College Confidential

Baylor coach Briles praises Bears' initial session of spring FB drills

Baylor football coach Art Briles said his team appeared to be “right back in midseason form” during today’s opening session of spring drills in Waco.

The Bears, who return 14 starters from a 7-6 team, worked out for more than two hours in helmets and shorts to being their spring session. Baylor will conclude its spring drills with a controlled scrimmage on April 2.

Briles praised his players for staying in top shape during off-season workouts.

“It seems like we’ve only been gone a weekend,” Briles said. “We were ready to go and very energetic on both sides of the ball.”

_ Jimmy Burch

Aggies, Longhorns making early headway in 2012 FB recruiting race

It is early -- EXTREMELY early -- to be projecting the quality of anyone's 2012 football recruiting class. But for those who like to track the topic, The Sporting News recently posted a nuggest that suggests Texas A&M and Texas are the early leaders in the race to have the nation's No. 1 class.

At the very least, that should be an interesting conversation starter for fans from the respective schools.

For those interested in seeing the full story, click on this link:

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-02-27/texas-ams-2012-class-leads-the-nation-with-14-recruits-texas-nabs-five-more

 

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas shuffles radio booth for 2011 football season

Roger Wallace, a sideline reporter on Texas’ football radio broadcasts in recent seasons, will be the color analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Craig Way this season, school officials announced today.

Wallace replaces Keith Moreland, a former Texas football and baseball player, who recently joined the Chicago Cubs’ broadcast team as a color analyst for the 2011 season. Rod Babers, a former Longhorns’ defensive back, will take over as sideline reporter during Texas’ football broadcasts.

_ Jimmy Burch

Hocutt accepts AD job at Texas Tech

Though no official announcement has yet been made from Texas Tech, it's now apparent that Kirby Hocutt will succeed outgoing athletic director Gerald Myers.

University of Miami president Donna E. Shalala issued a statement to that effect early Friday afternoon.

"I am deeply disappointed that after only two-and-a-half years of a very successful tenure as leader of our athletics programs, Kirby Hocutt has decided to accept the AD position at Texas Tech," her statement read. "We did everything we could to convince him to stay, but in the end it was an intensely personal decision. I thank Kirby for his integrity, leadership, and dedication to the University."

Texas TE Irby returns to field after two-year absence; Barnett out for 2011 season

Texas tight end Blaine Irby, who has not played in a game since sustaining a major knee injury in the 2008 Rice game, took part in spring football drills today. Irby has been cleared by team doctors to fully participate in spring practice. He ran routes today while wearing a brace on his right knee. His return would be a huge boost to a Texas offense that has been limited the past two seasons without a viable receiving threat at tight end.

During the 2008 season, Irby caught 10 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns in the Longhorns’ first three games before sustaining a career-threatening knee injury that involved nerve damage. After two years of rehabilitation, Irby (6-foot-3, 242 pounds) will be classified as a senior for the 2011 season. But if he is able to participate, which remains to be seen, Irby would be eligible to appeal to the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility for the 2012 season _ as receiver Jordan Shipley did before returning in 2009 _ because of extenuating medical circumstances.

In other news, cornerback Eryon Barnett (knee), a Euless Trinity graduate, will miss the 2011 season because of knee surgery.

In addition, coach Mack Brown said all jobs are open in spring drills. Although there is no established depth chart, Brown said there is a pecking order at quarterback, led by returning starter Garrett Gilbert and followed by Case McCoy, Brandon Wood and David Ash. All four players took snaps today with the first-team offense, Brown said.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Hocutt to Tech may be imminent

University of Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt will be announced "sooner or later" as the successor to retiring Texas Tech AD Gerald Myers, a source with knowledge of the situation said Thursday afternoon.

His hiring would be a coup for Tech as college athletics faces an ever-changing landscape.

The 38-year-old Sherman native has held his post at UM since February of 2008. He is regarded as a rising star among the new breed of adminstrators who as a former Kansas State linebacker understands coaching, yet is able to communicate with people without being abrasive.

"love him, one of my favorites," a former associate said about him.

Prior to the UM post, Hocutt was the AD at Ohio University for three years. He also served as Oklahoma associate AD for external operations and sports administration. He is also regarded as strong on academics, brand marketing, facilities and fund-raising.

Hocutt's career in administration began as assistant director of marketing and promotions at K-State and served as NCAA coordinator of licensing before moving to Oklahoma.

The Miami Herald posted a story Thursday afternoon in which two sources said Hocutt had been in Texas for the past two days and that UM would make a concerted effort to keep him. Financial problems at Miami, however, may make Tech's a more attractive job in addition to bringing Hocutt back to his native state.--Mike Jones. 

 

Wangmene's suspension for DWI arrest

Texas basketball player Alexis Wangmene was arrested and booked by the Austn Police Department on suspicion of driving while intoxicated early Sunday, APD information specialist Lisa Cortinas confirmed Wednesday morning.

Wangmene was suspended indefinitely by Longhorns coach Rick Barnes before Texas defeated Iowa State Tuesday night. Program spokesman Scott McConnell acknowledge the situation, but said Barnes would not have any comment on the situation until perhaps Thursday afternoon during regular availability.

McConnell also said he had no update on how long Wangmene's suspension would last. He had appeared in all of Texas games until ISU. The Longhorns play at Colorado on Saturday.--Mike Jones.

UT suspends Wangmene

Junior reserve center Alexis Wangmene has been indefinitely suspended for unspecified violation of teams rules, Texas coach Rick Barnes announced shortly before Tuesday night's game against Iowa State.

Wangmene has appeared in every game this season. He averages 2.4 points and the same number of rebounds. Wangmene sat on the Longhorns bench wearing street clothes while the team warmed up before the game--Mike Jones.

Winkler earns MWC honor with arm and bat

TCU right-hander Kyle Winkler was named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week after holding Kansas to one hit and an unearned run in seven innings Saturday in the Horned Frogs’ 7-1 win.
Winkler struck out eight, walked none and faced one batter over the minimum.
"I felt really great," Winkler said Saturday of his breaking ball command. "That was something I haven't had since early on last season, being able to throw my breaking ball for strikes when I wanted to."
He also drove in the winning run with a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning. It was Winkler's first plate appearance in college.

 (Star-Telegram/ Richard W. Rodriguez)

"It was way too long ago," said Winkler, who last was at the plate as a senior at Fort Bend Kempner in 2008. "We needed to put that run on the board."
Winkler earned the MWC honor twice in 2010.

 (Star-Telegram/ Richard W. Rodriguez)

Tuesday
Freshman Andrew Mitchell will start for TCU (2-1) at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Baylor (2-1). Mitchell struck out four and allowed two hits and a run in two innings out of the bullpen against Kansas Friday.

-- Stefan Stevenson
Follow me on Twitter at @FollowtheFrogs

KU's Taylor suspended

In an unexpected development, Kansas coach Bill Self announced Monday that he has suspended junior guard Tyshawn Taylor indefinitely for violating team rules.

 

“Although we are disappointed in Tyshawn, he will remain a member of our team and practice with our team until he is reinstated for competition,” Self said in a statement, which was delayed until after his appearance on the weekly Big 12 coaches' conference call.

 

Taylor is averaging 8.8 points and has started 26 of 27 games. He ranks third in the Big 12 with 4.7 assists per game and is seventh in the conference with a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.

 

Kansas plays host to Oklahoma State (16-10, 4-8) Monday night.--Mike Jones.