Blue Ribbon is rolling out their team previews over at ESPN.com, including a look at Texas ($) and the rest of the Big 12.
The overall summary of the team and roster is quite solid, but the ultimate conclusion is puzzling: Blue Ribbon ranks Texas' offense as a B+ while grading the defense at an A-. The former seems too low, the latter too high.
Dinging Texas for questions on the offensive line is certainly justifiable, but heading into fall practice, I don't think it's a stretch to say that the offense is probably the more exciting unit right now. I'm not skpetical about this year's defense, but I'm definitely jazzed about what McCoy, Charles, and Sweed's crew can do this year.
Austin-area readers may have noticed some serious shakeups in the afternoon sports radio lineups recently. Most importantly, ESPN 1530 ditched "The Beatdown," one of the worst "sports" radio programs to ever hit Austin airwaves and replaced it with a new show featuring Dave Anderson and Chip Brown. I've caught Chip's show three times this week now, and been absolutely thrilled with it. They hit the topics I'm interested in, talk to guests who have insight to add to the issues, and carry the show in a professional but appropriately light manner.
It's an especially welcome development because I absolutely abhor "The Afternoon Show" with Chad Hastings and Kevin Dunn on 1300 The Zone. Both hosts drive me absolutely nuts, though I strongly preferred Kevin to Chad. Now, though, Kevin Dunn has left 1300, effective immediately, leaving a gaping hole in the afternoon slot at The Zone. No word yet on what they're going to do, but it better be damn good - I highly doubt I'd choose another program over what I've heard so far from Chip Brown.
Briefly: Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News takes a stab at summing up UT's offseason, hitting four big points: the hiring of MacDuff, the Webb-Watts transfers, the Robert Joseph arrest, and Jordan Shipley's hamstring injury... Augie inked his 15th signee when left-handed pitcher and outfielder Brandon Belt committed to Austin this week. Belt originally committed to UT after his senior year of high school before having to spend a year at San Jacinto College, where he compiled a 7-2 record (2.82 ERA) and .421 BA playing both ways in leading SJC to the Junior College World Series... Texas prep 7-on-7 summer tourneys get under way in College Station this weekend... Longhorn football players help local Make-A-Wish come true... New women's hoops coach Gail answers some fan emails.
--PB--