Spent a lot of the weekend watching the 50th Rolex 24 from Daytona. What a great show! Even if you’re not into motorsports you’ve got to appreciate the team-work, endurance and just pure sporting nature of a guys and gals that want to get after it and compete for 24 hours straight. It was also a lot of fun to watch one of our favorite guests, Andy Lally, win his fourth Rolex-this time with Magnus Racing.

The folks at Magnus Racing did a tremendous job in the GT class putting together two strong teams They did an even better job representing one of their sponsors in The Children’s Tumor Foundation. What they did for those kids and the NF Heroes was fun to watch. The win was impressive but the work they all did at Magnus for those kids was humbling. We can all take a lesson! If you’re a fan of racing or just want to help, go to their facebook page!

As for the event itself, I wouldn’t mind seeing some other sports give the 24 Hour thing a try! Pocono already seems like that for the Nascar folks but I still think it would be cool to see the engine builders try and come up with a Nascar engine that could last that long. It would also be cool to see how long Kurt or Kyle Busch would last. . .

I’m not sure how to do a 24-Hour event for football but if anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Undercover Boss

I just got done watching Undercover Boss with the President  of Kendall-Jackson. It may be stupid, but I’ll be more likely to buy their wine and products in the future after watching the show. Whether it be for TV or otherwise, I’m usually impressed with leaders that go on that show and are willing to make changes, admit that strategy might have been misaligned and then face the music. Rick Tinger seemed to fit that bill tonight.

Obviously the true test will be time. Will Tinger continue to be as open-minded and willing to listen to the people that make the company work? My bet is that he will. When you do a show like this, you not only make yourself accountable to your employees, you open yourself up to the scrutiny of the wine buying public. Pretty good way to hold yourself to your standards.

Texas Tech Football

National Signing Day can’t get here soon enough for Tommy Tuberville and the Red Raiders I’d imagine. They need something good to take everyone’s mind off the finish to 2011 and an off-season that saw the ugly divorce between the program and former defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow.

For what it’s worth, I think Texas Tech A. D. Kirby Hocutt did a fine job handling the mess back in December. Maybe now some fans will understand why Texas Tech was being so guarded in the responses to the media and others about Glasgow’s status. Hell, I’m not even sure Glasgow was sure of his own “status” after reading the e-mails in the A-J on Friday. He obviously wanted out, but he obviously wanted to make it look like he got fired. That comes in handy when making a cash-grab. Between college football coaches and city managers around here, I’ve got to figure out a way to get paid while leaving my job . . .

Speaking of the recruiting class, @AJ_DonWilliams has the latest on another California kid coming to play defense for the Red Raiders. I wonder if Robert Prunty put out a help wanted ad there. . .If the mid-term guys make an impact next year, and most have to, that alone with make the class a success. As it stands, it looks like Tuberville and crew will back-up last years strong class with another. That’s how it gets rolling.

Come Monday on The Show we look forward to taking your calls on about all of this and much more. We’ll have the obligatory Super Bowl hype as well as look back over a weekend that saw the Lady Raiders take down Texas (that never gets old), the men scrap pretty well at Mizzou but come up short again and we’ll even delve into the world of food and fun just because we can. Join us starting at 3p.m. on www.1340thefan.com. We’ll be taking your calls on The Domino’s Fan Line-1-866-984-5326.

Looking forward to hearing how y’all recap the weekend on the Good, Band and Ugly topic.

Rest well, get us your thoughts and drive Texas Friendly.

Hyatt

There’s not much worse than getting sick around a holiday or a vacation. I hate it. Started feeling poorly Sunday night and it just kept getting worse. I get a bad cold or flu once every few years, so I guess this was my time. I used to schedule it for October, right before basketball season started so it wouldn’t affect my play-by-play. Now that I don’t travel with Texas Tech I guess it decided it can show up whenever. Thanks.

The worst part was not being able to stay up and watch the Stanford-OSU game last night. Sure, there’s DVR, but when you know the results it just isn’t the same. Throw-in the fact that the game is rendered meaningless under the current BCS system that tells us only one game matters and you have a great game in a vacuum syndrome. It was cool to watch, but means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Oh if it were the National Semi-Final Game! We’d be talking about that game last night for years to come. Instead, fans will largely forget about it in a few weeks nationally, which in Palo Alto is a good thing I guess.

That would be one thing I’d be talking about on the show tonight, except I won’t be there, so I’ve got to bang out a few words here and see what y’all think.

How much more attention would you have paid that game last night if it had been for the right to play in the National Title Game? If Alabama gets the win against LSU does Oklahoma State rightfully have a claim to a split-title this yr? Did the Cowboys really do anything last night to make you think they deserved a shot at LSU? ( A little defense would have been nice to see )

If we were on today we’d also recap the end of the Dallas Cowboys season. We all saw it coming, but for different reasons I think. I’m still surprised at how many people think Dallas choked this year. They continue to over-value the talent that the Cowboys have on both sides of the ball. In order to choke, you’ve got to have a decided advantage over your opponents and then do everything you can to make them win. That rarely happens in pro sports. Fans just like to throw that word around because it makes them feel like the other team isn’t really better, it’s just their team stinking it up.

Dallas didn’t choke, they’re just not that good. Slightly better than average talent in most spots and well below in other spots for sure.

Now the question becomes for some, do you give Rob Ryan more time on defense or does he become the fall-guy for this past season? I’d stick with him. Get better talent, give him a full off-season to work with players and I think you’ll see results. It ain’t the X’s and O’s in Dallas right now it’s the Jimmies and Joes. . .

Oh well, time for the meds to kick in. Y’all listen live tonite via www.1340thefan.com and get the latest on the Red Raider’s search for a defensive coordinator ( Art Kauffman anyone? ) as well as recaps of the bowls and more with Don Williams, Robert Snyder and Zack Kennedy. I’ll be back Wednesday if the creek and my fever don’t rise.

Hyatt

Just saw where the Powerball lotto is up around 150 million dollars. Not a bad little tax problem to have I must say for a dollar “investment”. I rarely play but for some reason it will occasionally grab my attention and dollars. I don’t even pretend it goes to public education any more. I just figure I’m buying a “dream” and paying a “stupid tax”.

Let’s say today though that you did hit the lotto and suddenly had the kind of millions to bestow on Texas Tech that many Red Raiders wish they had. I hear a lot saying that if Tech had a T. Boone Pickens the school would get a lot more out of it than Oklahoma State has so far. . .

So, what would you do with your cash? What would you fund at Texas Tech? Would it be sports-related? Would you do something for the school or college you got your major in? I’m interested to see how creative y’all can get with this today.

Don’t forget that if you live outside the Hubbaplex you can catch our show every day live via www.1340thefan.com where you can also download the smart phone app for SportsRadio 1340 The Fan. I also encourage all of you to give our podcast a FREE TRIAL right now. That’s the best way to never miss a segment, an interview or any discussions about your Red Raiders, Lubbock and West Texas news. Click on any podcast on the front page of our site and begin the journey.

Have a great Sunday and we’ll talk to you on the radio come Monday.

Ryan Hyatt

Here’s hoping your weekend is off to a great start and that you haven’t had to spend too much time fighting the Christmas shopping crowds! I’m lucky, my wife is averse to it as I am. . .

Yesterday on the show we had a great discussion with callers about who the next Red Raider football player should be to be given the honor of a retired number. As of right now, you’ve got #55 with E.J. Holub, #81 with Dave Parks and #44 with Donny Anderson. Other than that, no other Red Raider in the history of the program has received that kind of honor.

You can listen to the callers from yesterday and their thoughts by clicking the podcast link on the front page of our site. Enjoy the FREE TRIAL right now of our podcast and never miss a minute of our show!

So, we ask you today, going back to 1925 and right on up to today, who would you honor and why? We don’t stop there though as we also talked about the idea that instead of retiring a jersey number, why not make it a living tribute handed out when a player rises to the level of a Holub or Anderson type player.

Over the years I’ve come to back that idea simply more than retiring a number. You wouldn’t have to award the number every year. You might go years without a player being worthy. But, when the time comes it would make the honor even more special and would put the player from the past back in the limelight and the discussion.

For the record, I think Elmer “The Great” Tarbox would be a fine choice to start with. #21 in ’37 and ’38 was a huge part of an undefeated regular season team that would lose to St. Mary’s in the 1939 Cotton Bowl. Tarbox would be even more important to Lubbock as the years went on as a great philanthropist and more.

So, today give us the Red Raider you’d honor next and what you think the best way to honor those type player is. Have fun and be safe on the roads.

Ryan Hyatt

Ok, one last time we gather ’round the warmth of the internet and try to figure out which Texas Tech team will show up. Both defenses are about equally inept when it comes to stopping opponents, so we got that going for us. After that, we’re pretty sure RG3 will run/pass for about 721 yards today. As for Tech, you’re guess is as good as mine.

So, make your score picks now and let’s see if anyone can win our stellar prize package that includes, but is not limited to, a legendary Gun Barrel City Football T-Shirt, Rudy’s BBQ, Nick’s Sports Grill gift certificates and even some Domino’s Pizza. No one has nailed it yet this year so we’ll go out with a bang.

My pick: Baylor 49, Texas Tech 31.

For those interested, I’ll be hosting Fan Feedback on SportsRadio 1340 The Fan tonight. I’ll start taking your calls right after the game ends with no waiting for long, boring post-game show. Listen live and free online and dial in at 1-866-984-5326. Let all your good Tech friends no about this so we can get maximum participation. More voices = more fun.

Take care,

Hyatt

It’s nice to be back writing. We took some time off because our brain ran out of words. It happens. When you talk for a living, sometimes you leave all the good stuff in the studio. No promises that any of this will qualify as “good stuff”, but it is nice to find some time to write again and ( as always ) get your feedback. So, here goes. . .

1.  For two straight weeks Tony Romo has won games for the Dallas Cowboys that only he was going to be able to win. I’ve said in the past, and still maintain, that some guys have the “IT” factor and some don’t Romo doesn’t. But, big but here, he is showing signs as this season goes along of handling those situations better and making plays to win for his team vs. the other team. I still think he’s a better than average QB in the NFL, but not elite. That said, it is a proven fact you can win big in the NFL without an elite QB as long as they don’t hurt you. Perhaps, just perhaps, Romo is at that point in his career right now that he won’t be the problem if Dallas doesn’t win the division or make the play-offs. If you’re a Cowboy fan, the last two weeks should make you feel good. Those were games you lost in the last few years with or without a talent advantage. This time you won those two. That’s how you go from a 10 win team in this league to 12. Could this be the shift for Romo? You tell me.

2. Texas and Texas A&M officials can bluster and posture all they want but I firmly believe this series will be back on the schedule within a couple of years. Not from political pressure, not from ESPN pressure ( not even the all powerful yet never seen force known as The Longhorn Network ) but rather because the fan-bases will demand it. Same thing goes for Kansas and Mizzou particularly in basketball. Emotions will die down in a couple of years, new decision makers will be in place and these games will come back. Remember, once upon a time Alabama never played at Auburn. . . Things change.

3.  @DanBeebe is the best twitter account out there. @FauxPelini runs a close second. @TheOrangeCone is the best inanimate object I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting to know. It’s sad when fiction is better than reality.

4.  Those that don’t follow college basketball will see the score in the Texas Tech’s 60-49 loss to Indiana St. and think this is a sign that the Red Raiders are horrible. I mean really? Indiana St.? Ya, they’re good. They go to the NCAA Tournament and make teams work. They’re better than Texas Tech right now, but not by much. The Red Raiders put Indiana St. on the line way too many times. 25-31 vs. their 5-9. That is a sign that you’re either out of position or you are out-classed physically. Don’t think they were out-classed physically so you do the math. The good thing is that is a correctable problem. Bad news is that it may take a while to correct it. Lots of growing pains with this Tech team but I like their athleticism and hustle. The smarts will come. Oh, and feel free to be an impact player each night Lewandowski. Tech won’t win many games this year if he has more lines like today. He must be a difference maker each night.

5.  As we embark on the Christmas season let’s get this perfectly clear. “It’s A Wonderful Life” is the greatest holiday movie of all-time. There can be no debate.

Now, y’all get out and support local businesses and drive the economy. My wife can’t do it all by herself!

Hyatt

Hard to believe we’ve reached late November. This football season has moved pretty fast, even though for most Texas Tech fans I’m sure it doesn’t feel that way! Hang in there. Things get better.

Just wanted to drop a quick note here and say thanks to all of you that have allowed us to have more fun than folks should have while “working” these last 17 years on The Williams and Hyatt Show. A lot of things have changed over the years since we first started back on KFYO in 1994, but one constant that remains is the great people we get to hang-out with and talk to every day!

You guys are the best.

As we get close to flipping the calendar to another year, our pledge to you is that we’re going to keep on trying to have as much fun as possible, give you a little diversion from real life problems each afternoon all the while giving you a voice to sound-off; just like our goal was in 1994.

Thanks again for keeping me from having to get a real job. We hope this deal is filled with great friends, family and fine food. To all of our friends that are serving our country in uniform, away from family today: Thank You the most! Without you, we’d have nothing to be thankful for.

We’ll see everybody on the radio come Monday. Be safe.

Ryan Hyatt

I picked against them on the show last night, gonna do it again today. OSU 45 – Tech 24.

Now, give us your score picks and let’s see who has the best crystal ball out there today! Winner gets several prizes from W&H Show including a game worn Gun Barrel City Football T-Shirt!

Would love to hear your breakdowns of the game as well and how you think Tech could get the win. I’ve been doing it all week, now it is your turn!

ALSO, want you all to click this link and go bid on the right to destroy my old Penn. St./Joe Paterno T-shirt. We are raising money for CASA of the South Plains. They actually do what the adults at Penn. St. were intrusted to do: They help children. Even if the bid is above your limit, please go to their site and make any donation you can. Let’s turn a negative into a positive right here in Lubbock, Texas. Thanks.

Have a great Saturday and thanks again to all our Vets out there for making this the land of the FREE because of your bravery!

Hyatt