Augustin set to return next season

Minutes after leading Texas to a 62-45 win over Oklahoma, sophomore point guard D.J. Augustin stated that he plans on returning for his junior season next year.
"I'm definitely coming back," he said. "I'm not even looking at that kind of stuff."
Augustin added that a deep run in the NCAA tournament wouldn't change his outlook, and he said he just wants to win championships.

Michael Griffin for Obama

Guess who has taken up Barack Obama's banner?
Former Texas safety and current Tennessee Titan Michael Griffin called my phone this morning — or at least an automated recording of his voice called my phone. Griffin was trying to coax me into voting for Obama.
Unfortunately for him, being a journalist, I can't take sides in politics.
(Actually that's just a cop out, but either way I'm not voting.

************

In other news, the Oklahoma Sooners football squad got its 8 wins from the 2005 season restored.

Kansas just another opponent?

It might be Big Monday, and it might be Kansas, but Rick Barnes and his basketball team would have you believe there isn't anything extra special about tomorrow's game.
"Everybody gets pumped to play Kansas, but everybody gets pumped to play Texas too," guard A.J. Abrams said.
D.J. Augustin echoed the sentiment, saying a win would be big but that they're not letting the hype get to them.
The No. 12 Longhorns don't need any distractions.
No. 4 Kansas has lost only once this year, and Texas has struggled — even in the process of rattling off three straight wins. Barnes sees a lot of strengths in the Jayhawks.
"They've had this team together for awhile. These guys know each other," he said. "They're experienced. They've been there.
"They're a good basketball team."
Freshman Gary Johnson stuck to the party line for the most part, saying the magnitude of the game comes only from the fact that a win would give the Longhorns a decent shot at the conference title.
But Johnson, who missed the beginning of the season, knows the coming contest is something special.
"This is by far the biggest game I've been able to play in so far," he said.

Bobby Knight Retires

Texas Tech head coach Bobby Knight suddenly resigned earlier tonight.
I won't go over his career accomplishments or scandals as if you don't already know who he is.
His affect on Texas head coach Rick Barnes probably can't be overstated. Barnes loves Knight and isn't shy about it. He released a statement upon hearing of his mentor's resignation.

Statement from Rick Barnes on Bob Knight Retiring

"The best that has ever been has just walked off into the sunset. As
people reflect on his career, they will begin to recognize what Bob
Knight has been able to accomplish. He has affected countless numbers of
people with his teachings and ideas, people he could never realize that
he has touched. And that will continue in time as we pass down those
teachings to future generations. There is so much I admire about Coach
Knight. What I admire most is his willingness to share what he had
learned with anyone along the way, his reverence for the game, and his
respect for those who came before him. There is no question he has left
the game of basketball far better than he found it."

On Pat Knight taking over the head coaching duties:

"I've gotten to know Pat pretty well since he has been in Lubbock and I
respect him greatly. He has had the best seat in the house, having
played for his father and sitting next to him on the bench, so we know
he's learned some pretty important lessons along the way. Pat is more
than ready to be a head coach."

I'm just disappointed I only had one chance to see him up close. It came just a few days ago when the Red Raiders lost to Texas at the Erwin Center. In the post-game press conference Knight was curt but as polite as could be expected. He left suddenly after deciding he'd answered enough questions.

Ross plays part in Giants Super Bowl win

Aaron Ross and the ten guys with him on the defensive side of the ball took the field with :28 on the clock and a 3-point Giants lead that no one ever expected to see.
Ross himself had a chance to seal the win of the first play. He was the lone Giant in coverage on an errant deep ball from Tom Brady that found only the turf.
Brady was sacked for a 10-yard loss on the next play, and third down was a deep incompletion to Moss.
Fourth-and-20, and ten seconds left. It all came down to one more deep ball.
The play resulted in one more incompletion, and the Giants got the ball back left with one tick left.
17-14, New York wins.
Ross finished the game with just 1.5 tackles, but it looked like Brady didn't go in his direction much.

Welker beats Ross

Round two of the Texas vs. Texas Tech contest goes to the Red Raiders and Wes Welker.
Aaron Ross appeared to be in man coverage against Welker, and when the speedy slot receiver took off across the field, Ross couldn't keep up.
Welker made a catch for a 19-yard completion and Gibril Wilson brought him down.

Ross and his defensive mates are getting no help from Eli Manning on the offense. They've been on the field constantly, and they've held stubbornly time after time. Thanks to them, the Giants only trail by four points in the fourth quarter. They couldn't (realistically) ask for a better position.
As I write that, Manning connects with tight end Kevin Boss for a 35-yard gain, and they are driving.

Ross makes a big play

We just saw a Big 12 confrontation in the Super Bowl, and Texas came out on top against Texas Tech.
Aaron Ross brought down Wes Welker for a 2-yard loss. New York's Corey Webster got to Welker first and held him up just long enough for Ross to put a hit on him.
After a penalty breathed new life into the Pats failed drive, New York was able to shut down Tom Brady once more and forced an incompletion on fourth down to take over.
Ross now has 1.5 tackles, and I haven't seen him get beat yet.

Aaron Ross Super Bowl watch

Texas-ex Aaron Ross made his Super Bowl debut a few minutes ago as a starter for the New York Football Giants.
I'll keep tabs on him throughout the game.
During the Patriots first possession, Ross earned half a tackle. The Patriots scored on the drive and lead 7-3 in the second quarter.

Ross acknowledged how fortunate he is to be playing in a Super Bowl during his rookie season on TexasSports.com. He pointed out that it took Giants punter Jeff Feagles 20 years in the league to finally set foot on the big stage. Teammates Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters have been in the league 10 and 11 years respectively, and they're both playing in their first Super Bowls he said.
"Not just making it, but participating in it means a lot," he said.