Well, we made it. Friday. Whether you’re trying to figure out what to do without football, looking forward to some college basketball or having to finally do all the projects you’d been putting off now that your wife knows football season is over–we’re here to help. Actually, that’s not true. You can’t borrow my truck, my back’s acting up and I can’t help you clean your garage and I honestly have no desire to do much of anything this weekend except destroy some good BBQ and perhaps liberate a few bottles of Shiner Bock. If that’s in your plans, give me a holler. Now, on to 5 Things.

If you agree, disagree or anything in between, let us know. We love comments. The best make it on the air. The worst certainly make it on the air.

1.  I want the Texas Tech Lady Raiders to make the NCAA Tournament. I make no apologies for my bias and anyone that knows much about me knows why. That said, right now they are on the outside looking in. In fact, they’re kinda out in the street just wandering around wondering where the window is and what that orange square on it is for…

This team still has time to make it happen. There are signature wins out there for them if they can just put the ball in the hoop and make a few free throws. A senior post player shooting better than 27% in Big 12 play would help too. (Ya, Mallard, that’s you) This team has the experience, the talent and I’d like to think the scoring ability to be better than this. You look at the shots they take and miss and they’re good shots. Not crazy, wild prayers but the end result of running solid offense. They should be performing better.

Those that think Kristy Curry and staff will be gone if Tech doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament can think again. First and foremost her extension last year makes it unlikely. Second, Texas Tech A.D. Kirby Hocutt is smart enough to see that the coach is putting this team in a position to be successful. It just isn’t working. Third, Tech’s attendance is still way ahead of most in the NCAA. It may not be what it was 10 years ago, but that might never happen again at Tech no matter how good the team is. Times, they are a changing. Curry isn’t the problem right now, no matter how loud some may bang that pot…

2.  If I’m forced to switch to that new Time-Line thing on Facebook I’ll probably leave Facebook. (Might still buy the IPO) It is hard to read, hard to find what you’re looking for and doesn’t work. Linear works better for most of these things. While trying to be linear, it is far too jumbled. Plus, I really don’t want to know what I was thinking on April 12, 2009. I might have had a few cock-tails and it might not be pretty. Facebook seems to be trying real hard to be the next MySpace. Good luck with that.

3.  At the end of Texas Tech Football spring drills Seth Doege and Michael Brewer will be listed as C0-#1 QB’s. I’m not in either camp. Not rooting for either one. Tea Leaves right now though are telling me this job is up for grabs. Stay tuned til August to see who wins the delegates from the Neal Brown Caucus.

4.  The day Whataburger starts delivery service is the day I buy a Whataburger franchise. Talk about printing money. Even if you only delivered from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. you’d make a killing.

5.  I know some will hate this, but I still don’t like the idea of women on the front lines of combat in our Armed Services. Old-fashioned? Sure. Out of touch? Guilty. To me, when it comes to the military and war, the goal is to break things and kill people without getting your stuff broken or killed. It is not a social program and should not bow to the whims of society nor should it even be fair. If a person can meet all the physical standard that are in place to keep soldiers from being in harms way, sure, let women into those roles. If there are any “gender norming” standards in place or they have to meet any physical criteria that is less than that of a male to be in a combat role or to serve Special Forces roles, than that is wrong-headed thinking. The objective of the military is to get the job done, not to make sure everyone has a fair shot at career advancement, gaining rank or having a chance. That’s just not the goal.

Now, flame away. I expect it…

Hyatt

Day 2 of Spring Football Previews for Red Raider fans. Today we’ll focus on the WR corp with Don Williams of the A-J. He’s got a good write-up that you can sink your teeth into today before show time hits.

It’s Thursday so that means Cultural Index Time. Today we ask you for your All-Time Favorite Paul Newman movie. Good luck trying to narrow it down folks. Hud? Cool Hand Luke? Cars? Let us know starting today at 3p.m. on SportsRadio 1340 The Fan. You can listen live online free everyday so there’s no need to ever miss out.

Aside from news of the day and Texas Tech we’ll feature your thoughts on our running topic of the day. Today we want you to give us those athletes that gave away promising careers due to bad choices. We look for the ultimate screw-ups. From Steve Howe to one-hit wonder Timmy Smith. You could even say some stars gave away a lot of their talent like Mickey Mantle. Had Josh Hamilton not missed those seasons to drug use and suspension, where would he be today? Looking forward to your thoughts on this one.

Of course you’re welcome to post your thoughts on all of our topics right here each day, pose any questions you have for the show or otherwise. We’ll use some of the best stuff on the air each day. Thanks for being a part of the show, you guys make going to work fun!

Hyatt

Breaking up is hard to do. Just ask anybody. There’s hurt feelings, you fight over wagon wheel coffee tables and usually some one throws out a box of t-shirts that you’ve collected since high school. It can get ugly.

Just ask Texas Tech and Texas A&M officials.

One of the big things we’ll be talking about today is the cannon shot fired by Texas Tech A.D. Kirby Hocutt towards College Station yesterday in the A-J. Hocutt says, and that he’s backed by his coaches, that either A&M plays Texas Tech in all sports or it’s none.

“We discussed it with all our head coaches,” Hocutt said, “and that’s something we as an athletic department and we as a group of coaches feel strongly about at this time.”

As the Aggies exit to the SEC looms we’ll see more comments like this from A.D.s around what’s left of the Big 12. You’ve got the specter of the Border War between Kansas and Missouri coming to an end after 150 years of pure, awesome William Quantrill fueled hate. You’ve got Texas and A&M trying to figure out if it’s ok to date again on Thanksgiving or whether they should wait a while til it feels right.

Now, you’ve got the Red Raiders saying either you play all of us or none of us. Does it have to be that way?

We ask you today, should it be all or nothing? Do you want Texas Tech to play Texas A&M in any sports, let alone football? If not, why?

It reeks of punitive action by Hocutt and Texas Tech over something that I don’t think Tech needs to be upset about. A&M only did what so many Texas Tech fans wanted to see the Red Raiders do: leave the dying Big 12. A&M had a stable place to go in the SEC, one that doesn’t have to work around The Longhorn Network, an interim-commissioner for life and the Fake Dan Beebe on Twitter making more sense than the actual “leaders”. Had Texas Tech gone to the Pac-12 like so many wanted, it would be Tech fans saying teams like Baylor and Kansas don’t need to have hard feelings towards them, Tech’s just taking care of Tech. Well, same goes for the Aggies.

Personally, if it works for some Tech sports to play A&M and the coaches agree, let ‘em play. If it doesn’t work or if the coaches don’t want it, then don’t play them. But to issue an edict of all or nothing implies that it is a punishment to A&M for doing what Tech couldn’t do but wanted to. That seems silly to me.

I still that that the future of “leagues” will actually be schools playing some sports against certain school and then playing other schools in other sports. What works for football, might not work for basketball. What’s good for a basketball league – not so good for tennis. In the coming years because of budget constraints and other factors, don’t be shocked to see it happen.

So, what are your thoughts? Keep playing the Aggies? Drop ‘em. All or Nothing? Let us know.

We’ll hit the air at 3p.m. today on The Fan. Be sure and tune in where ever you on with our free, live online streaming via www.1340thefan.com . Looking forward to your comments and input today.

Hyatt

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