YouTube – watermelon-to-the-face.mp4.

Dalton leads TCU over Beavers | Sideline Pros Sports Photography.

Texas Tech holds off the Mustangs | Sideline Pros Sports Photography.

I had the opportunity to photograph the last Dallas Cowboys preseason game.  I still get goosebumps when I step onto this field!  I simply love it!

This is great!

YouTube – PRANK OF THE WEEK MUST SEE!!!!!!!.mp4.

Stewart: I am actually thrilled about the lack of respect that Texas Tech is getting, but curious as to why. They are returning a lot of starters on a team that endured a great deal last year and still blew out Nebraska in Lincoln and finished in the Top 25. Is this coaching change so great that everyone thinks this team is going to drop so far?

– Adam LaGrone, Austin, Texas

I’m pretty puzzled myself that Tech has fallen off the radar. The ouster of Mike Leach — the winningest coach in school history — was obviously a traumatic event, but it’s not like the school replaced him with some unproven sucker. Tommy Tuberville was an SEC head coach for 14 years, produced an undefeated team at Auburn in 2004 and finished in the Top 25 in six of his 10 seasons there. And he’s inheriting a veteran squad, one about which Leach recently told my colleague Richard Deitsch, “I felt like it was the best team I had coming back in 10 years.”

If there’s some hesitation among voters, it’s probably because Tuberville has no experience running the type of wide-open passing offense for which Leach’s players were recruited. While Tuberville hired Troy offensive coordinator Neal Brown to run a similar system, there could be an awkward transition period as they try to incorporate more of a true running game with tailback Baron Batch. On the flip side, however, I fully expect Tech’s defense to improve significantly under Tuberville. Led by star nosetackle Colby Whitlock, the Raiders will fly to the ball and get more pressure on the quarterback.

Ultimately, Tech still lags behind division stalwarts Texas and Oklahoma, but I’m a bit puzzled as to all this buzz about Texas A&M being the new “hot” team in the South. Last I checked, Mike Sherman was still the coach of the Aggies. Thanks, but I’ll put my money on Tuberville.

via Michigan-Ohio State dilemma, Stanford’s Andrew Luck, more Mailbag – Stewart Mandel – SI.com.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune Tweeted about a pretty funny moment at Northwestern’s football practice Tuesday.

Funniest moment from #Northwestern practice: Two players scuffle, take some swings at each other’s helmets …

“You guys are idiots!” Fitz (head coach Pat Fitzgerald) yells. Then the two had to step off the field and walk a lap, holding hands.

What a great way to quell a fight. Would be great to see an NFL coach try this.

We haven’t seen word on who the two players were, but we are pretty sure they are a bit closer after their, um, intimate lap around the practice field.

via Pat Fitzgerald’s interesting way to break up fight at Northwestern practice – Campus Rivalry: College Football & Basketball News, Recruiting, Game Picks, and More – USATODAY.com.

My name is Baron Batch and I am currently a senior at Texas Tech University where I play running back for the football team. I am not good at football, and shouldn’t be playing right now. I draw all my strength from God and this is why I am second.

When I was in high school I was a hot shot, big headed, ego driven athlete who had one thing on my mind and that was football. At this point in my life I thought I was the greatest, I had many different colleges after me and I craved the attention. I ended up choosing to play my college football at Texas Tech.

When I arrived at tech I was consumed by the college life, I thought I had everything I needed and wanted, the drugs, the girls and parties. God was nowhere to be found in my lifestyle and actions at this point in my life. I always knew the stories that where in the Bible but never claimed them as something that were important to me.

On October 18th 2006, God got my attention and broke me down so he could begin to build me up. It was a hot Tuesday practice and I was in on a routine play blocking a linebacker and all of a sudden I was on the ground writhing in pain, screaming and crying like a baby. They took me and x-rayed my ankle and the x-rays showed I had broke my ankle in 2 places. I was devastated. I didn’t know what to do. Everything I had identified myself and found myself worth in was gone in an instant. I was suppose to have 2 surgeries to fix the break. One to put in a plate and screws and another 6 weeks later to remove them.

When the doctors went in to remove the plate and screws they discovered that I had developed a quickly spreading bone infection called MRSA. The doctors didn’t know what to do except remove bone from my ankle and get to clean bone. They ended up having to go in and operate on my left ankle 7 times in the time span of 6 months. At this point all the doctors believed the next step could possibly be amputation because they could not get rid of the infection that was eating away at my bone.

Doctors told me I would never play football again and I believed them. I was at the worst spot in my life, my friends who I partied with were all of a sudden not my friends and I had nothing solid to lean on. After my 7th surgery two seniors on the team came to my hospital room and asked if they could pray for me, it was strange to me because I had never really talked to these guys and they were my only visitors from the team. We prayed together and I started to go to small group Bible studies with them and church on Sundays.

I started taking baby steps to become a better Christian, one thing after the other. First went cursing and then a list of other things that I would do that I shouldn’t of. I began to get in the word and I finally began to start praying and having faith that Jesus is who says he is. I started to realize that God had given me a platform to be a football player and I had spit on that. At this point I didn’t think I would ever see the football field again. My small prayers began to become more bold and my faith grew every day.

I remember getting on my knees and having my first real conversation with God, the conversation went like this “God I’m sorry, I know that you blessed me and I took advantage of the things you gave me. God thank you so much for getting the distraction of football out of the way so I could find you and see you clearly. I have one thing to ask God, will you give me back football so I can do things the right way this time? So I can use my talents to not lift my own name and bring fame to me, but to glorify you. I don’t know how this will happen but I know you are faithful and you know my heart and my intentions. I just want to please you, I just want to bring you fame. The doctors say I’m done, but you say you are the great physician and I am standing on this…Amen.”

That was my prayer. Slowly my ankle began to get stronger, slowly my limp began to go away. The doctors were amazed and really had no explanation how my infection all of a sudden was gone and I was getting better. I remember the first time I jogged, my slow jog became a trot and the trot became a sprint. God had restored my ankle. I remember putting back on the football pads and going back to the thing I love but with a whole new perspective and purpose on why I was playing.

When I used to score touchdowns I would pound my chest and point to my number on the back of my jersey, trying to call all the attention to myself. Now when I score I only point up to the God that saved me, to the God that was faithful when I wasn’t, to the God that chose to use me! I may score touchdowns and play in front of thousands, but truth be told I’m not that good and I play for an audience of one.

My name is Baron Batch and this is why I AM SECOND.

via I am Second — Heritage Ward.

People can judge and hate on President Bush all they want but no one can look at this video and not smile. Welcome home!

YouTube – President George W Bush Greeting Troops at DFW.

Sports Illustrated 2010 College Football Preview