Texas remains in race for Kirkpatrick. Following the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game, five-star cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick discussed ($) his five top schools, a veritable who's who of college football powerhouses: Texas, USC, LSU, Alabama, and Florida. Kirkpatrick won't make a decision until around Signing Day, with an official visit to Texas scheduled for January 23rd. Kirkpatrick will find himself on Texas soil 20 days earlier at the US Army All-American Game in San Antonio. As for the All-Star game just completed,  Kirkpatrick made his mark on his first defensive play of the game, catching a deep pass at its highest point from Mississippi State recruit Tyler Russell, returning the ball 30 yards out of the end zone.

There's a reason Kirkpatrick just moved to No. 2 on the ESPNU 150: a description of his physical traits reads like a defensive coordinator's dream cornerback. Kirkpatrick is the type of guy you can create on Madden if you have an unlimited amount of money. He's 6-2, with long arms and incredible quickness, ball skills, the ability to mirror receivers. Consider this: Given the chance to talk to Duane Akina or any defensive coordinator about the traits that they want in a cornerback, that coach would describe Kirkpatrick.

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 The attrition continues. The Longhorn football team is a group of walking wounded. Mack Brown said Wednesday that Brian Orakpo will be a game-time decision. Chip Brown broke the story ($) that Colt McCoy spent as much time in the ice tubs as Quan Cosby did last week after leaving the Tech game with an injury. It led to McCoy hesitating to take the running lanes given to him by the Baylor defense. He also absorbed a couple big hits when blitzing defenders came free through the line. Lamarr Houston left the Baylor game after aggravating an ankle injury he has played through most of the year. Adam Ulatoski injured his elbow in the game, as well, leaving after the injury, although he remained atop the depth chart at left tackle. Chykie Brown has struggled to get back to speed, while recovering slowly from his ankle injury. Now, starting center Chris Hall injured his knee in practice this week, leaving him out of action for the Kansas game and thrusting true freshman David Snow into the starting role. After Buck Burnette's dismissal last week, that leaves tight end (if you can even call him that) Greg Smith as the backup center and the only player on the team who may need two jerseys this weekend. Talk about a team in desperate need of a bye week.

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The 37 year-old pizza man failed to deliver before halftime on Saturday Night, and as advertised, Texas received their meal free of charge.  It's been a little while since we've thrashed someone's dreams that thoroughly.

Before the game I predicted a 41-30 Texas win.  My reasoning was that Missouri would have some game film on our four-wide formation, and they had a whole week to scheme around defensive line.  The problem with my reasoning is the omission of the Pinkel Factor.  I'd imagine the game plan meeting went a little something like this:

[ten minutes of silence]

Chase Daniel:  Hey, does anyone have a hacky sack?

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Game day, poster-ized.

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Big 12 Tourney Update. As mentioned last night, Texas has to thank...[gulp]...Oklahoma for its dramatic 9th inning come from behind win over Missouri; the Sooners' 4-3 win on a two-run double in the final frame kept Texas alive for a spot in the tournament finals. Heading into Saturday's last round robin match up, it is - surprisingly - Oklahoma which is the team controlling its own destiny in Pool 1. The path to the finals for the top half of the bracket, then:

Texas: Defeats OU, A&M defeats Missouri
Missouri: Defeats A&M, Texas defeats OU
Oklahoma: Defeat Texas
A&M: Eliminated
Note: In a three-way tie at 2-1 (Texas beats OU, Missouri beats A&M), the highest seed (#4 MU) advances.

Down in the bottom half of the bracket, on Wednesday #6 Baylor defeated #3 Nebraska, while #7 Kansas State took out #2 Oklahoma State. Pool play continues tomorrow with Nebraska-KSU and Baylor-OSU, while both Pools will complete match up play on Saturday. The division winners will meet Sunday for the conference title.

The conference... has changed. Remember when the Big 12 was sort of a plodding, defense-oriented, every-team's-fans-knew-the-name-of-their-fullback type of conference? Not so much any more:

The conference was so pass happy in 2007 that even Baylor's quarterback is near the top of the national leaderboard. And they just hired Art Briles. Elsewhere, Cody Hawkins didn't make either of the above charts, but enters year two in Dad's historically offense/QB-friendly system.

Really, the conference could feature as many as nine spread offenses with passing games to fear, with two unknowns (A&M and Nebraska) and then Iowa State.¹

Do not leave the premises. You've been warned. This is the maddening time of year when you start to see previews of Texas written by people who either don't follow the team closely enough or are not named SMQ enough to put together something worth reading. This entry was the latest to hit my inbox via Google News Alert:

Rashad Bobino-While he may lack the size that NFL scouts look for in a middle linebacker, he plays with the heart of a man twice his size. Bobino's attitude and heart make him a very essential part of this years team. While the Horns adapt to their third defense in four years under the guidance of former Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, look for Bobino to lead this young defense back to national prominence.

In other news, keep an eye on Henry Melton during goal line situations. This is the year he leads Texas' red zone offense back to national prominence.

Now say something nice. I was going to rant about the stupidity of hiring former players to offer sports commentary, absent a demonstrated ability to share useful information with the viewer based on their experience in the game. However true, I'm going to be positive and note what a joy it was to listen to Mike  Jeff Van Gundy do color for the Detroit-Boston game last night. (I'm a big Pistons fan these days. Don't ask.)

It was absolutely fantastic. Van Gundy would watch exactly what I watched but would have infinitely more insight into what had just transpired. And he explained it! Like, real insights on what was happening. And even better, what wasn't happening. Throughout the game, Van Gundy would talk to viewers like it was him and us on the end of the bench and we were watching our team play out a playoff game. He had praise for great play and no shortage of criticism for mistakes.

So rather than bloviate about how useless John Barry is, let me say that the flip side of that coin - listening to a former player or coach who can communicate unique insights - is a real treat.

¹If Gene Chizik doesn't quickly get things going in Ames and they start to slide into Baylor territory, I'd like to see the Cyclones bring back Larry Eustachy. Except as a football coach. Who is encouraged to drink while he coaches. The fans deserve it.

I hope those watching charged the meal to the Underhills. After a day to travel and another to sleep I re-emerged (human again) to find Texas and Georgia fans immersed in a massive open thread for the NCAA Tennis Championship, all of which I missed; as a fan and player of the sport, I would have loved to catch some of the action. Unfortunately, the 'Horns were bested in the national finals despite picking up the early doubles point. Congratulations to the 'Dawgs for the NCAA championship, and to our 'Horns, for the fantastic run in Tulsa.

EDSBS LIVE hitting its offseason stride. With the tennis open thread in full force, I didn't dare bump the main event down, not even for a late EDSBS LIVE promo post. Nonetheless, Orson and I did indeed have our weekly show last night, a 90-minute chat about the early Top 25 polls and where they seem on/off the mark. Podcast of the show is available both via the radio player in the left sidebar of this page and on the EDSBS Live show page itself.

On a related note, tentatively mark your calendars for the 10th of June, boys and girls, when the inimitable Phillip Steele is scheduled to join EDSBS Live for the summer preview spectacular. Last year's chat with college football's walking encyclopedia was probably the show's most thoroughly entertaining; there's something truly joyous about listening to a man so wholly devoted to the great game of college football.

Phil Steele returns to EDSBS Live.

Lacke... Leeche... Leike.... Just watch. The Temple tailback with the funny name made his way to the FanShots, courtesy of WorstFan. But Lache Seastrunk, a prospect in the 2010 class, is front page material. (Use a bib.)

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