When the Avalanche-Journal started charging for access, I have no issue with that. I had previously always figured out a work-around to be able to view the articles without signing up (which is totally not cool), but over the past few months they’ve tightened up the technology and I’m no longer able to read what they’ve written. And I have no problem with newspapers or websites charging for content. They are a business and businesses try to make money. That’s how things work.

The pandemic has changed a ton about how information is disseminated and that’s honestly probably better for you and I because this means that the information is out there for anyone to read and see or watch. I think this is what is meant by democratized, i.e. made accessible to everyone.

With the proliferation of YouTube and Zoom press conferences have made the ability to know exactly what is said and who is saying it is more accessible than ever. Before, the press conferences were just not available to the public and reporters were the key to getting that information to you the consumer.

The problem for you, the dear reader, is that the time and effort that’s involved in taking that information and presenting it in a fashion that is easy to digest to you. If anyone ever says that reporters aren’t necessary, that’s just not true. Yes, I’m here and I do a ton of that, but that’s not sustainable for too much longer. And there may be someone like me that does this in the future, but one day you’ll need to find someone else that does this or you can do it on your own.

With that being said, here’s over 30 minutes of Chris Beard talking about Lubbock, the 50-Yard Line, Mac McClung, what he learned in 2019, going to Assembly Hall, etc. You could spend 30 minutes watching TV or spend 30 minutes watching this or watching the fireside chat.

Smell the 🌹. Feel the 🔥. @Sn1per_T and @CoachBeardTTU enjoyed a #FiresideChat talking about #MarchMadness , the bubble experience, love of corn dogs and give a special message to our fans. pic.twitter.com/cdYJYgt1hw

— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) March 18, 2021

The Daily Hoosier’s Mike Schumann writes about Chris Beard and his thoughts on Assembly Hall. Indiana fans would love nothing more than to see Beard roaming the sidelines for Indiana next year, but I don’t think that would happen.

“I’ve been to a lot of cool places, today was the first time I’ve ever been in Assembly Hall, but it felt like I had been there before with all the studying coach Knight’s programs over the years,” Beard said in media availability from Bloomington on Wednesday. “Having a personal relationship with Pat (Knight) and coach (Bob Knight), hearing the stories, it’s almost like I kind of knew where I was when I walked in. It was kind of a weird feeling. The long championship banners. The pullout bleachers. I could just kind of imagine where coach was in all the practice film I’ve watched and things like that.”

AP’s Eric Olson writes about Utah State head coach Craig Smith:

Smith and Beard’s successes have come at schools many might consider geographically isolated. Logan, population 50,000, is in northeastern Utah about 85 miles north of Salt Lake City. Lubbock, population 250,000, is in northwest Texas and more than 250 miles away from the closest major city (Fort Worth).

“Lubbock isn’t for everybody, Logan’s not for everybody,” said Smith, who grew up in tiny Stephen, Minnesota. “Chris Beard loves Lubbock, Craig Smith loves Logan. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You have to recruit under rocks, you have to be open to a lot of different avenues whether it’s international recruiting, transfer recruiting, high school recruiting and anything in between. And then you have to really know who you are and look for those traits that fit your program.”

Dallas Morning News’ Chuck Carlton writes about Mac McClung and shot at Texas Tech:

After a remarkable high school career in Virginia and after two seasons and one NIT appearance at Georgetown, McClung will debut Friday in the NCAA Tournament. No. 6 Tech (17-10) will face No. 11 Utah State (20-8) in the South Region.

“I feel like I’ve had a ball in an empty gym imagining this moment for a long time now,” McClung said this week. “So I’m really glad it’s here. Hopefully all the work and preparation will pay off.”

🔴TOGETHER⚫️ pic.twitter.com/FyiFHYRBJI

— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) March 17, 2021

Need a little football in your life?