I just read that the ratie ESPN is trying to squeeze out of cable/satellite TV providers is $.40 (todays Houston Chronicle). I just sent this email to DISH network (my provider) customer service.  I encourage everyone to do this so that we do not have to indirectly support ut.

This is not a question.  I wish to inform you that as a long time and happy customer I do not want to see the Longhorn Network and do not want any carriage fee of $.40 going to support the the Longhorn Network. If Dish wishes to provide it, then it should be offered a la cart for a fee, like HBO etc.  Thank you.

I went to the Alumni Luncheon yesterday, and found out all the local board members are going to Lubbock for the game.  I can't fault them for that, but a couple of them always went early to protect our space.  Although, they have reserved the large side room for TECH fans, they will not be there early as usual, I was asked to recruit those going early if possible to make sure ut fans do not occupy our room.  It seems that ut fans have a nasty habit of invading our space in the past.  I will get there as soon as possible my self and will be wearing the same shirt and hat I wore 2 years ago to the game in Lubbock.  So this is a call, if you are not going to Lubbock from SA, come to Fox & Hounds and protect our space.  GO TECH, Beat ut, and Wreck Em!!!!!    

A lot has been said about the play of Potts in this first game, some good and some still thought "Sticks" would have done better.  My opinion, on the latter is when the can't (or aren't allowed to) play, it is almost an inarguable debate.  No one can really prove it one or way or the other.  I have put together a historyof QB play for the last 10 years against SMU for some comparison (below).  I do believe some SMU teams in that period have been better than others and this onewas the best of the group, (bowl win last year, best coach since Ron Meyers and the death penalty, and more solid players). 

 
Looking at the stats for this series, Potts is below average on most but is very close.  Two important stats that go into the QB rating, TD's and Int's. he is above average.  Wehn you consider that Tech was missing tow of its best recievers (starters Zoulak (sp) and Torres), ant that this SMU team was one of the better teams in the last ten years (I will agree maybe debatable and won't know until the end of the year) Potts performance is pretty good.  One of our fellow members made the claim that "Sticks" would have had 100 more passing yards.  To do that he would have had to complete 40 of 53, a 75% completion %, with two starting receivers not available, which I believe is highly doubtful.  I don't think, based on the Press conference that we would have had more a pass attempts with a different QB.  Do I think Potts is the second coming of Harrell or Kingsbury?  NO.  But his stats measure up well with a new Head Coach and a new Offensive Coordinator in charge.  I think we need to not push the QB controversy any further.  Potts will throw an interception, they all do, and will not deserve a booing for one unless he throws five with no TD's.  Then really the coaches deserve the boo's, not a student athlete who plays hard and goes to class as well.  The High Plains Drifter and his OC have chosen a starter and lets go with it.  I like both QB's because they are Red Raiders, but cheering on one over the other other during the "Walk" or at the game does not help the team win Championships.  Wreck Em!!!!

I am going to be in Daytona Beach, FL on Sunday during game time.  Are there any Tech supporters in the area that would want together and watch the game?  The Hotel  where I am staying (Hilton on the beach) is supposed to have a great Sports Bar for game watching.  I was hoping to enjoy the game will fellow Tech supporters while making the wife happy with a beach trip.  I am also trying to get 75 words so this will post.

We have now been digesting the new Big 12-2 for a period of time and have seen Catfish Jesus "reprimanded" by Commissioner Bebee/Dodds so I have decided to provide my name for the new conference.  First I must tell a story for the background of the name I am proposing.  About 10 years ago I had been working for a wonderful Fortune 500 company that treated its employees well for many years.  They followed the catch phrases of Empowerment to everyone.  Our ideas and efforts were respected and we were encouraged to also have a life outside of work with our families.  Then we were acquired by another Fortune 500 company that had an entirely different culture, 10 to 12 work days were the norm, lack of family life was not encouraged, and the company came first.  The only positive difference was this company tended to pay higher salaries and gave larger bonuses.  Fortunately, after a year I was able to procure a package and left this new employer and have been happy ever since.  However, I still have many friends left behind whom I visit with regularly.  On one of these lunch occasions, several of the people made the comment that they had already come to the conclusion about their continued employment with this new company, because of the pay and bonuses they had "become prostitutes to their employer".  They could not quit because of the money, but they hated what they were becoming to succeed. 

Along this same line, although we protest, and I support Tuberville and Hance (that hated chancellor) in their comments, we too have prostituted ourselves to the Big 12-2 (Beebe/Dodds).  Therefore I propose the new Conference name to be The Horns and Whores Conference. 

I hope this does not offend but sometimes the truth hurts.  However, I believe by speaking out eventually positive change can occur.  There is a risk of course that the change also could be what we do not want.  Have a good 4th of July.  Wreck Em!!!!

There will be a Happy Hour for Tech Alumini and friends on Thursday, 5:30 pm, at Silos, 1604 at Blanco in San Antonio.  I thought this might be a good time to meet some of the DTN members in the San Antonio area.  I plan on going and hope some of the other DTN members can make it.  If you are going lets post so that we can figure out who we are when there.  There have not been name tags in the past but that would help. 

This may not be the best Fanpost but I am becoming more fearful everyday.  I posted this thought in one of articles earlier but I am afraid my worst fears may be coming true.  If you were around Tech in the 70's you will recall the similarities to our situation now.  Politics chased away a good coach that built the football program to compete in the SWC and top 10 rankings.  Afterward we won with his recruits for two years but had no stabilty or quality at the Head Coaching level until Spyke Dykes in 1989.  Now, whether you wanted Briles are not, it is apparent or obvious that he “rejected” Tech.  Now if Sumlim or Dana Holgerson do the same we will be lucky to get Tuberville. The 1970's is happening all over again, and I may be in my 70’s before Tech football is relevant again. The only way to save us, is to get rid of at least one of the three stooges, and that should be Myers.

This story was on yesterdays ESPN Big 12 blog hosted by Tim Griffin.  Link http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/8416/missouri-would-listen-if-the-big-ten-came-calling#comments.  I was wondering how everyone else felt, as I fear this could be a problem for Tech in the long run.  If someone like Missouri leaves the Big 12, I do not think we can get a credible replacement without changing the revenue sharing arrangement similar to the Big 10 or SEC.  And if UT balks at an equal share and bolts to the Pac 10, as they threatened before, the Big 12 could fold and Tech would be left trying to join the WAC or Mountain West.  If we were in one of these two, I think we would have an even more difficult time recruiting.  Only if we were very lucky could we get in the SEC.