Really, you can’t make this stuff up. Overherd in Austin,from a Texas fan, after Texas’ double overtime win over Kansas State , “This win could be a program changer for the Longhorns.” My, my, how times change. Who would have ever thought that a win over Kansas State by the powerful Texas Longhorns would be a “program changer?”
As we approach the October Classic-the World Series-thoughts turn to “Mr. October, Reggie Jackson. Reggie once said, “The only reason I don’t like playing in the World Series is because I can’t watch myself play!”
Just think, KU had a bye week, an extra week to prepare and heal, before their stinker with Texas Tech that ended up in a 65-19 loss. What would have happened if the Jayhawks hadn’t been as well prepared for the Red Raiders? KU coach David Beaty said, “Am I happy? No, I’m not but I’m not ready to flush this thing. We’re going to be all right. We’ll get back to work and we’ll be ready to go.” What else is coach going to say, that his players are a bunch of dogs?
Perhaps KU’s Beaty falls into the camp of former English soccer coach, Bobby Robson, after his team got embarrassed in a loss. He said, “We did not underestimate them. They were just a lot better than we thought.” Uh, right coach. Former Cleveland Browns coach, Paul Brown, comes to mind here who said, “When you win say nothing. When you lose, say less.”
North Carolina’s Roy Williams is telling potential recruits, and anyone else who will listen, to “not sweat it” concerning possible NCAA sanctions for misdeeds in the Tar Heel athletic departments. “Ol Roy” has continued to “know nothing” of any misdeeds at UNC. That , of course, is the same tact that Rick Pitino has always used at Louisville. Now, I am not putting Roy in that class but as the old saying goes, “Denial is NOT a river in Egypt!”
Speaking of colleges and recruiting wars, former South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier once had this to say about in-state rival Clemson on hearing that a fire broke out in the library at the athletic dormitory there: “I hear that 20 books were destroyed. The real tragedy is that 15 of those books hadn’t been colored in yet!”
The Hoisington Cardinals are showing that they are not quite ready to go away and not be a factor in 3A football. Pre-season predictions that their graduation losses would drop them back into the pack of competitiveness have not proven true. The Cardinals thrashed a good Nickerson team 32-14 last week and have established themselves as the favorite in district 16 of 3A. Reminds me of when Marion Barry, mayor of Washington D.C. was arrested for drug use and he said, “There are two kinds of truth. There are real truths and there are made-up truths.” The Cardinals are proving to be “real truths”.
CHALK TALK
• Was the Texas loss a killer for K-State conference championship hopes? Gary Patterson brings his undefeated TCU team to Manhattan Saturday to find out. Both teams wear purple but Wildcats eat Horned Frogs 30-24.
• Larned gets back on the winning track as they begin district play hosting Lyons. Indians 37, Lions 6.
• Ames is not usually a place that KU plays well but this Jayhawk team is about due for a complete effort. Upset of the week. KU 27, Iowa State 24.
• Great Bend gets the offense rolling again as they down Liberal 33-14.
•Hoisington over Ellsworth, Central Plains downs Ellinwood and Pawnee Heights keeps winning in 6-Man football.
• Phil Rizzuto, former Yankee All Star shortstop on today’s professional baseball: I’m glad I don’t play anymore. I could never learn all of these handshakes!”
Buddy Tabler is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune and his views don’t necessarily reflect those of the paper. He can be reached at budtabler@gmail.com.
