Gary Patterson defends this with a phone call

Former Dallas Stars head coach Dave Tippett explained to me once that "You are always defending your team". It makes sense - you don't want to trash your guys unless it's on your terms. A coach is not going to allow a fan, and certainly not a member of liberal elite hippie media, to bag on his team before he does.

Nonetheless, it surprised me greatly when roughly 30 minutes after a nice phone conversation with TCU head coach Gary Patterson the man called me unprompted because he wanted to explain something.

"You got me thinking about the Michigan State game, so I went back and watched it," he said of the Frogs' bowl game loss against the Spartans in 2012. "You said our offensive line was bad. If you look at it, we weren't that bad."

In our conversation I expressed concern over the quality of his offensive line as a major issue for this team in 2013. (BTW - He's more concerned with the linebackers).

In my memory, his offensive line was exposed in games against Oklahoma and Michigan State. My lasting memories of TCU's season was that of quarterback Trevone Boykin, and his running backs, being eaten alive by Michigan State.

Specifically, tackles Tayo Fabuluje and Aviante Collins looked completely overmatched.

TCU averaged 2.9 yards per rush in the game, the same for Michigan State.

"Offensively, we were tired in the fourth quarter and they knew we had to throw the ball," he said. "I really don't think this was a case of our offensive line not being good enough. The strength of that Michigan State team was their defensive line."

He added, "If I'm being honest with you, nobody ran the ball great in our (the Big 12)."

Let's see ... the Big 12's rushing averages last season & their national rank: 

1. Baylor - 5.0 yards per carry, 231.7 yards per game; 14th nationally
2. Oklahoma State - 5.4 yards per carry, 215.3 yards per game; 21st nationally
3. Kansas - 4.6 yards per carry, 221.7 yards per game; 22nd nationally
4. Kansas State - 4.8 yards per carry, 194.0 yards per game; 32nd nationally
5. West Virginia - 4.8 yards per carry, 171.8 yards per game; 52nd nationally
6. Texas - 4.5 yards per carry, 171.5 yards per game; 53rd nationally
7. Oklahoma - 4.8 yards per carry, 161.4 yards per game; 60th nationally
8. TCU - 3.9 yards per carry, 152.1 yards per game; 65th nationally
9. Iowa State - 4.2 yards per carry, 150.1 yards per game; 73rd nationally
10. Texas Tech - 4.6 yards per carry, 139.9 yards per game; 86th nationally

As you can see, some teams did run the ball pretty well in the Big 12 last season.

Gary was defending his team, and specifically his line.

I told him, "My thought was this is a case of at least a lack of experience and strength."
He said, "That's a fair assessment."

Then he added, "We've got to be better running the ball."

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Preseason football magazine shows much love for Baylor but not TCU

It's not quite the end of May, which is the perfect time to release all of the 2013 college football preseason publications.
That's right - time to guess who is going to get fired, and who will get their butts kicked by Alabama's semi-pro team in the fake national title game.

Of the many fine preseason publications to consume, a personal favorite remains The Sporting News. This is usually about as good as it gets.

The Sporting News is high on Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Baylor but not so much the TCU Horned Frogs football team. These are the "locals" in TSN's Top 25:

No. 6 Okie State. .... This should make Oklahoma State University team owner T. Boone quite happy.
No. 7 Texas A&M. .... Will not sit well with a fan base that has the Aggies undefeated even after it loses to Alabama.
No. 14 Texas. .... Because no Top 15 is complete without UT.
No. 17 Baylor. .... Wow. They love QB Bryce Petty.
No. 19. Oklahoma. .... This changes if Blake Bell can throw a football.

Where is Fort Worth's favorite purple-clad football team? Not in the Top 25, and sixth in the Big 12.

1. OSU
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. Baylor
5. Kansas State
6. TCU
7. Texas Tech
8. Iowa State
9. West Virginia
10. Kansas (they're still in the league?) 

This publication was put together well before TCU suspended Big 12 defensive player of the year Devonte Fields for two games after he violated university/team policy.

It's worth nothing the magazine says of the Big 12: "The next big thing: In TCU's recent history of elite defensive ends, none has the potential and physical ability of Devonte Fields, one of the Big 12's best pass rushers as a freshman last year."

Take some of these publications with a chunk of salt, up to and including the preseason Top 25.

After all, this magazine says that TCU's Trevone Boykin is the best running quarterback in the Big 12. Not bad for a guy who averaged 3.3 yards per carry.

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Baylor's request of Brittney Griner is shameful

As more high profile athletes are coming out of the closet to admit their sexuality a lot of people would rather this subject remain strictly off to the side. 

Like the good people at Baylor.

Take former Baylor women's basketball center Brittney Griner, who in her four years in Waco was the rarest of breeds. She was the female college athlete who generated revenue for her school. Few female college athletes have ever done that.

After being the No. 1 overall pick of the WNBA draft, Griner came out and admitted she is gay. That was just about as big of a surprise as her admitting she is tall. Everyone just kind of assumed. Maybe not everyone but I wasn't exactly surprised. .

And I was pretty sure nobody cared. I don't.

But Griner told ESPN that she was told to keep it to herself while she attended Baylor.

Griner told Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey that she was gay while she was being recruited. Is this the first case of women's basketball trumping the bible in recorded history.

"It was more of a unwritten law [to not discuss your sexuality] ... it was just kind of, like, one of those things, you know, just don't do it," Griner said in the interview. "They kind of tried to make it, like, 'Why put your business out on the street like that?'"

Yes, like how the military once was.

Living in the closet sounds like so much fun. Be open, be yourself, provided it fits in with the rest of our beliefs.

Baylor is a Baptist affiliated school. Baptists generally aren't cool with homosexuality because that's what the bible tells them to. 

So Baylor basically said, "We're really not cool with homosexuals, but exceptions can be made because she is Brittney Griner."

Griner wasn't drowning puppies, dealing drugs, running guns to Eastern Europe or rebroadcasting, reproducing, or otherwise using the pictures and accounts of a baseball game without the express written consent of Major League Baseball.

Baylor celebrated Brittney Griner the basketball player, and sold her as an inspiration to millions of young girls, but told Brittney Griner the person to shut it.

If you are going to recruit Brittney Griner, and sell Brittney Griner, than you have to be cool with Brittney Griner and not tell her to stay in the closet.

 

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Big 12 to concede all future titles to Kansas after it signed nation's top player

Baylor, nice try.
Same for Oklahoma State.

Just when the Big 12 was ready to crown a new men's basketball champion for the first time since 1934, Kansas just had to step in and go all Kansas on the conference yet again.

In a highly, highly anticipated decision, top prep basketball prospect Andrew Wiggins said he will attend the University of Kansas to play basketball beginning in the fall.

Wiggins is listed as a 6-foot-7 small forward; he has been called one of the top recruits in the past decade.

HOORAY FOR KANSAS, and specifically the institution of higher learning and edumicashion.

This has to be KU's biggest name recruit since Larry Brown hired assistant coach Ed Manning so his son, Danny, would play basketball in Lawrence. Ed apparently was a dynamite coach.

Wiggins is the best prep player in the country, and he was attracting interest from every blue blood program in the nation. He picked KU over Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida State to play college basketball.

He may even attend class, although I don't why.

(* It should be noted that I am a KU undergrad alum, class of ... just very recently.)

This guy is so gone to the NBA this time a year from now the only classes he should be taking are How to Change My Cell Phone Number Every 15 Minutes, The History of Groupies and Entourage Studies.

KU could potentially have the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA draft - Ben McLemore - and '14 draft, Wiggins.

Both Baylor and Oklahoma State should have an edge in terms of preseason conference ranking because of the number of quality returning players, but the addition of a talent like Wiggins to Kansas changes everything.

Just prepare now for another KU Big 12 title.

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The position in football that is no longer worth it

IRVING, Texas - Looking at Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Joseph Randle my first thought was, "Switch positions."

It is not his fault, or even any kind of indictment on his ability. Looking at any NFL running back these days is like the tired "dead man walking" cliche.

Randle is a fifth round pick out of Oklahoma State, which is just about the right place to draft a running back these days. 

With the way running backs "die" these days, why would any kid willingly want to play the position? 

"I like to run the rock," Randle told me.

Without any prompting he continued, "All of them (defensive backs) that were taken in the draft early. I thought about it. I was like, 'Man, I should have played defense.' I did think about that."

I don't have a son, but if I did and he wanted to play football I would tell him to play any position but running back.

With the pounding running backs take these days, and the way more teams both in college and in the pros rotate at least two of them, the "safer" long term plays seems to be something other than this position. Punter, perhaps.

Randle said he played running back, cornerback and safety in high school.

This draft was not running back heavy - the highest taken was North Carolina's Giovani Bernard. A total of six running backs were selected in the first three rounds. Sixteen cornerbacks were selected in the first three rounds.

ME: Running backs just seem to die out so fast.
Joseph Randle: Not my kind.

ME: What is your kind?
Joseph Randle: "I can do a lot. If you have more than one good back, like we do, that will help us. I'm a running back and that is the position I wanted to play. I wanted to score touchdown. It's more fun defense. I liked to tackle and hit people, but you can do that on defense. This is what I chose and I'm sticking with it."

 

Godspeed.

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Texas A&M just another school spending whatever it can on a football stadium

Since logic and common sense vacated the premises on the spending in college athletics roughly 20 years ago, it makes perfect sense that Texas A&M is considering spending about $450 million for a renovated football stadium.

Just when the University of Texas thought its renovated digs at Darrell K. Royal Stadium were going to be grand, the good people wearing the maroon and white have unveiled a plan to make the new Kyle Field large and expensive.

The plan was presented to A&M's board of regents on Wednesday.

Seating capacity would be 102,000 and the price tag on this expansion is $450 million. This project would begin immediately after the 2013 season, or when Johnny Manziel is done playing his last college game. It would be done in time for the start of the 2015 season.

Yes, that means Texas A&M's attendance will be bigger than UT, which currently holds 100,119 proving once and for all that more people can potentially attend a home Aggies game than a UT football game. I think we know some university that has its priorities in order.

But UT wants to expand the stadium again to a capacity of 112,000, so take that. Hopefully by then Texas A&M will have a plan to increase Kyle Field to 113,000.

Seriously. This is insane to spend this much money on a venue that is used six times a year. Maybe eight. It also completely consistent with the rest of the great state a Texas, and the United States.

If you are doing the math ...
* SMU built Ford Field for a cost of $42 million.
* TCU renovated Amon G. Carter Stadium to the price of roughly $164 million.
* Baylor is building a new football stadium just across the Brazos River from campus with a price of $250 million.
* Texas Tech spent roughly $85 million over about a ten year period to upgrade its football stadium.
* Texas A&M wants to do a football stadium that will cost $450 million.
* Houston plans to spend $100 million for a new football venue.
* North Texas spent $78 million on its new digs.
* Texas spent a total of $450 million over a 15 year period to remake all of its athletic facilities.

Also of note, many of these athletic departments are also associated with schools of higher learning. 

It goes right along with the dream of all Division I college athletic programs that have football: If you spend it, they might win, and then they'll come, and then you might break even on the rest of the department.

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Baylor lands huge "recruit" in men's basketball

Not sure how Baylor men's basketball coach Scott Drew pulled this off, but his team should contend with Oklahoma State for the Big 12 title next season.

Center Isaiah Austin is returning to Waco for his sophomore year rather than declare for the NBA draft. Most mock drafts had Austin being selected in the first round. By sticking around this should give Austin the chance to gain some weight. He's 7-foot-1, and approximately 123 pounds. He is listed as 220 pounds but that appears to be about 50 pounds wrong.

Austin averaged 13 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks as a freshman last season for a Bears team that won the National Intramural Tournament in New York City.

"We're extremely excited to have an opportunity to work with Isaiah for another year," Drew said in a statement. "I think it's a compliment to Baylor Nation, the university and the team that Isaiah wants to return, and I know Baylor Nation is really excited to have him back for another year."

Somewhere Drew had to be high-fiving anybody with a hand at this news. His job just got a lot easier since the season ended.

The team does lose Pierre Jackson to graduation, but will not only return Austin but senior forward Cory Jefferson (13. ppg., 8.0 rpg.), guard Brady Heslip and Rico Gathers. The Bears are going to be loaded.

If the Bears or Oklahoma State do not end Kansas' run of nine consecutive Big 12 titles the rest of the conference schools should no longer play basketball.

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Oklahoma State wins 2014 Big 12 men's basketball title

Kansas', or Baylor's, chances of winning the Big 12 in men's basketball next season just took a massive hit as Oklahoma State freshman guard Marcus Smart will reportedly return for a second season in Stillwater.

Smart was the Big 12 Player and Freshman of the Year.

Somewhere Oklahoma State University team owner T. Boone Pickens has to be smiling. Kansas' run of Big 12 titles, which stands at nine consecutive, should be over.

Smart was expected to be top five pick in the 2013 NBA draft had he elected to enter. This is a major coup for Okie State and coach Travis Ford, and for college basketball. Not many guys of Smart's caliber stick around for two years.

He is by far the best player returning to the Big 12 next season. The 6-foot-4, 225 pound freshman from Flower Mound led the team in scoring with 15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He set a conference freshman record for steals with 99.

The two things he needs to clean up: 3 point shooting (38-for-131) and ballhandling (139 assists to 111 turnovers).

Oklahoma State finished third in the Big 12 last season and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Oregon. This should be a Sweet 16 team next season, at least.

Along with Smart, Okie State should return Markel Brown (All-Big 12 second team), Le'Bryan Nash (All-Big 12 third team), Michael Cobbins (honorable mention) and Phil Forte (team record for 3s by a freshman).

If this team does not win this conference, T. Boone will not be pleased.

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Baylor is Texas' best chance in '13-'14

The college basketball season is over, and now the eyes of the great state a Texas can focus on what it really cares about - football practice. Or 7 on 7. Or football speculation. How are there not any football coaches fired yet?

This college basketball season in Texas will be marked by the giant flop by every team in this state for failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Because 21 Division I teams just isn't enough.

This state, however, did win the National Intramural Tournament - Baylor was the 69th best team in the nation. Kidding. Baylor's talent said it should have been in the NCAA but the results said otherwise.

Stephen F. Austin should have reached the NCAA tournament but lost in the Southland Conference tourney finals, and Baylor gagged away too many close games to make it.

Heading into this offseason, however, Baylor should be the best team in this great state when next season begins.

This team, however, figures to lose much: Point guard Pierre Jackson is gone, and it would be a real shock if 7-foot-1 freshman center Isaiah Austin returns.

The swing guy is Cory Jefferson. He is a 6-foot-9 junior who averaged 13.3 points and 8 rebounds. If he remains in Waco, happy times for coach Scott Drew. Forward Rico Gathers should be better, and contribute more with more touches. Along with incoming recruit Ishmail Wainwright, Baylor should have the necessary toys to win 20 games next season and much more.

Kansas should lose all five starters from a Sweet 16 team; Texas' leading scorer is transferring, and the Horns are likely going to lose point guard Myck Kabongo to the draft; Oklahoma State can't expect Marcus Smart to return. Iowa State and Kansas State should be tough outs but Baylor has the pieces to not only return to the NCAA tournament but win this conference.

The other teams to watch out for: UTEP, because Tim Floyd knows what he is doing, and SMU. Head coach Larry Brown already had a solid recruiting class, but he landed the best recruit in the history of the program when he recently added McDonald's All-American Keith Frazier, who chose SMU over Texas Tech.

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Why the Mavericks should sign Brittney Griner

This lost season for the Dallas Mavericks continues to be more about gimmicks, and eighth place, than basketball.

The push for .500 and the chance to shave their beards, and now the owner is contemplating adding a girl to his team.

Mark Cuban said he would consider drafting Baylor center Brittney Griner, which is another gimick but clearly the Mavs owner grasps the concept of professional sports as well as Jerry Jones or anyone else - it's entertainment dressed as sport.

And a "Dallas Mavericks 42 Griner" jersey will be far more profitable than a "Dallas Mavericks 42 Brand" jersey. 

Adding Griner would be for discussion, which is why Cuban should do it. Let's see what arguably the best woman's player of this decade can do against guys. Even in a practice or two.

Maybe she will suck. Maybe she can hang. We didn't know what Annika Sorenstam could do until she played at the Colonial in 2003 and failed to make the cut. She didn't embarrass herself. She beat a few guys.

People were upset because adding Sorenstam threatened the integrity of the game. Don't waste your time with that 1950's idealism crap - the integrity of the game is rooted in selling tickets, creating an interest, moving merchandise The real integrity of the game is business.

There is no need to waste a draft pick on Griner, but sign her to a rookie contract and give her a tryout in the summer. She what she can do. Griner has likely played against guys her whole life, so she would at least be used to it on some level.

At 6-foot-8, 207 pounds Griner's physical stature matches some college prospects. Georgetown forward Otto Porter, who is projected as a lottery pick, is 6-8, 205.

The problem, of course, she does not have a forward's game. She has a center's game, and no 6-foot-8 player in the NBA is a center. The other problem is the size of the ball; it's one thing for Griner to dunk with a woman's regulation-sized basketball; can she it do the same with a larger basketball?

And it would appear the coordination, and strength, to put the ball on the floor and hit 15-foot shots against bigger, athletic bodies isn't there.

Or we don't think it's there.

Let's find out.

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