Kyle Russell to Stay at Texas

After earning All-American status and hitting a team-record 28 longballs last season, Kyle Russell has opted to return for another year of college baseball. Standout catcher Preston Clark made the same decision, a year after being named a first team All-Big 12 selection.

Both players already have their sights set on Omaha and the College World Series, somewhere they haven't been in the last two years.

"Obviously, I wouldn't have chosen to come back if I didn't think we could do extraordinary things next season," Russell said.

If they do make it to Omaha, third baseman Bradley Suttle and pitchers Adrian Alaniz and James Russell will miss out. The trio all signed professional contracts, and Alaniz has already picked up a handful of wins for the Class A Vermont Lake Monsters and been named an All Star.

The Longhorns had seven of their recruits selected in the draft including Brandon Workman in the third round, but only Taylor Groat, and eight round selection by the New York Yankees, signed a deal by the August 15 deadline.

Notes and News

Eight teams will be in Omaha, Neb., this weekend for the College World Series, and not only will Texas be absent for the second consecutive year, but the Big 12 conference isn't sending a single representative.
Texas A&M lost in their Super Regional to Rice, and Oklahoma State was beaten 20-2 by Louisville.
UC Irvine, who eliminated Texas by beating them twice, extended their season for another weekend by sweeping Wichita State.

The Houston Chronicle's Joseph Duarte reports that Texas sophomore safety Robert Joseph will be transferring shortly after being arrested and charged with burglary of a vehicle.
It's hard to say why this keeps happening at Texas, but it's easy to see why they're trying harder and harder to recruit guys that will stay out of trouble. This rash of arrests and incidents should pass soon. If not, Texas will be the new U.

A total of 11 Texas players and six recruits were taken in the draft.
Quick rundown:
RF Kyle Russell — 4th Round (Cardinals)
3B Bradley Suttle — 4th Round (Yankees)
P Randy Boone — 7th Round (Blue Jays)
P Adrian Alaniz — 8th Round (Nationals)
P James Russell — 14th Round (Cubs)
P Joseph Krebs — 14th Round (Reds)
1B Chance Wheeless — 17th Round (Diamondbacks)
CF Nick Peoples — 19th Round (Cardinals)
C Preston Clark — 33rd Round (Cubs)
P Kenn Kasparek — 34th Round (Nationals)
IF Clay Van Hook — 45th Round (Mariners)

The six recruits:
P Brandon Workman — 3rd Round (Phillies)
OF Taylor Grote — 8th Round (Yankees)
OF Runey Davis — 11th Round (Pirates)
OF Kevin Keyes — 26th Round (Rangers)
P Garrett Clyde — 43rd Round (Cubs)
C Cameron Rupp — 43rd Round (Pirates)

It seems odd that the Rangers and Astros combined to draft only of them, Keyes by the Rangers. I think there's something to be said for nabbing the talent in your own backyard, but what do I know.

Oh, if you haven't noticed, Daniel Gibson is the man.

Commendations and Condemnations

Looking back: commendations, condemnations

By: Ryan Killian

Posted: 5/3/07

As the semester draws to a close, it seems a good idea to hand out what I like to call Killian's Commendations and Condemnations. Ok, I just made that up on the spot, but it will work splendidly.

First, a commendation to Kevin Durant. Bet you didn't see that coming.

Texas has grown to be respectable as a basketball school, but with Durant around you couldn't talk college basketball without bringing up the Longhorns. The 6-foot-9-inch kid wonder averaged a double-double during his too-short stay, and now he's headed toward stardom and riches in the NBA.

Staying in-house, my first condemnation goes to the University of Texas Board of Regents. "Sawing 'em off" may be low, but taking Aggieland Outfitters to court over it was even lower. Rivalries should be bitter and a little dirty.

They shouldn't be fought in a courtroom though.

Texas outfielder Kyle Russell is to be commended for his impressive play this season. He just made the list of finalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.

And with good reason.

The kid's leading the nation in home runs with 24, and his slugging percentage of .884 is tops too. He's already broken Jeff Ontiveros' team record of 20 home runs. Considering that home runs are baseball's sexiest stat, and that the sport's most glamorous element, power, is reflected in slugging percentage, it's safe to compare them with, say, touchdowns in football or average points in basketball. Neither Vince Young or Durant ever led their respective leads in those stats.

Just sayin', it's something to think about.

Billy and Bob get to share a dose of condemnation. Billy Gillespie, formerly of Texas A&M, took his "aw, shucks" approach to Kentucky. Bob Huggins took off for West Virginia, leaving Kansas State, resuscitators of his coaching career, in the lurch. Both coaches had it made in the Big 12. Gillespie commanded a huge contract with the Aggies, while Huggins had the run of Aggieville after almost getting the Wildcats into the NCAA tourney.

Both gave their thanks by saying goodbye, Gillespie via text message.

Conference winners always deserve their fair share of commendations, and Texas has three programs currently in possession of a Big 12 title. The soccer team won theirs last semester, but overlooking them wouldn't be right. After beating Colorado in penalty kicks to take the title, Texas earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and it took a meeting with that perennial powerhouse Portland to end their season in the third round. When all was said and done, the No. 8 ranking the team was left with marked its highest final ranking in team history.

Men's swimming and diving won their conference championship in February - for the 11th straight time. These guys are good. Their domination was rewarded in early April when, between veteran Garrett Weber-Gale and freshman Ricky Berens, they swept Swimmer of the Year and Newcomer of the Year respectively. They finished in fifth place at the NCAA championships - and were disappointed.

The men's indoor track and field program also got a taste of the title, splitting it with Nebraska. After dominating in the heptathlon, Texas also won the high jump, distance medley, mile run and 800-meter run on their way to 93 points and the tie atop the leader board.

Now the quick hits, the harsh, judgmental stuff first.

Jevan Snead. Sometimes competitors sit the bench. Snead transferred to Ole Miss after he couldn't wrestle away the starting job from Colt McCoy. Women's golf team, you started the season with a 16th-place finish in New Mexico. You ended it with a 10th-place finish in the Big 12 championship. A little improvement, or competitiveness, would have been nice.

To end on a positive note, here's a few more things that caught my eye.

NCAA, good call on separating text messaging and recruiting. WTG. You seven NFL draftees, and you two that signed free-agent deals, you know who you are, congratulations. Lastly, check 2B of next Wednesday's Daily Texan. I'm counting 32 female athletes who pulled off 4.0 GPAs in the last calendar year. That's impressive. I've never done it for a single semester.