On Broadway: The Red Raiders set the table at Big 12 Media Days
I, along with droves of other sports journalists and writers, made my way out to Dallas earlier this week for Big 12 Media Days, where the coaches and select players from all 10 members of the conference laid out the blueprint for the upcoming season, sharing their opinions on their teams, the Big 12 itself, and other issues across the college football landscape. It's when the season kicks off for those in my profession, and the event adds legitimate weight to the coming events on the gridiron in the fall.
Kliff Kingsbury, Jared Kaster, Branden Jackson, and DeAndre Washington all sat down in front of the media firestorm, taking on the long day of questions and queries about Red Raider football's 2015 incarnation. And for my money, Texas Tech was lucky to have a trio of players with as much charisma and polish as the three seniors they sent out to the Metroplex on Monday afternoon. They were sharp, gave thoughtful answers, and entertained the masses in front of them, all without any real missteps resulting in unwanted headlines.
And it's that trio that really represents the heart of Tech football in its current form: A bit understated - by design - with a fierce underdog mindset.
Shut up, work hard, and prove people wrong. That's the way this triumvirate - along with their veteran teammates - are approaching 2015. We've seen this mentality develop over the last six to eight months under the direction of Kliff Kingsbury, David Gibbs, and Mike Smith. Like the players that represented them at media days, that trio of coaches have seemingly been at the forefront of a bit of a different attitude and style leading up to the latest campaign.
We won't know the results of this under-the-radar offseason until the first ball is kicked away on September 5th, but we do know this: The Red Raiders are waiting in the weeds, and they believe they're ready to pounce.
Link Me, Bro
Baseball is playing around with ideas for clocks in baseball, and Grantland takes a look at some of the results and thoughts so far
What do you do when a new entry in a long-standing franchise breaks box office records? You greenlight another movie, of course!
Fantasy football is right around the corner, so here are some young players to look for that could break out this fall
The NFLPA apparently offered the NFL a settlement for the Tom Brady Deflategate debacle, which was met with silence
A twist on Florida Man: Florida Bear Eats 20 Pounds Of Dogfood, Passes Out On Lawn
Power Rankings: Fast food chains
I've really tried to cut back on fast food over the last few years after the dietary disaster that was college, but every once in a while I still like to cheat a bit and indulge. I feel, as a 24 year old American male that grew up through both the 90s and 2000s, I've got an experts knowledge on the subject. So, here are my favorites.
5. Jimmy Johns - Simple, solid sandwiches. It's easy, fast, and it's always good. That, and they deliver in under 15 minutes. Sign me up.
4. Whataburger - Some will probably gasp that I have Whataburger this low, but just let me explain. When it's done right and is made well, Whataburger is fantastic. Everything on the menu is great. But, I've also had a number of really bad experiences at Whataburger - from cold, soggy or overcooked food to bad service - and that knocks them down a few notches.
3. Potbelly - I hadn't ever had it before they brought it to Lubbock a while back, but boy was I missing out. The hot sandwiches with some of their hot peppers? Whoo boy that's a good lunch.
2. Chic-Fil-A - Like the chain at number one on my list, this place is a model of consistency and efficiency. It really is a modern miracle that it's stayed as delicious and fast as it has over the past 10 years. This is chicken done the right way.
1. Chipotle - The greatest thing on the market for my money as far as modern fast food. I know it's arguable as to whether it's true fast food or not, but the speed and quality of the food puts it clearly at the top for me. Chicken bowl with brown rice, black beans, mild and medium hot sauce, corn, cheese, and sour cream.
Off The Reservation: My preseason playoff prediction
Now that media days are in the books, I figured I'd go ahead and set myself up to look like an idiot in December before everyone else does!!After getting a feel for the conferences and what some of the top teams will look like, here are the four teams I think will be in the college football playoff before the season begins.
Ohio State - The top team in the country, it's scary how good the Buckeyes could be in 2015. They return essentially everybody, and they have one of the deepest rosters in all of college football. This team will steamroll their way through the Big Ten unless they collapse from the inside.
Auburn - Many feel that Tigers QB Jeremy Johnson is the real deal, including his head coach. With the offense humming along and the defense under Will Muschamp's direction, Auburn will be the best of the best in the SEC.
Baylor - I think the Bears will be the team of the Big 12 this year, not TCU. They have questions in the back seven on defense, and we don't know how good Seth Russell will be, but the offense will be physical and powered by playmakers, just like their defensive line.
Arizona - My dark horse, surprise team this fall, the Arizona Wildcats are the team I'm picking to win a pretty loaded Pac-12 South, topping an Oregon team from the north that's trying to replace the best QB in school history. Rich Rod has things rolling out in the desert, and despite both Arizona State and USC looking like really good squads, I think QB Anu Soloman and LB Scooby Wright lead the way to the playoff for the Wildcats.
Teams that just missed the cut: Clemson, Florida State, Alabama, TCU, Michigan State, USC.
I, along with droves of other sports journalists and writers, made my way out to Dallas earlier this week for Big 12 Media Days, where the coaches and select players from all 10 members of the conference laid out the blueprint for the upcoming season, sharing their opinions on their teams, the Big 12 itself, and other issues across the college football landscape. It's when the season kicks off for those in my profession, and the event adds legitimate weight to the coming events on the gridiron in the fall.
Kliff Kingsbury, Jared Kaster, Branden Jackson, and DeAndre Washington all sat down in front of the media firestorm, taking on the long day of questions and queries about Red Raider football's 2015 incarnation. And for my money, Texas Tech was lucky to have a trio of players with as much charisma and polish as the three seniors they sent out to the Metroplex on Monday afternoon. They were sharp, gave thoughtful answers, and entertained the masses in front of them, all without any real missteps resulting in unwanted headlines.
And it's that trio that really represents the heart of Tech football in its current form: A bit understated - by design - with a fierce underdog mindset.
Shut up, work hard, and prove people wrong. That's the way this triumvirate - along with their veteran teammates - are approaching 2015. We've seen this mentality develop over the last six to eight months under the direction of Kliff Kingsbury, David Gibbs, and Mike Smith. Like the players that represented them at media days, that trio of coaches have seemingly been at the forefront of a bit of a different attitude and style leading up to the latest campaign.
We won't know the results of this under-the-radar offseason until the first ball is kicked away on September 5th, but we do know this: The Red Raiders are waiting in the weeds, and they believe they're ready to pounce.
Link Me, Bro
Baseball is playing around with ideas for clocks in baseball, and Grantland takes a look at some of the results and thoughts so far
What do you do when a new entry in a long-standing franchise breaks box office records? You greenlight another movie, of course!
Fantasy football is right around the corner, so here are some young players to look for that could break out this fall
The NFLPA apparently offered the NFL a settlement for the Tom Brady Deflategate debacle, which was met with silence
A twist on Florida Man: Florida Bear Eats 20 Pounds Of Dogfood, Passes Out On Lawn
Power Rankings: Fast food chains
I've really tried to cut back on fast food over the last few years after the dietary disaster that was college, but every once in a while I still like to cheat a bit and indulge. I feel, as a 24 year old American male that grew up through both the 90s and 2000s, I've got an experts knowledge on the subject. So, here are my favorites.
5. Jimmy Johns - Simple, solid sandwiches. It's easy, fast, and it's always good. That, and they deliver in under 15 minutes. Sign me up.
4. Whataburger - Some will probably gasp that I have Whataburger this low, but just let me explain. When it's done right and is made well, Whataburger is fantastic. Everything on the menu is great. But, I've also had a number of really bad experiences at Whataburger - from cold, soggy or overcooked food to bad service - and that knocks them down a few notches.
3. Potbelly - I hadn't ever had it before they brought it to Lubbock a while back, but boy was I missing out. The hot sandwiches with some of their hot peppers? Whoo boy that's a good lunch.
2. Chic-Fil-A - Like the chain at number one on my list, this place is a model of consistency and efficiency. It really is a modern miracle that it's stayed as delicious and fast as it has over the past 10 years. This is chicken done the right way.
1. Chipotle - The greatest thing on the market for my money as far as modern fast food. I know it's arguable as to whether it's true fast food or not, but the speed and quality of the food puts it clearly at the top for me. Chicken bowl with brown rice, black beans, mild and medium hot sauce, corn, cheese, and sour cream.
Off The Reservation: My preseason playoff prediction
Now that media days are in the books, I figured I'd go ahead and set myself up to look like an idiot in December before everyone else does!!After getting a feel for the conferences and what some of the top teams will look like, here are the four teams I think will be in the college football playoff before the season begins.
Ohio State - The top team in the country, it's scary how good the Buckeyes could be in 2015. They return essentially everybody, and they have one of the deepest rosters in all of college football. This team will steamroll their way through the Big Ten unless they collapse from the inside.
Auburn - Many feel that Tigers QB Jeremy Johnson is the real deal, including his head coach. With the offense humming along and the defense under Will Muschamp's direction, Auburn will be the best of the best in the SEC.
Baylor - I think the Bears will be the team of the Big 12 this year, not TCU. They have questions in the back seven on defense, and we don't know how good Seth Russell will be, but the offense will be physical and powered by playmakers, just like their defensive line.
Arizona - My dark horse, surprise team this fall, the Arizona Wildcats are the team I'm picking to win a pretty loaded Pac-12 South, topping an Oregon team from the north that's trying to replace the best QB in school history. Rich Rod has things rolling out in the desert, and despite both Arizona State and USC looking like really good squads, I think QB Anu Soloman and LB Scooby Wright lead the way to the playoff for the Wildcats.
Teams that just missed the cut: Clemson, Florida State, Alabama, TCU, Michigan State, USC.
