Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams has a good article about how quarterback Behren Morton is seeking out experts on his shoulder, even going so far as Jacksonville, Florida, about how to take care of his shoulder. Morton saw three of the best surgeons on sports injuries and none of them recommended surgery. Regarding the session in Jacksonville, the person there is a biomechanics expert that shows you how to be better and strengthen the shoulder:
A few days before Morton and Texas Tech head athletic trainer Michael Ramirez left last Sunday for Jacksonville, Tech coach Joey McGuire said, “He’s got a plan that he’s on right now. It’s literally a three-month plan, but he’s going to work him out. He’s going to throw with him on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to give him even more to add into that plan, from warming up pre-game to different things he can do in the weight room and stuff like that, and so I’m anxious to see what that guy says or adds to his plan.”
Eastland coach James Morton said Behren Morton, his son, did his last day of workouts in Jacksonville on Thursday.
“I think it was more shoulder rehab stuff, but also just shoulder care stuff, kind of like preventative,” he said. “Behren’s a little bit behind preventative, but being able to continue to strengthen the shoulder with it and doing work with it.
“He really seemed confident in what they were doing down there in Jacksonville and liked the program.”
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams also writes about how with the south end zone construction, the total attendance numbers at Jones AT&T Stadium will be less than 60,000. I also didn’t know that some fans really care about having a higher number, but there are some out there. I’d also add that with the loss of seating there is an increase in revenue due to the luxury suites and party decks.
Texas Tech football received a commitment from Mikal Harrison-Pilot (5-11/195), a former 4-star receiver that went to Houston his freshman year, but will play safety for Texas Tech. Pilot was really well thought of and the thought was that he’d make an immediate impact for the Cougars:
TCU and Houston were the final two for Harrison-Pilot but the Cougars were always going to be nearly impossible to beat for the four-star receiver since his father played there and he’s been recruited by Houston since middle school. With Tank Dell leaving for the NFL, Harrison-Pilot has the skill set – speed and playmaking ability – to step right in and make a major impact. There is a lot of talent coming back at receiver but Harrison-Pilot is ready to go.
But now it appears that he’s switching to the defensive side of the ball which I’m great with.
Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger writes that the Big East is opposed to the new NCAA settlement proposal because they appear to be paying a disproportionate share considering all things:
Over a 10-year payback period, the NCAA is responsible for paying 40% of the $2.77 billion with the other 60% coming from a reduction in school distributions. To determine how much each of the 32 Division I conferences contribute, the association created a formula based on the amount of distribution that a league earned over a nine-year period starting in 2016, according to separate documents shared with commissioners. Most of the distribution that the NCAA divides among leagues— more than $700 million annually — is derived from revenues of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Under the formula, the Big East will be responsible for about $5 million to $7 million annually, or as much as $70 million over the next decade — a figure that works out to about $600,000-$700,000 per school per year.
“Based on the numbers we have reviewed, the liability of the 22 non-FBS conferences under the proposed formula appears disproportionately high, particularly because the primary beneficiaries of the NIL ‘back pay’ amounts are expected to be FBS football players,” Ackerman wrote. “I have voiced the Big East’s strong objections to the proposed damages framework through recent emails to [NCAA president] Charlie Baker and his counsel and through comments during commissioner calls over the past two weeks.”
I can’t say that I really know a lot about what’s happening, but I do know that the powers that be are getting close to needing to make a decision and there’s not a lot of time to negotiate. And if you haven’t read Dellenger’s piece about roster limits, particularly in football and eliminating walk-on’s in the name of competitive balance, while increasing scholarships in baseball, then now is the time to do that as well.
Miscellaney: If you are seeking some basketball content, check out Saturday’s Morning Stake. I know that Texas Tech baseball will face the Longhorns in the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday.