Here it is... FieldTurf. AP file photo.
The report everyone is waiting for... Texas chooses FieldTurf.
"We researched to determine what would be the best artificial turf
product for the Texas football program," said Jim Baker, UT associate
athletics director for events and operation. "We talked to a lot of
Division I programs that have FieldTurf in their football facilities and
they all gave us glowing reviews. Plus, FieldTurf has more fields out
there than anyone else at both the collegiate and NFL levels."
High praise for Garrett Gilbert from former Texas A&M coach Jackie Sherrill.
While at the University of Pittsburgh, Sherrill coached Dan Marino, who became one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.
Sherrill said he knew from watching Marino play high school ball in Pittsburgh that he would be special.
And he thinks Gilbert is another special one, which is good news for Texas fans. But how special?
"I think he’s the best quarterback I’ve seen since Danny," Sherrill said.
Basketball
Small is in. Teams with shorter lineups are wreaking havoc among the teams with taller players.
Ouch. Baylor beats Texas A&M again.
As the final seconds ticked off in Baylor's 72-68 basketball win over Texas A&M Saturday, the Bears' student section did a little taunting:
"Just like foot-ball; just like foot-ball."
Actually, this game was close after A&M won the first meeting in College Station. Football was a blowout, with Baylor winning 41-21.
I Am The 12th Man accepts the Aggies fate: NIT.
OU coach Jeff Capel was a guest on ESPN’s PTI. (Transcription from NewsOK.com.) How does he feel about playing second son to football?
LeBatard: Is there any part of you that prefers being second even on your own campus, that you like that you can be in the shadows and insanity of your football team?
Capel: I love it. I absolutely love it. Number one, I’m a huge football fan, and to be at the premier football program in the country. And then to have a chance to have a relationship like I have with Bob Stoops. I mean football’s the front door of everything we do and because of that and because of how great our football program is it gives all of us incredible resources and I certainly love that.
Kansas and Kansas State don't really care for each other. And Jayhawks center Cole Aldrich has just had enough of the prank calls from Kansas State fans.
Baseball
Oklahoma State pitcher Andrew Oliver has won his lawsuit against the NCAA. An Ohio judge tossed out an NCAA rule that keeps college baseball players from hiring advisers who are in contact with major league clubs.
Football
Update on the Mike Leach drama. Texas Tech will not respond to Leach's counter offer. The Houston Chronicle's Richard Justice's take on the situation:
About the only conclusion I can draw from the Mike Leach negotiations is that he doesn't want to be at Texas Tech and that Texas Tech officials are sick of him. I presume he'll coach at Texas Tech in 2009, but there seems absolutely no chance he'll be there beyond that.
ESPN has announced its prime time college football schedule.
More absurdity in the world of college football recruiting... Scouts have found the next great quarterback. He is a twelve-year-old boy named David Sills.
SI's Stewart Mandel has 10 offseason stories to watch. Sorry, but no one in the Big 12 has any drama this spring.
The era of the extremely interesting All-11 Offense is over.
Interesting story about Woody Hayes, the late, great coach at Ohio State.
As sports editor for The Lantern, Downie got to know legendary football coach Woody Hayes, perhaps more intimately than he would have liked.
"If the team lost or tied, he would conduct an interview in the nude. He was an ugly guy so it would clear the locker room out pretty fast," he said. Downie said one of his early mistakes in journalism was not reporting that Hayes instructed a player to take off his helmet and then proceeded to hit him in the head.