Don Williams

Nothing against Big 12 media days, but it was hard to top the Southwest Conference press tour: 10 days, 9 schools, fun and full of information.

In January 1989, an Oklahoma Sooners cornerback named Jerry Parks shot his high school and then-Sooners teammate Zarak Peters in the chest with a .22-caliber revolver. The dorm-room shooting stemmed from an argument. Parks did a few months jail time on a charge of shooting with intent to injure. At sentencing, a judge told Parks he was lucky he wasn't being charged with homicide.

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal FRISCO — Eric Morris, who grew up in Shallowater and now works in Stillwater, Oklahoma , finds

While the Brendan Sorsby saga was playing out publicly, Joey McGuire says Texas Tech football players kept attention on their off-season preparation.

Texas Tech football dominated the Big 12 with defense last year. That's a reason the Red Raiders are viewed as the team to beat again this year.

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Texas Tech baseball teams have had at least one player selected in the Major League Baseball draft

Texas Tech baseball outfielder Logan Hughes led the Big 12 in OPS and hit 18 homers. He's headed to the Houston Astros as 17th pick in MLB draft.

Texas Tech football practice starts Aug. 5. Good. Maybe we can get away from all the foolish rhetoric of the past two months.

The MLB Draft is complete. See which players Texas Tech baseball is losing, whom Red Raiders might keep and a program first.

We're counting down the days to Texas Tech football season, and it can't get here soon enough. Maybe once Texas Tech players are in pads and footballs are in the air, team dynamics and games will take over the discussion like usual.