The Morning Stake | 2018.10.19

Leading Off

Are you interested in a Big 12 radio station? Well, that’s great because the Big 12 and SiriusXM announced a new sports channel. Here’s the proposed lineup:

The new channel’s programming will feature exclusive new shows hosted by former Big 12 athletes as well as journalists and conference insiders. The daily schedule will include Big 12 This Morning (weekdays, 8:00-11:00am ET/7:00-10:00 am CT) and the afternoon drive show, Big 12 Today (weekdays, 4:00-7:00 pm ET/3:00-6:00 pm CT).

Hosts on the channel will include former Iowa State standout QB Dave Archer; former Oklahoma defensive lineman and 1985 Lombardi Award winner Tony Casillas; former Oklahoma offensive lineman Gabe Ikard; as well as Holly Rowe, Fran Fraschilla, Tom Luginbill, Matt Schick and Ari Temkin.

Listeners will also hear weekly college coaches shows, press conferences, classic game broadcasts, coverage of future Big 12 Media Days, as well as curated, Big 12-specific highlights.

Texas Tech Volleyball

Texas Tech Soccer

Texas Tech Golf

Texas Tech Tennis

Lady Raider Basketball

Texas Tech Basketball

Good times.

Texas Basketball’s Carlos Silva (Texas Basketball is an offshoot of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football) has an article about how Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard is home at Texas Tech (which we all hope), although the start of the article starts with Beard at the Three Rivers in San Antonio and that he always loved the Texas Hill Country, but he also said this:

“Sometimes life throws you some special breaks, and I’ve always felt that way about my daughters,” said Beard, who was born in Marietta, Ga. before being raised in Irving. “I didn’t come back to Texas Tech to be closer to them. I came here to compete for championships and to graduate every player. But the fact that they were close is just special.”

In news that will likely not change anything with Texas Tech, via ESPN the NBA announced that the G League will offer select contracts of up to $125,000 to elite prospects who are at least 18 years old, but not old enough to be eligible for the NBA Draft.

As part of a newly formed professional path starting in the summer of 2019, the G League will offer “Select Contracts” worth $125,000 to elite prospects who are at least 18 years old but not yet eligible for the NBA draft.

The G League will target recent or would-be high school graduates who otherwise would have likely spent just one season playing college basketball, enticing them not only with a six-figure salary but also the opportunity to benefit from NBA infrastructure, as well as a bevy of off-court development programs “geared toward facilitating and accelerating their transition to the pro game,” league president Malcolm Turner told ESPN.

So, this provides a path for those that don’t want to go to college, however, a lot of people think that $125,000 won’t sway these elite players as the college experience is simply better. Of course, the NBA could just allow one-and-done’s and we wouldn’t be having this issue, but that’s way too easy.

Texas Tech Football

The Big 12 and Texas Tech released the 2019 schedule (which you all are already on this) and the big news is that at least for the 2019 and 2020 season, the Baylor game will return to their respective campuses and Texas Tech will have two byes.

8/31: Montana State
9/7: UTEP
9/14: @ Arizona
9/21: Bye
9/28: @ Oklahoma
10/5: Oklahoma State
10/12: @ Baylor
10/19: Iowa State
10/26: @ Kansas
11/2: Bye
11/9: @ West Virginia
11/16: TCU
11/23: Kansas State
11/29: @ Texas

Some people somewhat complain about having a not-so-good home slate every other year, but I’ve always thought that was because UT and OU were always tied together. It is what it is and I don’t see that changing any time soon. I’m glad the Baylor game has been moved back to the respective campuses. I was done with the Jerryworld experience personally.

I’m not posting the tweet here, but Saturday is a red-out, so plan accordingly. Now here’s a video.

Need more of Dorian the Explorian.

A-J Media’s Don Williams writes about the offensive line shuffle from last week and Jacob Hines and Bailey Smith both talked about playing so much against TCU and here’s a bit from Smith:

“I think the biggest thing was just staying calm,” Smith said. “That’s not an excuse. I know it’s unacceptable, but I’ve just got to be able to stay calm while I’m out there.”

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound junior from Lucas Lovejoy plays on the field-goal team, but his action on offense this season had been limited to late in victories against Lamar and Oklahoma State. Getting pressed into service at TCU meant bearing up against the top-rated defense in the Big 12.

“It was pretty exciting,” Smith said. “I was good to get out there and play. Obviously, there’s some stuff I need to fix that I’m not happy with, I’m sure the fans are not happy with, which I understand. I have to get out there and fix that.”

Miscellaneous . . . ICYMI, I answered some questions with the good folks at Rock Chalk Talk so make sure and check that out . . . Heartland College Sports’ Pete Mundo has his Kansas vs. Texas Tech preview and prediction . . . LandGrant Gauntlet’s Josh Cowan has 10 ridiculous statistics from week 7 including some Texas Tech nuggets . . . Athlon’s Nicholas Ian Allen previews and predicts Kansas and Texas Tech . . .

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