But you’d be really surprised. There are a lot of kids that like country and like the old rock and roll. I try to keep both sides happy.” 

Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

Shipley joins Texas football staff in player personnel department #Longhorns

Bob Shipley, the head football coach and athletics director at Brownwood High School for the past four years, has been named as Texas’ football analyst in the player personnel department, Longhorns’ coach Mack Brown announced today.

Shipley, father of current Texas receiver Jaxon Shipley, will assist with the coordination and implementation of the daily operations, administrative and logistical processes within the football program in the newly created position. Shipley also will assist with high school relations by updating recruiting lists, monitoring contacts and securing transcripts of prospects.

Shipley’s previous high school coaching stops have included stints at Coppell, Burnet and Rotan. During his stint at Burnet, he coached his son, Jordan, a Longhorns’ All-America receiver in 2009. Shipley will report to Patrick Suddes, a former Alabama assistant and Texas’ newly named director of player personnel.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Georgia assistant Kwanza Johnson in line for TCU men's basketball job

Kwanza Johnson is set to be named an assistant for TCU men’s basketball, according two sources inside the athletic department.
Johnson has been an assistant at Georgia the last three seasons, working under TCU coach Trent Johnson’s former assistant Mark Fox. Before that he coached at Nevada from 2006 to 2009. He grew up in Oklahoma City and attended Rose State College in Midwest City, Okla. before transferring to and graduating from Tulsa. His first job was an administrative assistant at Tulsa from 1997-99 for coach Bill Self, who’s now at Kansas.
Trent Johnson declined to comment, but Kwanza Johnson is currently being vetted by TCU before the announcement is made, according to sources.
Kwanza Johnson replaces Pooh Williamson, who took an assistant job at Texas Tech. Williamson coached under Trent Johnson for one season at TCU. He played for new Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith at Tulsa in the mid-1990s.
-- Stefan Stevenson

TCU golfer Brun, Texas freshman Stone selected as 2013 Hogan Award semifinalists #TCU, #Longhorns

TCU golfer Julien Brun is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2013 Ben Hogan Award, given annually to the nation’s top college golfer.

Brun, a sophomore from Antibes, France who won a European Challenge Tour event as an amateur last fall, made the list of semifinalists for a second consecutive season. He was joined Thursday by Texas freshman Brandon Stone as well as Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers, one of three finalists in 2012.

The three finalists for the Hogan Award will take part in a live announcement of the winner May 20 in Fort Worth. The announcement is part of tournament week activities at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Three of Thursday’s other semifinalists made the list for a second consecutive year: Washington’s Cheng-Tsung Pan, Alabama’s Justin Thomas and Washington’s Chris Williams. Other semifinalists include North Carolina State’s Albin Choi, North Florida’s Sean Dale, California’s Michael Kim and Alabama’s Bobby Wyatt.

The list of candidates will be trimmed to three finalists on May 8, with those golfers honored during the live announcement of the winner in Fort Worth. No TCU golfer has advanced past the semifinals stage in Hogan Award voting.

 But Brun, the No. 6 player in the Scratch Players World Amateur golf rankings, joins Williams (No. 1), Wyatt (No. 4) and Thomas (No. 5) among the highest-ranked Hogan semifinalists on the elite list.

 Thursday’s list of semifinalists includes the top four players, as well as eight of the top 10, in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin individual rankings for college golfers. Brun is fourth on that list, which is topped by Kim, Dale and Stone.

Members of the Hogan Award selection committee consider a player’s record in both college and amateur events over the past year.

 

 

Texas signs three guards for men's BKB program, including Florida standout #Longhorns

Texas signed three guards to basketball scholarships Thursday, with two of them ranked among the nation’s top 107 prospects by Rivals.com. The list includes shooting guard Demarcus Croaker (No. 105), combo guard Kendall Yancy (No. 107) and point guard Isaiah Taylor.

Croaker, from Orlando, Fla., is a two-time Florida all-state selection who averaged 23.9 points per game as a senior. Yancy, who played at Richardson Berkner, took his team to the Class 5A state semifinals as a senior while averaging 12.2 points, 7.8 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. Taylor played last season at The Village School in Houston, where he averaged 17.6 points and 10.0 assists per game.

Texas lost its top two scorers from last year’s 16-18 team when point guard Myck Kabongo opted to enter the NBA draft and shooting guard Sheldon McClellan announced plans to transfer to another school.

_ Jimmy Burch

Armed Forces Bowl sets Dec. 30 date for this year's game in FW

Officials at the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl have announced a Dec. 30 date for this year’s contest in Fort Worth. Kickoff for the game, which will be an ESPN national telecast, will be at 10:45 a.m. at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium.

Bowl officials have an agreement with the U.S. Naval Academy to serve as one of the competing teams as long as Navy qualifies by winning at least six games. It would mark the first appearance by the Midshipmen in the bowl’s 11-year history. Navy’s opponent would be a team from the Mountain West Conference.

Brant Ringler, the bowl’s executive director, said the Monday morning start during a holiday weekend should entice fans to have a more extended stay in Fort Worth for bowl festivities. Last year’s game, played on Saturday, drew 40,754 fans and garnered the largest TV audience in the game’s history: 2,584,000 households. Rice defeated Air Force, 33-14, in the 2012 contest.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

TCU signs shooter Hudson Price, fourth player to 2013 class

Hudson Price, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from The First Academy in Orlando, Fla., became the fourth recruit to sign with TCU Wednesday. Price, son of former NBA All-Star Mark Price, averaged 18.7 points and 7.8 rebounds his senior season. He shot 54.7 percent from the field, including 45.2 percent from the 3-point arc.
“He’s very skilled,” TCU coach Trent Johnson said. “There’s not much he hasn’t seen in the world of basketball when you look at the caliber of player his dad was.”
Price joins center Karviar Shepherd (Dallas Prime Prep) and guards Brandon Parrish (Arlington Seguin) and Michael Williams (San Antonio Reagan) in the 2013 recruiting class. Johnson said additional players could be signed before May 15, the deadline for the spring signing period.
“These guys all compliment each other,” Johnson said. “I just think he’s going to be a really good college player. Hudson knows how hard players work to be good.”

— Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

TCU men's hoops assistant set to join former coach at Texas Tech

TCU assistant men's basketball coach Pooh Williamson is taking an assistant job at Texas Tech, sources said. Williamson coached under Trent Johnson for one season at TCU. Williamson played for new Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith at Tulsa in the mid-1990s. Smith was named the Red Raiders coach April 2. He's Tech's fourth coach in four years.
Johnson said a replacement for Williamson will be named soon.
-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

TCU men's tennis meets Texas in Big 12 showdown at 1 p.m. Saturday

Thirty-fifth-ranked TCU (16-6, 1-1 in the Big 12) hosts No. 23 Texas (13-6, 1-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. Texas coach Michael Center coached at TCU from 1999-2000. TCU coach David Roditi was formerly an assistant for Center at Texas. Former TCU tennis players will be on hand for a tailgate party, including free pizza, tacos and live music beginning at 11:30 a.m.

— Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

TCU's post-spring depth chart shows no significant changes

There were very few significant changes to TCU's post-spring depth chart. Much more will be decided during August camp, which begins July 31.
The biggest change was on the offensive line. Aviante Collins, who started at right tackle as a freshman for the first 11 games before moving to left tackle in 2012, has been moved to left tackle. Tayo Fabuluje has moved to right tackle.
Sophomore right guard Jamelle Naff, who started the spring third on the depth chart, has been moved to the top spot ahead of Michael Thompson and John Wooldridge.
There were no significant changes at quarterback, running back or wide receiver. Trevone Boykin and Casey Pachall are still listed as potential starters. Defensive end James McFarland who received praise from coach Gary Patterson several times during spring camp, was moved to second on the depth chart behind Jon Koontz at left defensive end. Matt Anderson, who has struggled with injuries, is listed behind Devonte Fields at right end.
Here's the complete post-spring depth chart: 

Download 2013 TCU Post-Spring Depth Chart

 

Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

Texas A&M spring FB game to be ESPN national telecast Saturday that also includes softball game #TAMU

Texas A&M’s spring football game will be the centerpiece of Saturday’s afternoon of Aggie telecasts on ESPN.

The Maroon-White game (2 p.m., Kyle Field) will be aired nationally, with 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and the rest of the returnees from last year’s 11-2 team that defeated Oklahoma 41-13 in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic expected to participate. The spring game will last two hours and will be followed by a live telecast of the A&M-LSU women’s softball game in College Station (4 p.m.-6 p.m.).

Admission to the A&M spring game is $5 for general admission tickets and free for students college age and under.

The Aggies, who finished No. 5 in the postseason polls after the 2012 season, return a strong nucleus of key contributors on both sides of the ball and are considered a contender for the 2013 national championship. In addition to Manziel at quarterback and All-America offensive tackle Jake Matthews, who will move from right to left tackle next season, the Aggies return five defensive starters. Included are linebacker Steven Jenkins (78 tackles last season) and defensive back Toney Hurd, Jr. (67 tackles).

Manziel, the first freshman Heisman winner in the award’s history, acknowledged that the Aggies are embracing loftier expectations as they heading into a 2013 season marked by eight home games, including a Sept. 14 showdown in College Station against Alabama, the defending national champion.

“I don’t think you avoid it. Those are your goals and what you want to do,” Manziel said when asked about national title hopes for the 2013 Aggies. “The guys in the locker room all want to win a national championship … Our goal is not to lose a game and to win every time we’re on the field.”

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Texas PG Kabongo to enter NBA Draft, meaning team's top two scorers will not return next season #Longhorns

Texas point guard Myck Kabongo will enter the 2013 NBA Draft, bypassing his final two seasons of college eligibility, school officials announced Friday.

Kabongo played in 11 games as a sophomore last season, leading the team in scoring (14.6 avg.) and assists (5.5 avg.) after serving a 23-game NCAA suspension to start the season. He was selected Thursday as the team’s most valuable player and team captain at the Longhorns’ postseason awards banquet.

Kabongo’s departure, along with the announced transfer of guard Sheldon McClellan (13.5 avg.), means that the Longhorns’ top two scorers from a 16-18 team will not return next season. Texas’ top returning scorers for next season will be guard Julien Lewis (11.2), forward Ioannis Papapetrou (8.3) and guard Javan Felix (6.8).

In 45 starts during his college career, Kabongo averaged 10.8 points and 5.3 assists in 32.2 minutes per contest.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Texas A&M OT Joeckel, Texas S Vaccaro to attend NFL Draft in NYC #TAMU, #Longhorns

Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, an Arlington High School graduate and the 2012 Outland Trophy winner, is one of 23 prospects that will attend the opening night of the NFL Draft, April 25 in New York City. Joeckel, considered a possible first overall selection by the Kansas City Chiefs, will be joined in New York by Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro and Aggies’ coach Kevin Sumlin.

If taken with the first pick, Joeckel would be the first A&M player selected No. 1 overall in an NFL draft. Four A&M players have been drafted No. 2 overall: linebacker Von Miller (Denver Broncos, 2011), linebacker Quentin Coryatt (Indianapolis Colts, 1992), running back John David Crow (St. Louis Cardinals, 1958) and running back John Kimbrough (Chicago Cardinals, 1941).

Vaccaro projects to be selected in the middle of the first round and could be available at No. 18, a pick owned by the Dallas Cowboys.

Other NFL draft prospects joining Joeckel and Vaccaro in New York will be: Ezekiel Ansah, BYU; Tavon Austin, West Virginia; Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina; Eric Fisher, Central Michigan; Sharrif Floyd, Florida; D.J. Fluker, Alabama; Lane Johnson, Oklahoma; Dion Jordan, Oregon; Eddie Lacy, Alabama; E.J. Manuel, Florida State; Dee Milliner, Alabama; Barkevious Mingo, LSU; Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee; Eric Reid, LSU; Xavier Rhodes, Florida State; Sheldon Richardson, Missouri; Geno Smith, West Virginia; Desmond Trufant, Washington; Chance Warmack, Alabama; Menelik Watson, Florida State and Bjoern Werner, Florida State.

_ Jimmy Burch

Fox Sports SW to offer live telecasts of OU, Texas Tech spring FB games #RedRaiders, #OU

Fox Sports Southwest will offer live telecasts of the Oklahoma and Texas Tech spring football games, network officials announced today.

The telecast of the Oklahoma game, set for Saturday in Norman, Okla. (2 p.m., FSSW), will be preceded by a two-hour pregame show. Tech’s spring game will be played April 20 in Lubbock (1 p.m., FSSW).
Both games also will air nationally on Fox College Sports.

Texas A&M’s spring game, set for Saturday (2 p.m., Kyle Field), will be an ESPN national telecast. Network officials announced plans to air the Aggies’ spring game last month.

In May, FSSW officials also will air a series of 30-minue shows recapping spring drills for area colleges. Below is a look at FSSW’s planned schedule of spring football coverage for area colleges:

FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST SPRING FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(All times listed are Central; Schedule subject to change)
 
Spring Games:
Sat., April 13      Noon            Sooner Sports Gameday1
                           2:00 p.m.      OU Spring Game1
Sat., April 20      1:00 p.m.      Texas Tech Spring Game2
 
1 – Available on FOX Sports Plus in Houston, Central/South Texas, Arkansas & Louisiana markets
2 – Available on FOX Sports Plus in Houston and Oklahoma markets
                           
Spring Football Series:
Baylor: Saturday, May 4, 1:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 5, 10:00 p.m.; Tuesday, May 7, 1:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 8, 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 12, 7:00 a.m.; Friday, May 17, 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday, May 29, 4:30 p.m.
 
Oklahoma: Monday, May 6, 10:00 p.m.; Tuesday, May 7, 1:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 11, 11:30 a.m.; Tuesday, May 14, 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, 6:30 p.m.
 
Oklahoma State: Thursday, May 9, 10:00 p.m.; Friday, May 10, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 11, 11:00 a.m.; Wednesday, May 15, 11:00 p.m.; Tuesday, May 21, 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, 6:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 29, 5:30 p.m.
 
TCU: Thursday, May 9, 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 11, 9:30 p.m.; Monday, May 13, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 18, 3:00 p.m.; Monday, May 20, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, 4:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 29, 8:30 a.m.; Friday, May 31, 9:00 p.m.
 
Texas A&M: Tuesday, May 7, 10:30 p.m.; Wednesday, May 8, 3:30 p.m.; Friday, May 10, 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 15, 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 18, 11:30 a.m.; Friday, May 24, 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, 4:30 p.m.
 
Texas: Wednesday, May 1, 6:00 p.m.; Friday, May 3, 9:00 a.m.; Saturday, May 4, 1:00 p.m.; Tuesday, May 7, noon; Thursday, May 9, 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 12, 7:30 a.m.; Friday, May 17, 9:30 p.m.; Friday, May 24, 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, 5:00 p.m.; Friday, May 31, 9:30 p.m.
 
Texas Tech: Sunday, May 12, 10:00 p.m.; Monday, May 13, 8:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 15, 10:00 p.m.; Friday, May 17, 11:30 a.m.; Tuesday, May 21, 10:30 p.m.; Friday, May 24, 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 25, 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, May 28, 10:00 p.m.
 

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Louisville installed as prohibitive favorite at Final Four, with Michigan the likely title game foe

Louisville, the lone No. 1 seed remaining in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, has been installed as a prohibitive favorite to cut down the nets at the conclusion of this week’s Final Four in Atlanta.

The Cardinals were given 2/3 odds today to win the national championship by Bovada Sports Book (www.Bovada.lv), best of any remaining team in the field. Other championship odds given the Final Four teams included Michigan (3/1), Syracuse (17/4) and Wichita State (12/1).

Michigan, a No. 4 seed and Sunday’s winner of the South Regional at Cowboys Stadium, will meet fellow No. 4 seed Syracuse in one of Saturday’s semifinal games at the Georgia Dome. Louisville will meet Wichita State, a No. 9 seed, in the other semifinal contest.

The winners will play in Monday’s championship game. Below is a look at a variety of odds established by the website related to Final Four possibilities:
.
 
Odds to win the 2013 NCAAB Men's Basketball Championship
Louisville #1                                          2/3
Michigan #4                                          3/1
Syracuse #4                                          17/4
Wichita State #9                                    12/1
 
2013 NCAAB Men's Basketball Championship - Exact Matchup
Louisville vs. Michigan                           5/6
Louisville vs. Syracuse                          3/2
Wichita State vs. Michigan                     15/2
Wichita State vs. Syracuse                    10/1
 
Who will win the NCAAB Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player?
Russ Smith (Louisville)                          4/5
Trey Burke (Michigan)                            4/1
Peyton Siva (Louisville)                         7/1
Mitch McGary (Michigan)                        10/1
Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse)         12/1
Gorgui Deng (Louisville)                        15/1
Brandon Triche (Syracuse)                     15/1
C.J. Fair (Syracuse)                               18/1
James Southerland (Syracuse)               20/1
Nik Stauskas (Michigan)                        20/1
Tim Hardaway Jr. (Michigan)                  20/1
Malcolm Armstead (Wichita State)          30/1
Carl Hall (Wichita State)                          30/1
Cleanthony Early (Wichita State)             30/1

_ Jimmy Burch

Tickets remain for tonight's NCAA games at Cowboys Stadium #MarchMadness, #CowboysStadium

Some tickets still remain for tonight's South Regional semifinal games of the NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Tickets can be purchased on a walk-up basis at the stadium's north ticket office. Fans also can purchase online via ticketmaster.com or they can call 800-745-3000.

As of Tuesday, organizers said more than 32,000 seats had been sold for tonight's games. Cowboys Stadium will be configured to hold 42,614 for tonight's session. One single-session ticket will allow fans to watch both games tonight between Kansas-Michigan (6:37 p.m.) and Florida-Florida Gulf Coast (9:07 p.m.).

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas G McClellan will transfer at end of spring semester #Longhorns

Texas guard Sheldon McClellan will transfer to another school at the completion of the spring semester, school officials announced today. McClellan, who averaged 13.5 points per game, was benched on multiple occasions by coach Rick Barnes because of what Barnes perceived as a lack of defensive intensity. On two separate occasions, McClellan played only one minute in a conference game (at TCU, at Iowa State) by coach’s decision.

In a statement announcing his decision, McClellan said: “I want to thank everyone who supported me … I enjoyed my time at Texas. I just need a change of venue.”

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Report: Cowboys Stadium a "virtual lock" to host first college FB championship game in playoff era

Cowboys Stadium in Arlington has emerged as a “virtual lock” to host college football’s first championship game of the playoff era, to be held at the conclusion of the 2014 regular season, based on an ESPN.com report today.

The report, citing unnamed sources, said that groups representing Cowboys Stadium and Tampa Bay, Fla. were the only ones to submit bids to host the Jan. 12, 2015 contest before Wednesday’s deadline. A final decision on the site of the game will be made in April.

The ESPN report supports a Star-Telegram report from January in which Cotton Bowl executives expressed optimism about hosting the inaugural playoff game and one industry executive estimated the Arlington venue had a 95 percent chance to land the contest.

Tommy Bain, chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, has said D-FW officials are “cautiously optimistic” about landing the contest but nothing will be certain until commissioners from existing BCS leagues vote on the measure during an April 23-25 meeting in Pasadena, Calif.

The ESPN report cited an industry source saying, “It’s pretty clear to everyone that it’s headed to Cowboys Stadium.”

In January, Bain said: “Our goal is to host the first one. We’re totally optimistic about hosting national championships, and we’re cautiously optimistic about hosting the first one.”

 _ Jimmy Burch

Louisville remains NCAA tourney favorite; Fla Gulf Coast now has 75/1 odds to win title

Louisville, the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, remains the favorite to win the 2013 national championship among the men’s basketball teams that have reach the Sweet 16, based on odds released today by Bovada Sports Book (www.bovada.lv). But several other schools have seen their odds improve dramatically since February, when tournament odds were first released. The list includes Florida Gulf Coast (75/1) and LaSalle (66/1), a pair of double-digit seeds still alive in the title mix. Neither of those schools received odds to win the tournament in February. Below is a look at the title odds given to each Sweet 16 team, now and then: 

NCAA Tourney Odds and Ends
Odds to win the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
Louisville #1            NOW:        3/1      THEN:   12/1
Florida #3                NOW:       19/4     THEN:  5/1
Indiana #1               NOW:       5/1        THEN: 11/2
Miami Florida #2     NOW:       15/2      THEN: 11/2
Ohio State #2          NOW:      15/2       THEN: 30/1
Michigan #4             NOW:     11/1       THEN: 15/2
Duke #2                   NOW:     12/1        THEN: 9/1
Kansas #1                NOW:     12/1       THEN: 14/1
Michigan State #3    NOW:     14/1        THEN: 10/1
Arizona #6               NOW:      18/1        THEN: 20/1
Syracuse #4            NOW:     20/1         THEN: 20/1
Oregon #12             NOW:      33/1        THEN: 75/1
Marquette #3           NOW:      40/1        THEN: 60/1
Wichita State #9      NOW:      40/1        THEN: 150/1
LaSalle #13             NOW:      66/1        THEN: N/A
Fla. Gulf Coast #15  NOW:     75/1         THEN: N/A

 _ Jimmy Burch

 

Tip times set for Friday's NCAA games in Cowboys Stadium as well as other Sweet 16 contests

Tip times have been set for Friday’s South Regional games at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The first contest will be Kansas vs. Michigan, with a 6:37 p.m. start. The late game Friday will be Florida vs. Florida Gulf Coast, with an estimated starting time of 9:07 p.m. Both games will be televised by TBS.

In other Sweet 16 matchups, the Thursday schedule will include Miami-Marquette (6:15 p.m., CBS) followed by a CBS telecast of Syracuse-Indiana. TBS’ Thursday doubleheader will include Arizona-Ohio State (6:47 p.m. start), followed by LaSalle-Wichita State.

In the other Friday games in the Sweet 16, the Oregon-Louisville game will be the early telecast (6:15 p.m., CBS), followed by Duke vs. Michigan State in CBS’ late game.

_ Jimmy Burch