I've redacted a part of it (I tend to get emails when the entire article is copy and pasted), but here's the link to the article. 

Fellow Pirates  found this in  September 08Texas Monthly Mag.

Enjoy

Texas Tech? Really? I thought only Oklahoma and Texas were allowed to take home the Big 12 title. There was an ugly rumor last season about a couple of teams from Kansas and Missouri. And even old A&M might be due for a resurgence, provided new head coach Mike Sherman can recruit Brett Favre. But Tech?

It’s not a High Plains blizzard, a message-board fantasy, or a Mike Leach fever dream. There, plastered on the front of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the state’s fall agenda-setter, are the grinning mugs of three Red Raiders: Coach Leach, quarterback Graham Harrell, and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. In a May power ranking on Sports Illustrated’s Web site, Tech climbed to eighth in the nation, ahead of Texas and Texas A&M. And in July, ESPN commentators Mark May and Desmond Howard picked Harrell and Crabtree as favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. "Those are the expectations Oklahoma has, not the kind Texas Tech has," says Chris Level, who publishes redraidersports.com and co-hosts Leach’s radio show.

Of course, Tech has been pinballing between mere respectability and near excellence for years; the Red Raiders reached number seven in the BCS standings in 2005. So how, it must be asked, did the preseason party get shifted to Lubbock? And can Tech finally put together a dream season that causes long-term annoyance for the rest of the Big 12?

 

Hey all, I write for your SBN sister site, Brew Crew Ball. I recently interviewed Colt Farrar, a 32nd-round draft pick of the Brewers that they were unable to sign. He has some nice things to say about Tech's new baseball coach, so I figured I'd repost it here.

BCB: I hear the Brewers made a late run at trying to sign you.

CF: Yeah, they offered 100 [thousand] to start, then came back with 180. And of course school would be paid for too.

BCB: And what were you looking for?

CF: Well, I really wanted to play pro, but if a team doesn't get up around 350 then they don't have to commit to you, and you will just get filled in for by someone else the next year. 180 is nothing to a pro team. I mean, it sounds like lots of money, but you lose 30% to tax, then have to live off it for the next few years if you make it to the team, and that's just as hard as getting drafted. So I guess my price was 350.

BCB: What round were you hoping to go in?

CF: Well, I wanted to be in the top 15 and was told that I would be by one of the Brewers scouts. He actually told me around 8th to 10th. It's a team's job to get the top 15 [picks] signed; after that, it's just bonus, and also the Brewers had lots and lots of early picks.

BCB: Did they give you any reason why you fell to the 32nd round?

CF: Yeah, they were really trying to get lots of pitching this year

BCB: Were any other teams interested in you?

CF: Yeah, I talked to lots. I mean, it's really hard to tell, though, because everyone kinda tells you what you want to hear. I threw for lots of scouts.

BCB: Can you describe what you throw?

CF: Low-90s four-seam fastball, upper-80s two-seam, 76 to 78 MPH curve, 81 to 84 MPH slider, 80 MPH change. I don't throw my change much, because my control's off with that pitch.

BCB: Did you consider going to a juco?

CF: Yeah, I signed with San Jacinto and was almost 100% sure I was going there, but the new coach at [Texas] Tech, [Dan] Spencer, really has a good idea about stuff, and I really feel like I'm going to get to pitch there as a freshman because he's trying to turn the team around. He took over this year, and if he wouldn't have, I wouldn't have gone to Tech.

BCB: What about Coach Spencer's ideas did you like so much?

CF: He's really down to earth. Recruiting is a game, and most coaches will say anything to get you—promise the moon and then give nothing. I really feel like he'll stand by his word.

BCB: Well it's great that you found a good situation. Best of luck in the future.

CF: Thanks.

It seems I have read lots of different newspapers and different articles from around the nations about Texas Tech and yes Lubbock.

But Oklahoma City's Barry Tramel  sports writer for the Oklahoman was the most glowing I love Lubbock I have ever seen.

see the Tramel Blog at : http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/category/the-big-blog/

The only detracting item he had to say was no secret concerning the Tech Campus. Get rid of the architecture building, the only real blunder and stupidity any Tech president or board ever made in allowing that building to be built. Besides, its falling down anyway because of .... Lack of architectural engineering. It litterally the leaning tower of  Lubbock and is truly an ugly building that does not match the rest of the campus.  I say as a Tech ex, knock it down and have a Tech EX who is an architect to build the next one rather than some SMU drop out that was in charge of the current building we have.

But I was suprised that Tramel gave Lubbock and Tech lots of Love and even suggested that Lubbock is actually a better place to live and go to college than Austin.

What is interesting is that Tramel is not alone in praising Lubbock and Texas Tech.  Van Pelt with ESPN has often talked about how nice Lubbock is and about the facilities at Tech are just beautiful.

I have to agree, Not many places look at nice as the United Spirit Arena. I am hard pressed to name any facility anywhere in the nation that is more beautiful as far as exterior is concerned.

Even Harvey Perlman had some nice things to say about Lubbock and the citizens here. Never hurts to have Lubbock being billed as having the best steaks in the west by several reporters and officials.

But  I thought it was interesting to read several newpapers articles from other localities  whcih seem to like Lubbock and are impressed with the improvements Tech has made to its facilities over the last several years.

 

I thought I would ponder this thought as we get ready for this season.

This line of thought would have been thought of as crazy or loony if even asked last year at this time.

However, Graham Harrell threw 5705 yards last season with 5 games where he did not even play the final quarter and a half.

So with this being the year for the push for the Heisman and for Leach to promote Harrell as the greatest QB for an NFL bid, I have to wonder.

What are the odds of Texas Tech putting up in a single season 6000 plus passing yards?

So I am asking the question.  Lets see how  and what the other fans think.

Poll

How many yards do you think Graham Harrell with pass this season?

• Less than 4000 yards
• 4000 - 4999 yards
• 5000 - 5999 yards
• 6000+ yards

  80 votes | Results

 

Interesting article on relative conference strength from SI.com.

 

In the Big 12, where Missouri, Kansas and Texas Tech have already upped the competition level, Nebraska and Texas A&M are banking on Bo Pelini and Mike Sherman, respectively, to restore those programs to their previous luster. Ditto for Hawkins at Colorado. If any or all succeed, and if Texas and Oklahoma maintain their recent level of success, the conference could conceivably reach SEC-level depth.

I would like to see the ratings on a year-in, year-out basis rather than a 5 year average.  I guess I should start routing for OU in non-conference games (which is not a problem for any other school in the conference, but OU?  Uggg.)

So all that railing that people did on him was for nothing. He'll be playing in the first game.

 

Accordingly, they overlooked a credit and that credit let him reach the time required.

I also want to mention that fanshots need to have a "quick thought" option where we can just post text. I don't have a link and I don't want to get a link so I can't write a fanshot, but there isn't enough here for a fanpost.

 

I know its still way to early, but for the rookies on the team, the preseason is what makes or breaks......so I hope this doesn't hurt Danny Amendola's chances of making the roster........

SAN DIEGO - Cowboys rookie wide receiver Danny Amendola showed a nice burst on the first punt return of his NFL career, then fumbled his next attempt with 5:39 left in the first quarter which led to a Chargers touchdown.

The Cowboys' special teams struggles continued in Saturday's 31-17 preseason loss to the Chargers, particularly in punt and kickoff coverage - an area that was inconsistent at times last season.

The Chargers averaged 20.5 yards on four punt returns, and speedy Darren Sproles had a 25-yard kickoff return.

"I thought our special teams didn't play well," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said. "They're a very good special teams (unit) and we knew that going in. We did look at a lot of people. We didn't punt the ball well to help our special teams and then our kickoff returns weren't real good. It's something that we need to address."

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=ABE0F6EE-B21B-E01A-E7514944F61A5C94

McNeil just gave the job to L A Reed.  McNeil said he wanted to put the best athletes on the field.  The job was L A's to lose.  I suspected something like this after L A was so disenchanted with his playing time last year.  I think they had it planned all along.  They just had to play out the politics so it would look like they were not giving the job to him because of a fit.  He is practicing with a cast because of a broken hand.  If he can overcome this injury, I think he can be very good for our defense.  I like the way things are looking all the way around. 

HSGameTime.com shot video Tuesday night of Hebron OT tackle Joel Gray and his decision to commit to Texas Tech.

The highlights are particularly impressive. Gray is often shown knocking defenders 5 yards backwards and he also makes blocks 15- and 20-yards downfield. And his pass protection looks very good. Excellent footwork.

Check it out at http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/...70305&shu=1

You can also see video of recent Tech commit Terrance Bullitt at HsGameTime.com

Does anyone know when the one and only open scrimmage of fall workouts will be? i would guess that it will be next week, but i would like to get an exact date. If you have never attended this scrimmage, i would highly recommend it. You can get on the field next to the players and coaches and get close to the action. It is great for kids because the players are very approachable about signing autographs.