2016 - Page 7 of 9 - Texas Chalk Talk

Baylor looks forward to season opener

September 1, 2016March 14, 2022 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

When Baylor’s acting head coach Jim Grobe took to the stage during Big 12 Media Days in July, he said he told his players he wanted them in headlines for what they do on the football field. Grobe will get his wish Sept. 2 when the Bears host Northwestern State, a member of the Southland Conference. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Net. The Demons, who won four of their final six games, will roll into Waco with 11 transfers that include junior college and four-year…

College Featured Football

Players who need to step up in training camps

August 9, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

College football training camps are in session, which means coaches will be developing talent and depth for a 12-game season with the aim of winning it all. But unless some positions for several Texas universities improve dramatically, a team’s long-term success will suffer. So let’s see who needs to step up during training camp to convey confidence to his teammates and coaches. Texas — It’s very tempting to say true freshman quarterback Shane Buechele and any of the five defensive tackles. But instead, we’re picking punter Michael Dickson and kicker…

College Featured Football NFL

These NFL draftees will be on team rosters to begin the 2016 season

August 7, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

The NFL begins its preseason schedule Aug. 7 by matching the Green Bay Packers against the Indianapolis Colts. Besides the superstar native Texans on the roster (such as Colts quarterback Andrew Luck from Houston Stratford), the contest will feature several players making their NFL debuts from the Lone Star State. And that got us thinking about the 2016 draft. The state of Texas led the way for the most former high school players drafted by the NFL in the spring with 32 in all. Of that number four were drafted…

Defensive questions Texas-based teams must answer in training camps

August 5, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

Questions abound for the Texas-based university football teams playing in Power 5 conferences on the defensive side of the ball. In short, the squads must address these concerns if they hope to contend for trophies. For some teams, it’s a matter of finding the right athlete for a position. For others it’s a matter of finding multiple bodies for a front. The good news is each coach believes he has the personnel to fill the need. Let’s examine the defensive questions. Texas — The biggest concern are the defensive tackles.…

Offensive questions for teams as they start training camps

August 4, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

NCAA football teams across the country are getting ready for the start of their fall training camps. Here in Texas, some might be preparing on practice fields, while others are in an air-conditioned bubble. Still, several teams have questions going into the season. We’ll start with the members of the Power 5 conferences beginning with their offenses. Texas — New offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert installed a faster-paced spread offense that utilizes four- and five-receiver sets. While head coach Charlie Strong didn’t name true freshman quarterback Shane Buechele the starter, he…

Suspension of Aggies coaches illustrates it’s time women are treated better

July 30, 2016 Jennifer Fierro1 Comment

The actions of two Texas A&M assistant football coaches can’t be overlooked, not now, not in a day and age where sexual assault by male athletes against women has taken midfield. That’s why Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin acted swiftly in suspending offensive line coach Jim Turner and tight ends/special teams coach Jeff Banks for two weeks without pay. The two were in charge of the Texas A&M’s Talk Chalk for Women where coaches talked about the fundamentals of the sport. More than 700 were in attendance. The slide show…

College Featured Football

Teams capable of crashing the College Football Playoffs

July 29, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

While Oklahoma was the favorite to win the Big 12 and represent the conference in the College Football Playoffs, it’s important to note that there’s more than one squad that could crash the four-team party. Let’s start with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The reason is because of depth in key positions, especially at quarterback thanks to Mason Rudolph. Rudolph threw for 3,770 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. But he’s not the only reason the Cowboys are optimistic. Receiver James Washington returns a season after he caught 53…

Big 12 Media Days College Featured Football

Mayfield continues his ‘Shake and Bake’ style north of the Red River

July 29, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

People who know Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield say his success is attributed to one very important quality — his moxie. He describes his moxie as energetic, enthusiastic and “laid back at times.” That helps explain the nickname he received at Lake Travis High School, “Shake and Bake.” When he played for the Cavaliers, Mayfield said he developed another quality — being fearless — noting his teammates fed off of his moxie. “It’s about distributing the ball,” he said. “Distributing the ball to the playmakers. You have to make plays for…

Astros find starting pitcher, avoid series sweep

July 28, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

A 4-1 win over the Yankees to avoid a series sweep July 27 is simply what the Astros needed. And it wasn’t about dodging a three-game skid; it was about reaffirming what Astros fans believe — they have a team that’s worth following and has the ingredients to get into the playoffs. Reid and his dad Nolan Ryan have been building this organization from the ground up. When Reid Ryan took over as the president of business operations in May 2013, people in Major League Baseball said the Astros needed…

Big 12 Media Days College Featured Football

Let’s examine candidates for Big 12 expansion

July 27, 2016 Jennifer Fierro0 comment

Big 12 Conference fans should come to terms with the fact that conference leaders — the university presidents — are going to add new members. While there are no candidates that make me want to black out future dates on my calendar, it’s worth noting the four that seem to have picked up the most steam. The University of Houston is at the top of the Texas list, primarily because of several hundreds of acres of land purchased by Texas Chancellor William McRaven in the city of Houston. Looks like…