College Confidential

Six former players elected to Baylor's Hall of Fame

Six players will be inducted into Baylor's Hall of Fame this fall, the school announced Monday.

The inductees include football players Charles Benson and Frank Ditta, men's track and field performer Billy Hollis, baseball player Jason Jennings, and women's track and field star Stacey Smith, Also inducted will be Jay Jeffrey, who played football and baseball for the Bears.

In addition, Dr. Gerald D. Cobb, who played basketball at Baylor, will join the Hall of Fame's Wall of Honor.

The induction ceremony will take place on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center. For ticket information contact the "B'' Association's Tammy Hardin at 254-710-3045 or via e-mail at tammy_hardin@baylor.edu.

-- Dwain Price   

Texas Tech will induct seven in its Halls

Seven ex-Texas Tech athletes will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame or Athletic Hall of Honor during a ceremony this fall.

Monday's announcement marks the second year of the separation of the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Fame and the Texas Tech Hall of Honor.

This year's Hall of Fame class includes football players Doug McCutchen, Bake Turner and Terry Turner, baseball players Kerry Ginter and Chuck Harrison, and women's basketball player Angie Braziel. The lone member of the 2009 Hall of Honor class is former basketball player and assistant coach Charlie Lynch.

Despite the separation of the two "Halls,'' both organizations united to have one banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Banquet Hall to honor all seven athletes. They also will be recognized prior to Tech's Oct. 24 home game against Texas A&M.

For more information about banquet tickets, contact  thje Double T Association at 806-771-4000.

_ Dwain Price

No blowout strategy for Brown

The first question to Texas coach Mack Brown today illustrated the biggest problem in motivating his team this week against 41-point underdog La.-Monroe.

Brown was asked if he had a strategy this season for blowouts. He immediately looked like he had eaten some especially spicey Tex-Mex food.

"I wonder how many people in American on Monday are talking about blowouts," said Brown, whose team enters Saturday ranked second in both the AP and USA Today polls. "Boy, are we spoiled."

1. Expect a lot of talk this week about 2007. That was when La.-Monroe stunned Alabama 21-14, a score that will undoubtedly be referenced a few hundred times in Texas team meetings. And that season, fellow Sun Belt member Arkansas State put a 21-13 scare into the Longhorns in Austin.

2. Brown expects another strong season from quarterback Colt McCoy, beginning his fourth season as a starter. "I actually told the players the other day that I hope they realize they're playing with the most accurate quarterback in the history of college football, and that they need to enjoy it and embrace it," Brown said. "The defense needs to get off the field as fast as they can so we can get Colt back on."

3. The current tailback pecking order includes Vondrell McGee as the starter, followed by Cody Johnson and injury-plagued Fozzy Whittaker. McGee will get a second chance to put his imprint on the position. Whittaker oozes big-play potential but just hasn't been able to stay healthy for an extended period.

4. Because of Monday class schedules, players got a 4:45 a.m. wakeup call for a 5:45 a.m. practice. "It was really good this morning," Brown said. "We do that now for our off-season program and we also do that now in the morning for bowl practice, so it's something that they're used to. We might even look at it more."

5. Backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert, a true freshman, might get his first college experience Saturday, Brown said. "The most important thing is you try to win the game, then you'd also like to get Garrett some quality snaps," Brown said.

6. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis said freshman receiver/returner Marquise Goodwin, recruited to Texas as a track athlete, could see action in the first game. The moment that Goodwin, a Rowlett product, plays in game, he counts against the 85-man football scholarship limit.

Mountain West gets early spotlight

The Mountain West felt it deserved a spot inside college football's velvet rope and spend the offseason stating its case.

Now several of the conference's elite teams will get an early chance to impress voters, beginning with BYU facing Oklahoma at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday. TCU will meet two ACC teams in non-conference play, Clemson and Virginia.

"I don't think there is any greater or lesser pressure [on Mountain West schools] in these games," Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson tells USA Today. "But [rankings] should be performance-based, and if you win these games, there should be greater recognition."

Oklahoma's Wilson leads OC list

Oklahoma's Kevin Wilson tops the nation's offensive coordinators going into this season, at least as ranked by Rivals.com.

His selling points, according to Rivals: "He oversaw an offense that scored a record number of points last season, and he has his quarterback, two 1,000-yard running backs and the best tight end in the nation returning this season."

Also cracking the top 10 at No. 7: Texas' Greg Davis, a major change in perception over the past five seasons. His play-calling in the second half last season against Oklahoma didn't hurt, either.

Argyle product sets NCAA record

Expect J.J. Harp to spend at least some time today icing his arm.

The Eastern New Mexico sophomore quarterback and former Argyle High School standout set an NCAA Division II record with 78 pass attempts in a 28-23 loss to Colorado State-Pueblo on Saturday. He also broke single-game school records with 45 completions and 513 yards, but his three touchdown passes were offset by five interceptions.

Swine flu could impact college season

Last spring's swine flu scare in Texas may have made some people skeptical about projections of a major outbreak.

Still, swine flu has not gone away, and already several football programs have been impacted, including (possibly) TCU.

A spokeswoman for the CDC tells the New York Times that a locker-room environment represents "an ideal situation for the flu." Now imagine situations where schedules could be disrupted or star players sidelined. Not to be alarmist - and we remember the predictions that failed to materialize a few months ago -- but the spread of swine flu bears watching.

What goes into a home-field edge?

Phil Steele, he of the amazingly comprehensive preseason magazine, breaks down the factors that go into home-field advantage in college football.

Among the considerations: stadium capacity, attendance, recent historical trends at home and quality of opponents.

Texas' initial 2009 depth chart

Below is a look at Texas' initial depth chart for the 2009 football season as the team prepares for its Sept. 5 opener against Louisiana-Monroe in Austin:

OFFENSE

QB _ Colt McCoy, Garrett Gilbert, Sherrod Harris

RB _ Vondrell McGee, Cody Johnson or Fozzy Whittaker

FB _ Antwann Cobb, Cody Johnson

Split End _ Jordan Shipley, Malcolm Williams or Dan Buckner

Flanker _ James Kirkendoll or Brandon Collins

Slot Receiver _ Malcolm Williams or John Chiles

Tight End _ Greg Smith, Ahmard Howard or Barrett Matthews

Flex TE (in 4-receiver sets): Dan Buckner, Barrett Matthews

RT _ Kyle Hix, Britt Mitchell

RG _ Michael Huey or David Snow, Mason Walters

C _ Chris Hall, David Snow

LG _ Charlie Tanner or David Snow, Steve Moore

LT _ Adam Ulatoski, Tray Allen or Luke Poehlmann

K _ Hunter Lawrence or Ryan Bailey, Justin Tucker

DEFENSE

DE _ Sergio Kindle, Alex Okafor

DT _ Kheeston Randall or Ben Alexander, Tray Allen

DT _ Lamarr Houston, Calvin Howell or Tyrell Higgins

DE _ Sam Acho, Eddie Jones

SLB _ Emmanuel Acho or Keenan Robinson

MLB _ Jared Norton, Dustin Earnest

WLB _ Roddrick Muckleroy, Keenan Robinson or Emmanuel Acho

Right CB _ Chykie Brown, Deon Beasley

Right S _ Christian Scott or Blake Gideon, Ben Wells

Left S _ Earl Thomas, Nolan Brewster

Left CB _ Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown

Nickel Back _ Aaron Williams, Earl Thomas

P _ John Gold or Justin Tucker, Trevor Gerland

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punt Returner _ Jordan Shipley, Earl Thomas, Curtis Brown

Kickoff Returner _ Jordan Shipley, Malcolm Williams, Christian Scott, Aaron Williams

Kickoffs _ Justin Tucker, Hunter Lawrence

Holder _ Jordan Shipley, Sherrod Harris

Deep Snapper (PAT/FG) _ Greg Smith, Britt Mitchell

Deep Snapper (Punts) _ William Harvey, Alex Zumberge

_ Jimmy Burch

McGee selected as Texas' starting RB

Texas coaches have selected Vondrell McGee as the team’s starting tailback, based on the initial depth chart released during fall drills.

McGee, who rushed for 376 yards and four touchdowns last season, will get the first call in a crowded backfield situation because he had a strong fall camp, said coach Mack Brown. The initial depth chart shows Cody Johnson as the backup with Fozzy Whittaker, who has battled nagging injuries during fall drills, at No. 3.

All three backs saw significant playing time last season with McGee gaining the most yards among the returnees. Quarterback Colt McCoy (561 yards, 11 TDs) is Texas’ top returning rusher.

Other notable inclusions on the initial depth chart:
-- Garrett Gilbert, an incoming freshman, is the backup quarterback, ahead of Sherrod Harris, a junior from Arlington Bowie. The players entered fall drills on even footing in the battle to be McCoy’s backup.
-- Greg Smith, a converted offensive tackle, is listed as the starting tight end at a position depleted by injuries in recent weeks. He will be backed up by Ahmard Howard or freshman Barrett Matthews.
-- Christian Scott is listed as a co-starter at one safety spot with Blake Gideon, who started all 13 games last season.
-- Jordan Shipley, the team’s top returning receiver, also is listed as the primary punt returner and kickoff returner.

--  Jimmy Burch