On the Court

Texas Tech volleyball will start their season in Boca Raton (I always think of Seinfeld, Jerry’s and George’s parents living in Del Boca Vista when I hear Boca Raton) to take on Western Carolina, FAU, and Kent State to open the season. You should have zero expectations that I’ll be able to keep track of volleyball once football really heats up, but will do my best.

On the Hardwood

Texas Tech basketball announced their matchup at Madison Square Garden against Duke on Saturday, December 20th at 7:00 p.m. That is appointment television. Also, have you ever looked to see where MSG is located? It’s just a couple of blocks away from the Empire State Building, between 31st and 33rd Streets and 7th and 8th Avenues.

On the Gridiron

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese writes about how special teams coach Kenny Perry likens the defense to the 1985 Bears, which obviously hyperbole, but still high praise:

Led by outside edge rushers David Bailey and Romello Height and the defensive tackle trio of Lee Hunter, Skyler Gill-Howard and A.J. Holmes Jr., the Red Raider defense is projected to be among the best in the nation. The group has earned high praise for being able to come together throughout spring and fall camp, and even has one coach likening the unit to one with historical relevance.

“I don’t wanna say we’re the ’85 Bears, but we’re pretty close to the ’85 Bears,” associated head coach Kenny Perry said of the defense. “Those guys got a lot of really good players that they’re going to change the way we play.”

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams opines that Texas Tech will not be the underdog story that it has been in the past:

“No doubt. I know they are,” McGuire said. “I hope they are. I hope they put it out there. We’re going to use it like crazy. I think it’s the easy and lazy way out of saying all this stuff, because … people do not know what’s gone on in this building and how close … This is a really, really close group.”

McGuire said he thinks other programs — probably not a lot, but some — have spent more on their rosters, taking into account not only funding for the portal but to retain last year’s players. Texas, for one. “I think Texas would tell you they probably did,” McGuire said.

Dallas Morning News’ Lia Assimakopoulos ($) on the relationship between head coach Joey McGuire and GM James Blanchard. There was a part of the story that I had not heard, which is that when Blanchard was just starting, McGuire gave Blanchard $2,000 so that Blanchard could buy his kids gifts for Christmas:

“He gives me like $2,000 for Christmas, and he says, ‘Make sure your kids have a good Christmas, Blanch.’ At the time, I needed that more than anything in the world,” Blanchard said. “I make good money now, and I appreciate where I’m at, but man, that $2,000 that he gave me when I was at my lowest meant a lot more at the time than a lot of these offers I’ve gotten since.”

That one gesture forged a special bond between the two Baylor staffers. Blanchard left after the 2019 season to follow Rhule to the NFL. But he later rejoined the Baylor staff in January 2021 where he stayed until McGuire brought him to Lubbock.

His role at Texas Tech has evolved, but he now boils it down to three key responsibilities: “I’m a talent evaluator, contract negotiator and problem solver.”

The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman asked a bunch of players what they spent their NIL on and Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton bought 150 acres:

Texas Tech quarterback and outdoorsman Behren Morton bought 150 acres of land near Cross Plains, Texas, which he plans to lease out to hunters when he’s not there.

“It’s 30 minutes from my parents’ house,” Morton said. “It has some fishing tanks on it, little elevation change so a lot of deer, pigs, varmints, ducks, everything.”

While defensive linemen had some purchases as well:

Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter purchased a house for his mother in his hometown of Mobile, Ala. Cincinnati defensive tackle Dontay Corleone bought a home near Cincinnati and lives only a couple of blocks from his mother — “And I got it on a good price,” he said. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is working on buying his mother a home.

Texas Tech defensive lineman Romello Height bought his mother a GMC Yukon and his father an apartment in Atlanta. “I’m big on taking care of my people,” Height said.

Special teams coach Kenny Perry with a little bit of a non-transcript. I didn’t focus too much on the specialists, but started when he was discussing the young players starting to make an impact:

• Impact on special teams. All young guys, Leyton Stone, Bryson Jones, John Curry, TJ West, Kelby Valsin, Marcus Ramon-Edwards when he gets back.
• Micah Hudson is an explosive player, Roy Alexander, Leyton Stone, Tristian Gentry. Micah can take advantage of it and show us what he can do. My job to get those young kids ready to go and step up and show why they are here.
• Micah did it in high school, same with Tristian Gentry, you’ll see him as well. Roy has done a great job and great practice player. Coy Eakin can go back there any game and any time and he’ll catch the ball. The first 3 games is to see if they can do it. For the young guys, this is their shot.
• Behren Morton, can’t wait to see what a healthy version of him for this football team and has such arm talent. On the defensive side of the ball, all 11 guys on defense, they’re like the 85 Bears. Behren has shown a lot of grit and Behren healthy is going to turn some things for us.