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All-State Teams

All the Associated Press All-State teams have been released, as well as the Texas High School Coaches' Association Academic All-State team. The only major teams left are the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State teams (February), as well as our own Dave Campbell's Texas Football team (February). Those will be posted here when they are published.

Click here to see the AP's Class 1A All-State Team.

Click here to see the AP's Class 2A All-State Team.

Click here to see the AP's Class 3A All-State Team.

Click here to see the AP's Class 4A All-State Team.

Click here to see the AP's Class 5A All-State Team.

THSCA Academic All-State Team

Shifts out at UT

With Texas Tech losing and hiring a head coach in a week's time — and with that new head man, former Red Raider QB Kliff Kingsbury, sparking a fair amount of interest state-wide — it can be fairly easy to overlook Bryan Harsin's departure from Texas. Make no mistake; that move is going to stir some conversation, too.

Harsin left for Arkansas State yesterday to become a head coach, something most guys in a coordinator role simply aren't going to pass up. Harsin's two years running the Longhorns' offense weren't spectacular, but they were good enough to draw looks from other schools, especially in coordination with his fine body of work out at Boise State in the 2000's.

That left a familiar face in the void — Major Applewhite, one of the fastest-moving assistants in the country, got yet another promotion, keeping his title as co-offensive coordinator but inheriting Harsin's play-calling and QB coach duties. WR coach Darrell Wyatt will now hold the other half of the offensive coordinator role, and OL coach Stacy Searels, who's been pretty well-respected for improving UT's woeful line as of late, is now the assistant head coach for offense. Lastly, TE coach Bruce Chambers takes over the recruiting department after previously splitting the job with Wyatt.

Though defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has been rumored in conjunction with other head coaching positions over the past few days, the primary spot Mack will need to fill on staff right now is Major's old job — RBs coach. He leaves that responsibility behind now that he inherits the QB gig.

Tuberville leaves Texas Tech

When news broke early Saturday morning that Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville was leaving Lubbock for the University of Cincinnati, the first tidbit of news to accompany the stunning announcement was that the Red Raider administration was completely caught off guard by the third-year man's departure.

Guess what — so were the rest of us.

Well, let me caveat that. I wasn't surprised he left — after all, I did write this when he was hired back in January of 2010. I was more surprised at how he left; at its best, Cincinnati has to be considered a lateral coaching move, and it's rare now for major moves like this to break without media rumors circulating before hand.

In the end, it would appear that the connection shared by Tuberville and Cincinnati athletic director Whit Babcock, a former coworker of his at Auburn, was the central cog. Tuberville explains here (briefly) how his short courtship with the Bearcats came to be.

But ... am I the only one that's still scratching his head a bit over this?

So Babcock has a job opening at Cincinnati after Butch Jones takes off for the SEC. OK, I follow everything so far. Babcock makes a short list of candidates, and Tuberville tops the list. A little odd, considering Tuberville's middle-of-the-road record in Lubbock to date, but considering their previous relationship, still defendable.

But then Tubs takes off, apparently on relatively short notice. To Cincinnati, a school that, while hot as of late, has traditionally been fairly average. Yes, it's won four of the last five Big East championships (never mind it's been smoked in its last two BCS bowl appearances.) But still, folks, pretty average as far as total package goes.

So what's the draw? Is it an recruiting advantage? Sure, Tech has a lot of in-state competition. Cincinnati is probably further up the pecking order in Ohio than Tech is in Texas. But the state of Ohio still has eight FBS programs. Recruiting won't be easy there, either.

And the move sure isn't about conference stability, either. The Big East, where Cincinnati is currently mired, is in a perpetual state of disarray; the Big 12 hasn't always been perfect, but it sure looks good right now. Good lord, I've seen chicken coops more orderly than the Big East right now. And don't get me started on fan support; Tech isn't one of the most massive schools in the country, but those kids show up. Can't always say the same thing about the Bearcats, who can be a little spotty at times.

Anywho, I'm wasting breath at this point. Personal opnion — I think it's a silly move unless Tuberville and Tech simply couldn't stand each other anymore. The bigger news now will have to be who Tech hires in Tuberville's place — a move that will be (at least for now) the pinnacle moment for Tech AD Kirby Hocutt.

Louisiana Tech's Sonny Dykes would have been an ideal choice, but he's taken the job now at Cal; that ship has sailed. So now we have two names at the top of everyone's list — Texas A&M OC and former Tech QB Kilff Kingsbury and Clemson OC Chad Morris, a one-time Stephenville head coach. Both are still fairly new to the college coaching game, but both bring unique West Texas ties and both would have Tech faithful smiling (I think).

Any other guys out there y'all are pining over, Tech fans? Let me hear it. Just do me one favor — eliminate Gary Patterson (TCU), Art Briles (Baylor) and Chris Petersen (Boise State) from your desires. None of them are leaving their jobs for anything other than a top five job in the country, and even then that might not happen. So let's keep in smart, folks!

Big 12 schedule announced

Who's ready to make travel plans?

The 2013 Big 12 football schedule was announced today, meaning fans for Texas, Baylor, TCU and Tech can start carving what next fall will look like in their holiday calendars. To see the full slate, just click here.

Remembering Darrell K Royal

I've never been one for the short sleeves-and-tie look.

Don't get me wrong — it's a classic look, and one our dads and grandads were rocking to church, work, parties and the like for decades. It's just not for me. I can't remember a time that I've seen it in person and thought, "Hey, now there's a snappy style."

Save one day. It was the first time I held the 1963 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine, when I started working here years ago. I hadn't seen that edition before, much less held and touched it, but its impact was profound. On the cover, looking every bit the hero, was Texas coach Darrell K Royal, sporting the sleeves-and-tie look I'd always rolled my eyes over.

But Royal, a rising superstar in state lore, made it look professional. It just looked right. He looked smart, and in charge, and commanding, and hopeful. Now there's a guy I'd run through a wall for, I thought to myself. The player posed with him, Scott Appleton, pretty much did, and the Longhorns went on to win their first-ever unanimous national championship.

Incredibly, the best was still yet to come. Royal won two more national championships — 1969 and 1970 — and managed the program until he retired in 1976. Not everything was perfect — nostalgia is a powerful influence in football — but the Longhorns never had a losing season in his 20 years with the program, and Royal was perennially mentioned amongst the states most talented and most respected coaches.

And he'll be remembered that way forever, as the Lone Star great died this morning at the age of 88. This was not unexpected, nor was it a case of a man gone too soon. But I still mourn the loss, and I know Dave Campbell, a good friend of Royal's, does as well. Royal leaves behind his wife, Edith, who needs our thoughts and prayers. But he also leaves behind a treasure trove of magnificent memories, ones that will be forever ingrained in state history.

But the one that has stayed with me the longest, and the one that will continue to amaze me until the day I die, was his retirement, nearly fourty years ago. Texas had beaten Arkansas, 29-12, on December 4th, and the game had gone a little late. But Royal, who had announced his retirement long before, stayed with the media for hours afterwards, answering every manner of question.

At the end of the press conference, when the end of his career was official, media row gave him a standing ovation.

It wasn't just for the wins. It probably didn't have anything to do with the wins at all, actually. It was more about the way he treated people, and the way he raised young men, and in appreciation of the hard life he lived growing up in rural Oklahoma, and of his unique approach to the game, and of his legendary motivational skills, and of the once-in-a-lifetime career he was leaving behind.

That display of unabashed respect and affection was about a lot of things, but it wasn't about the wins.

And that's the way we should all remember him, too.

God speed, coach.

Playoff clinchers: Week 10

Welcome to Texas Football's Playoff Central 2012!

Class 5A-6M Playoff Brackets

5A-DI	4A-DI	3A-DI	2A-DI	1A-DI	6M-DI
5A-DII	4A-DII	3A-DII	2A-DII	1A-DII	6M-DII

Class 5A bi-district matchups:
*Recognition out to the Dallas Morning News and SA Express-News for some of these pairings.

Division I:
Region I:
EP Franklin vs. San Angelo Central: 6:00 PM Friday, Midland's Grande Comm. Stadium
Arlington Bowie vs. Keller Central: 6:00 PM, Thursday, Cowboys Stadium
Coppell vs. Irving MacArthur: 11:00 AM Saturday, Cowboys Stadium
DeSoto vs. Killeen Harker Heights: 1:30 PM Saturday, Waco ISD Stadium
Odessa Permian vs. EP El Dorado: 7:00 PM Friday, Lubbock's Jones Stadium
Southlake Carroll vs. Arlington Martin: 6:00 PM Friday, Cowboys Stadium
Euless Trinity vs. FM Marcus: 2:00 PM Saturday, Cowboys Stadium
Killeen vs. Mansfield: 7:30 PM Friday, Waxahachie

Region II:
Dallas Skyline vs. Plano, 7:30 PM Friday, SMU's Ford Stadium
Garland vs. Mesquite Horn: Noon Saturday, Allen
Spring Westfield vs. Conroe: 7:30 PM Friday, Conroe's Moorhead Stadium
Austin Bowie vs. Round Rock: 7:30 PM Friday, Austin's Burger Center
Allen vs. Richardson: 7:30 PM Friday, Allen
Mesquite vs. Sachse: 7:30 PM Friday, Wildcat-Ram Stadium
The Woodlands vs. Klein Collins: 7:00 PM Friday, Klein Memorial Stadium
Round Rock Westwood vs. Austin Del Valle: 7:00 PM Thursday, Austin's Kelly Reeves

Region III:
Cy Falls vs. Alief Elsik: 7:00 PM Friday, Houston's Pridgeon Stadium
Houston Bellaire vs. Katy Cinco Ranch: 11:00 AM Saturday, Houston's Rhodes Stadium
GP North Shore vs. Pasadena Dobie: 5:00 PM Friday, Pasadena's Memorial Stadium
Clear Brook vs. FB Austin: 2:00 PM Saturday, Pearland's The Rig
Cy-Fair vs. Alief Taylor: 7:00 PM Friday, Cypress' Berry Center
Houston Lamar vs. Katy Seven Lakes: 7:00 PM Friday, Houston's Delmar Stadium
Deer Park vs. Pearland: 7:00 PM Friday, Baytown
Clear Springs vs. FB Travis: 7:00 PM Saturday, Pearland's The Rig

Region IV:
Converse Judson vs. SA Churchill: Noon Saturday, Alamodome
SA O'Connor vs. SA Southwest: 4:00 PM Saturday, Alamodome
Laredo Alexander vs. Donna: 7:30 PM Friday, Corpus Christi's Buc Stadium
Weslaco vs. Los Fresnos: 7:30 PM Friday, Los Fresnos
SA Wagner vs. SA Madison: 7:30 PM Friday, Rutledge
SA Clark vs. SA East Central: 7:30 PM Friday, Heroes Stadium
Laredo United vs. Mission Sharyland: 7:30 PM Friday, Sharyland
McAllen Memorial vs. Harlingen: 7:30 PM Friday, Harlingen

Division II:
Region I:
EP Americas vs. Abilene Cooper: 6:00 PM Saturday, Odessa'a Ratliff Stadium
Arlington vs. Keller Timber Creek: 9:00 PM Friday, Cowboys Stadium
Denton Ryan vs. Hurst L.D. Bell: 5:00 PM Saturday, Cowboys Stadium
Cedar Hill vs. Copperas Cove: 2:30 PM Saturday, Waco Midway
Abilene vs. EP Montwood: 1:00 PM Saturday, Odessa's Ratliff Stadium
Justin Northwest vs. Arlington Lamar: 9:00 Thursday, Cowboys Stadium
Colleyville Heritage vs. Hebron: 8:00 PM Saturday, Cowboys Stadium
Hewitt Midway vs. Midlothian: 7:30 PM Friday, Corsicana

Region II
Lake Highlands vs. Plano West: 7:30 PM Friday, Coppell
South Garland vs. Rockwall-Heath: 7:30 PM Friday, Mesquite's Hanby Stadium
Klein vs. A&M Consolidated: 7:00 PM Friday, Sam Houston State
Lake Travis vs. Pflugerville: 7:30 PM Friday, Georgetown
McKinney Boyd vs. Dallas Jesuit: 7:30 PM Friday, Plano's Clark Stadium
Longview vs. Rowlett: 4:00 PM Saturday, Kincaide Stadium
Lufkin vs. Spring Dekaney: 7:00 PM Friday, Sam Houston State
Hendrickson vs. Westlake: 7:30 PM Friday, Austin's Reeves Center

Region III
Langham Creek vs. Eisenhower: 7:00 PM Friday, Aldine's Thorne Stadium
Katy vs. Houston Westbury: 7:30 PM Thursday at Houston's Butler Stadium
La Porte vs. Pasadena Memorial: 1:00 PM Saturday, Deer Park
FB Bush vs. Clear Creek: 7:00 PM Saturday, Deer Park
Cy Ranch vs. Aldine Nimitz: 2:00 PM Saturday, Aldine's Thorne Stadium
Houston Memorial vs. Houston Westside: 7:00 Thursday, Delmar Stadium
PA Memorial vs. Manvel: 1:00 PM Saturday, Channelview
FB Dulles vs. Brazoswood: 7:00 PM Friday, Freeport's Hopper Field

Region IV
Smithson Valley vs. SA Reagan: 7:30 PM Friday, Alamodome
SA Brandeis vs. CC King: 7:30 PM Friday, SA's Farris Stadium
Del Rio vs. Economedes: 5:00 PM Saturday, Schertz's Lehnhoff Stadium
Weslaco East vs. Brownsville Veterans Memorial: 7:30 PM Friday, Weslaco East
New Braunfels vs. SA Roosevelt: 7:30 PM Friday, Schertz's Lehnhoff Stadium
SA Marshall vs. Cibolo Steele: 7:30 PM Thursday, Alamodome
Eagle Pass vs. Edinburg North: 8:00 PM Saturday, Alamodome
McAllen Rowe vs. Harlingen South: 7:30 PM Friday, McAllen Veterans Memorial

Class 4A bi-district matchups:

Division I:
Region I:
EP Chapin vs. EP Hanks: 8:00 PM Friday, Irvin Memorial
Amarillo vs. Lubbock: 7:00 PM Thursday, Amarillo's Bivins Stadium
Denton Guyer vs. Saginaw: 7:30 PM Friday, Justin Northwest
Aledo vs. Cleburne: 7:30 PM Friday, Mansfield's Newsom Stadium
EP Andress vs. EP Del Valle: 7:00 PM Friday, Del Valle
Amarillo Palo Duro vs. Lubbock Monterey: 7:30 PM Friday, Lubbock's Lowery Field
Azle vs. Birdville: 7:00 PM Thursday, Saginaw Chisholm Trail
Granbury vs. Crowley: 7:30 PM Friday, Chisholm Trail

Region II:
Frisco Centennial vs. West Mesquite: 7:30 PM Friday, Kimbrough Stadium
Dallas Kimball vs. Dallas Adams: 7:30 PM Thursday, Wilmer-Hutchins
Sherman vs. Texas High: 7:30 PM Friday, Paris
Red Oak vs. Corsicana: 7:30 PM Friday, Midlothian
Frisco vs. Highland Park: 7:30 PM Friday, Denton's Apogee Stadium
Dallas Adamson vs. Dallas Samuell: 7:30 PM Friday, Wilmer-Hutchins
Wylie vs. Mount Pleasant: 7:30 PM Friday, Royse City
Waxahachie vs. John Tyler: 7:30 PM Friday, Garland's Johnson Stadium

Region III:
Georgetown vs. Magnolia West: 7:00 PM Friday, Brenham
Summer Creek vs. Vidor: 7:00 PM Friday, Deer Park
Tomball vs. Houston Reagan: 7:00 PM Thursday, TBA
Angleton vs. Friendswood: 7:00 PM Friday, Missouri City's Hall Stadium
Pflugerville Connally vs. Montgomery: 7:30 PM, A&M Consolidated
Dayton vs. Nederland: 1:00 PM Saturday, Lamar University
Houston Stratford vs. Houston Waltrip: 7:00 PM Friday, Houston's Tully Stadium
Richmond Foster vs. Pearland Dawson: 7:30 PM Friday, Galena Park ISD

Region IV:
Leander vs. Austin LBJ: 7:30 PM Friday, Leander's Bible Stadium
Buda Hays vs. SA Highlands: 7:30 PM Friday, Buda's Shelton Stadium
SA Harlandale vs. Victoria East: 7:30 PM Friday, Harlandale Memorial
CC Flour Bluff vs. Mission Memorial: 7:00 PM Thursday, Mission Memorial
Leander Rouse vs. Austin McCallum: 7:30 PM Thursday, Austin's House Park
Alamo Heights vs. SA Brackenridge: 2:00 PM at SA's Alamo Stadium
Uvalde vs. Gregory-Portland: 1:00 PM Saturday, South San Antonio Stadium
CC Ray vs. Mission: 7:30 PM Friday, Mission

Division II
Region I:
EP Burges vs. Canutillo: 7:00 PM Friday, EP Burges
Canyon Randall vs. Hereford: 7:30 PM Friday, Plainview's Sherwood Stadoum
WF Rider vs. FW Dunbar: 7:30 PM Friday, FW Clark Stadium
FW Southwest vs. Everman: 7:30 PM Thursday, FW Clark Stadium
EP Bowie vs. Clint Horizon: 7:00 PM Friday, Horizon
Canyon vs. Wolfforth Frenship: 5:00 PM Friday, Canyon Kimbrough
Lake Dallas vs. Boswell: 7:00 PM Thursday, Northwest ISD
FW Wyatt vs. Waco: 7:30 PM Friday, DeSoto

Region II:
Prosper vs. Forney: 7:30 PM Thursday, Allen
Dallas Carter vs. Dallas Wilson: 7:30 PM Friday, Franklin Field
Lucas Lovejoy vs. Hallsville: 7:30 PM Friday, Forney's City Bank Stadium
Lancaster vs. Jacksonville: 7:30 PM Thursday, Forney
Little Elm vs. Mesquite Poteet: 7:30 PM Friday, Standridge Stadium
Dallas SOC vs. Dallas Lincoln: 7:30 PM Friday, Forester Stadium
Wylie East vs. Sulphur Springs: 7:30 PM Friday, McKinney's Poe Stadium
Ennis vs. Whitehouse: 7:30 PM Friday, Mesquite Memorial

Region III:
Manor vs. Huntsville: 7:30 PM Friday, Waller
Crosby vs. Beaumont Ozen: 1:00 PM Saturday, Galena Park ISD Stadium
FB Ridge Point vs. Houston North Forest: 6:00 PM Saturday, Humble's Turner Stadium
Rosenberg Terry vs. Goose Creek: 7:00 PM Thursday, Deer Park ISD Stadium
Elgin vs. Brenham: 7:30 PM Friday, Bryan
Barbers Hill vs. Livingston: 7:30 PM Friday, Humble's Turner Stadium
FB Marshall vs. Houston Sharpstown: 7:00 PM Thursday, Hall
Lamar Consolidated vs. Texas City: 7:30 PM Friday, Texas City

Region IV:
Cedar Park vs. Austin Crockett: 7:30 PM Thursday, Cedar Park's Gupton Stadium
Kerrville Tivy vs. SA Jefferson: 7:30 PM Saturday, San Antonio's Alamo Stadium
Medina Valley vs. Calallen: 7:30 PM Friday, SA Southside
Alice vs. Mercedes: 7:30 PM Friday, Mercedes
Vista Ridge vs. Austin Travis: 7:30 PM Friday, Cedar Park's Gupton Stadium
Boerne Champion vs. SA Brennan: 7:30 PM Friday, Boerne ISD Stadium
Floresville vs. PL Calhoun: 7:30 PM Friday, Calallen
CC Miller vs. Edcouch-Elsa: 7:30 PM Friday, Edcouch-Elsa

Class 3A bi-district matchups:

Division I:
Region I
Borger vs. Andrews: 1:00 PM Saturday, Lubbock's Jones Stadium
Mountain View vs. Abilene Wylie: 7:30 PM Friday, Odessa's Ratliff Stadium
Burkburnett vs. Kennedale: 7:30 PM Friday, Denton's Collins Stadium
Stephenville vs. Burnet: 7:30 PM Friday, Waco ISD Stadium

Region II
Gainesville vs. Frisco Lone Star: 7:30 PM Friday, Denton ISD
Ferris vs. Princeton: 7:00 PM Thursday, Royse City
Paris vs. Kaufman: 6:00 PM Saturday, Allen
Athens vs. Kilgore: 7:30 PM Friday, Whitehouse

Region III
Waco La Vega vs. Taylor: 7:00 PM Thursday, Killeen's Buckley Stadium
Palestine vs. Carthage: 7:30 PM Friday, Lufkin
Silsbee vs. Huffman-Hargrave: 7:00 PM Friday, Provost Stadium
Houston Yates vs. Stafford: 7:00 PM Friday, Butler

Region IV:
El Campo vs. La Grange: 7:30 PM Friday, Victoria
Boerne vs. Somerset, 7:30 PM Friday, Texas State
Carrizo Springs vs. Ingleside, 7:30 PM Friday, Seguin
Kingsville King vs. Hidalgo: 7:30 PM Friday, Brownsville's Sams Stadium

Division II:
Region I
Perryton vs. Lubbock Estacado: 6:00 PM Saturday, Amarillo's Bivins Stadium
Clint vs. Midland Greenwood: 7:30 PM Friday, Alpine
Graham vs. Lake Worth: 7:30 PM Friday, Mineral Wells
Glen Rose vs. Brownwood: 7:30 PM Friday, Stephenville
Dalhart vs. Shallowater: 6:00 PM Friday, Amarillo's Bivins Stadium
Pecos vs. Monahans: 7:30 PM Friday, Crane
Vernon vs. Springtown: 7:30 PM Friday, Wichita Falls
Alvarado vs. Gatesville: 7:30 PM Friday, Waco Midway

Region II
Krum vs. Celina: 7:00 PM Thursday, Denton's Collins Complex
Dallas Madison vs. Bonham: 7:30 PM Thursday, Little Elm
Paris North Lamar vs. Quinlan Ford: 7:30 PM Thursday, Texas A&M-Commerce
Van vs. Henderson: 7:30 PM Friday, Tyler
Bridgeport vs. Argyle: 7:30 PM Friday, FM Marcus
Wilmer-Hutchins vs. Melissa: TBA
Atlanta vs. Wills Point: 7:30 PM Friday, Longview
Canton vs. Gilmer: 7:00 PM Thursday, Tyler

Region III
Lorena vs. Rockdale: 7:30 PM Friday, Killeen
Fairfield vs. Center: 7:30 PM Friday, Lindale
West Orange-Stark vs. Cleveland: 7:00 PM Friday, Beaumont's Thomas Center
Houston Kashmere vs. West Columbia: TBA, Houston's Barnett Stadium
China Spring vs. Navasota: 7:00 PM Thursday, Bryan
Groesbeck vs. Jasper: 7:30 PM Friday, Crockett
Bridge City vs. Coldspring-Oakhurst: 7:30 PM Friday, Channelview
La Marque vs. Houston Furr: 7:00 PM Thursday, Houston's Barnett Stadium

Region IV
Bellville vs. Cuero: 7:30 PM Friday, Round Rock's Dragon Stadium
Wimberley vs. La Vernia: 7:30 PM Friday, La Vernia
Devine vs. Orange Grove: 7:30 PM Friday, SA's Mata Stadium
Raymondville vs. La Feria: 7:30 PM Friday, Raymondville
Wharton vs. Yoakum: 7:30 PM Saturday, Victoria
Geronimo Navarro vs. Pleasanton: 7:30 PM Friday, South San Antonio
Lytle vs. Sinton: 7:30 PM Friday, Sainton
Lyford vs. Port Isabel: 7:30 PM Friday, San Benito

Class 2A-DI bi-district matchups:

Region I
Littlefield, bye
Merkel vs. Comfort: 7:30 PM Friday, Brownwood
Wall, bye
Brownfield vs. Bushland, 7:30 PM Thursday, Lubbock Cooper
Eastland, bye
Muleshoe vs. Denver City, 7:30 PM Friday, Lubbock Cooper
Idalou, bye
Bangs vs. Breckenridge: 7:30 PM Friday, Abilene Wylie

Region II
Callisburg, bye
Redwater vs. Malakoff: 7:30 PM Friday, Gladewater
Winnsboro, bye
Farmersville vs. Boyd: 7:30 PM Friday, Little Elm
Pottsboro, bye
Eustace vs. Daingerfield: 7:30 PM Friday, Bullard Brook Hill
New Boston, bye
Whitesboro vs. Commerce: 7:30 PM Friday, Prosper

Region III
Tatum, bye
Godley vs. Trinity: 7:30 PM Friday, Temple
Franklin, bye
East Chambers vs. Troup: 7:00 PM Thursday, Lufkin
Newton, bye
Teague vs. Palmer: 7:00 PM Thursday, Corsicana
Grandview, bye
White Oak vs. Anahuac: 7:30 PM Friday, Diboll

Region IV
Cameron Yoe, bye
Aransas Pass vs. Marion: 7:30 PM Friday, Beeville
George West, bye
Edna vs. Lago Vista: 7:30 PM Friday, New Braunfels Canyon
Hallettsville, bye
Luling vs. Odem: 7:00 PM Saturday, Beeville
San Diego, bye
McGregor vs. Hempstead: 7:30 PM Friday, Hutto

Class 2A-DII bi-district matchups:

Region I
Sanford-Fritch, bye
Colorado City vs. Crane: 7:00 PM Saturday, Midland's Grande Stadium
Alpine, bye
Abernathy vs. Spearman: 6:30 PM Saturday, Canyon Kimbrough
Cisco, bye
Canadian vs. Tulia: 7:00 pM Thursday, Canyon Kimbrough
Post, bye
Sonora vs. Ballinger: 7:30 PM Friday, San Angelo Stadium

Region II
Nocona, bye
Edgewood vs. Tom Bean: 7:30 PM Friday, Princeton
Gunter, bye
Tolar vs. Holliday: 7:30 PM Friday, Springtown
Corsicana Mildred, bye
Leonard vs. Cooper: 7:30 PM Friday, Commerce
Clarksville, bye
Jacksboro vs. Blooming Grove: 7:30 PM Friday, Burleson

Region III
Hughes Springs, bye
Hearne vs. New Waverly, 7:30 PM Friday, Iola
Centerville, bye
Garrison vs. Paul Pewitt: 7:30 PM Friday, Carthage
Arp, bye
Crawford vs. Corrigan-Camden: 7:30 PM Friday, Buffalo
Deweyville, bye
Elysian Fields vs. Winona: 7:30 PM Thursday, Hallsville

Region IV
East Bernard, bye
Banquete vs. Dilley: 7:30 PM Friday, Jourdanton
Karnes City, bye
Blanco vs. Danbury: 7:30 PM Friday, A&M Consolidated
Lexington, bye
Poth vs. Taft: 7:30 PM Friday, George West
Refugio, bye
Hitchock vs. Rogers: 2:00 PM Saturday, Brenham

Class 1A-DI bi-district matchups:

Region I

Stratford (9-1), bye

Anson (9-1) vs. Windthorst (5-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Seymour

Seymour (8-2), bye

New Deal (6-4) vs. Panhandle (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dimmitt

Stamford (9-1), bye

Sunray (7-3) vs. Tahoka (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Plainview

Sundown (7-2), bye

Quanah (7-3) vs. Forsan (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday, Clyde

Region II

Goldthwaite (5-5), bye

Wolfe City (5-5) vs. Collinsville (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Van Alsytne

Lindsay (8-2), bye

Cayuga (7-3) vs. San Saba (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Joshua

Italy (6-4), bye

Valley View (6-4) vs. Simms Bowie (4-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Pattonville Prairiland HS

Honey Grove (9-0-1), bye

Hico (7-3) vs. Kerens (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Waco Robinson

Region III

Joaquin (10-0), bye

Bosqueville (9-1) vs. Colmesneil (5-5), 7 p.m. Thursday, Crockett

Hull-Daisetta (7-3), bye

Alto (8-2) vs. Harleton (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, New London West Rusk HS

San Augustine (8-2), bye

Iola (6-4) vs. Axtell (5-5), 7 p.m. Saturday, Groesbeck

Mart (8-2), bye

Timpson (9-1) vs. West Sabine (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Center

Region IV

Weimar (6-4), bye

Ben Bolt (7-2) vs. Ganado (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mathis

Shiner (9-1), bye

Ozona (8-2) vs. Holland (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Marble Falls

Mason (10-0), bye

Three Rivers (5-4) vs. Santa Maria (4-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Texas A&M-Kingsville

La Villa (9-1), bye

Thorndale (8-2) vs. Brackettville (7-3), TBDRegion I

Stratford (9-1), bye
Anson (9-1) vs. Windthorst (5-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Seymour
Seymour (8-2), bye
New Deal (6-4) vs. Panhandle (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dimmitt
Stamford (9-1), bye
Sunray (7-3) vs. Tahoka (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Plainview
Sundown (7-2), bye
Quanah (7-3) vs. Forsan (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday, Clyde

Region II
Goldthwaite (5-5), bye
Wolfe City (5-5) vs. Collinsville (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Van Alsytne
Lindsay (8-2), bye
Cayuga (7-3) vs. San Saba (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Joshua
Italy (6-4), bye
Valley View (6-4) vs. Simms Bowie (4-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Pattonville Prairiland
Honey Grove (9-0-1), bye
Hico (7-3) vs. Kerens (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Waco Robinson

Region III
Joaquin (10-0), bye
Bosqueville (9-1) vs. Colmesneil (5-5), 7 p.m. Thursday, Crockett
Hull-Daisetta (7-3), bye
Alto (8-2) vs. Harleton (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, New London West Rusk HS
San Augustine (8-2), bye
Iola (6-4) vs. Axtell (5-5), 7 p.m. Saturday, Groesbeck
Mart (8-2), bye
Timpson (9-1) vs. West Sabine (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Center

Region IV
Weimar (6-4), bye
Ben Bolt (7-2) vs. Ganado (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mathis
Shiner (9-1), bye
Ozona (8-2) vs. Holland (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Marble Falls
Mason (10-0), bye
Three Rivers (5-4) vs. Santa Maria (4-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Texas A&M-Kingsville
La Villa (9-1), bye
Thorndale (8-2) vs. Brackettville (7-3), TBD

Class 1A-DI bi-district matchups:

Region I
Wellington (10-0), bye
Ralls (7-3) vs. Bovina (4-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Levelland
Springlake-Earth (8-2), bye
Claude (7-3) vs. Wheeler (3-7), 7 p.m. Thursday, Panhandle
Seagraves (4-6), bye
Booker (6-4) vs. Vega (3-7), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Amarillo River Road
Gruver (8-2), bye
Sudan (8-2) vs. Crosbyton (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Acuff

Region II
McCamey (7-3), bye
Muenster (7-3) vs. Cross Plains (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, FW Brewer
Albany (9-1), bye
Bronte (7-3) vs. Iraan (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Big Spring
Eldorado, bye
Hamlin (7-3) vs. Electra (7-3), 7 p.m. Thursday, Graham
Munday (10-0), bye
Wink (6-4) vs. Miles (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Forsan

Region III
Hubbard (8-2), bye
Bremond (7-3) vs. Evadale (3-7), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Groveton
Tenaha (6-4), bye
Overton (6-4) vs. Wortham (4-6), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Palestine
Maud (5-5), bye
Mount Enterprise (7-3) vs. Lovelady (3-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Rusk
Chilton (5-5), bye
Frost (9-1) vs. Detroit (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bullard

Region IV
Burton (9-1), bye
La Pryor (5-5) vs. Rocksprings (5-5), 7:30 PM Friday, Harper
D’Hanis (10-0), bye
Runge (8-2) vs. Granger (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Fischer Canyon Lake HS
Falls City (8-2), bye
Sabinal (8-2) vs. Charlotte (2-8), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Hondo
Bruni (8-1), bye
Bartlett (6-4) vs. Woodsboro (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, New Braunfels Canyon HS

Six-Man Division I bi-district matchups:

Region I

Miami (9-1) vs. Petersburg (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Amarillo River Road
Ropesville Ropes (7-3) vs. Grady (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Ackerly Sands
Borden County (8-2) vs. Meadow (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday, O’Donnell
Turkey Valley (9-0) vs. Happy (5-4), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Silverton

Region II
Rankin (9-1) vs. Sterling City (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sterling City
Ira (10-0) vs. Crowell (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Haskell
Throckmorton (8-1) vs. Rotan (2-8), 7 p.m. Friday, Rotan
Water Valley (10-0) vs. Garden City (3-7), 7 p.m. Thursday, Sterling City

Region III
Santa Anna (9-1) vs. Lingleville (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, May
Blum vs. Saint Jo (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lewisville’s Goldsmith Stadium
Savoy (9-0) vs. Walnut Springs (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Ponder
Gordon (7-3) vs. Zephyr (7-3): 7:30 PM Saturday, Hico

Region IV
Abbott (8-2) vs. Coolidge (6-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hubbard
Leverett’s Chapel (7-2) vs. Apple Springs (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cushing
Fannindel vs. Oakwood, TBD
Buckholts (7-3) vs. Aquilla (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Penelope

Six-Man Division II bi-district matchups:

Region I
Follett vs. Groom: 7:30 PM Friday, Wellington
Amherst (5-5) vs. Lorenzo (5-5), 6:30 p.m. Friday, Anton
New Home (8-2) vs. Whitharral (5-5), 8:30 p.m. Friday, Anton
Matador Motley County (9-1) vs. Lefors, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Turkey Valley HS

Region II
Welch Dawson (8-2) vs. Balmorhea (8-2), 8 p.m. Friday, Kermit
Loraine (6-4) vs. Blackwell (5-5) 7 p.m. Friday, Hermleigh
Robert Lee (9-1) vs. Trent (8-2), 7 p.m., Thursday, Blackwell
Grandfalls-Royalty vs. Loop (7-3), 6 p.m. Friday, Kermit

Region III
Aspermont (10-0) vs. Vernon Northside (7-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Knox City
Newcastle (6-4) vs. Sidney (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Strawn
Strawn (9-1) vs. Woodson (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Bryson
Chillicothe (5-5) vs. Jayton (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Rule

Region IV
Richland Springs (10-0) vs. Oglesby (3-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Evant
Jonesboro (8-2) vs. Trinidad (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Penelope
Milford (10-0) vs. Cranfills Gap (3-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Moody
Cherokee (5-4) vs. Blanket (5-5): 7:30 PM Friday, Lometa

Pachall suspended indefinitely

TCU QB Casey Pachall has been suspended indefinitely by the team following a DWI arrest early Thursday morning. This comes on the heels of a tumultous offseason in which Pachall admitted to hardcore drug use to police following a significant on-campus drug bust. You can read about the DWI here.

TexasFootball.com will have more on this issue later in the day, or possibly tomorrow — essentially, whenever the smoke clears enough that we can make informed opinions.

Backup Trevone Boykin, a redshirt freshman, will take over the starting job indefinitely. The Horned Frogs play at Iowa State this weekend.

Watch the THSCA all-star game

Did you miss the annual Texas High School Coaches' Association All-Star game? We've got the archived YouTube link of the broadcast — enjoy the call from Craig Way and, yours truly, Travis Stewart of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=3EyEjgufIko&nomobile=1

Harleton to Troup

Dennis Alexander, who with 322 career victories sits fourth all-time in state history, is probably making a career move.

Alexander is likely leaving Harleton, where he won 80 games over 11 years, for Troup, which is coming off of a 6-5 season and is bringing back a promising 16 starters. Alexander has a chance to be successful right off the bat there and is the lone finalist for the open position.

But the real shock is the move itself — Alexander has been coaching for 40 years, and at that point, you just kind of assume the moving-around stage is over with. But it's hard to argue that Troup is a fine product right now, and one that gives Alexander a chance to make a real playoff run. He has also coached at Hughes Springs, Daingerfield and Henderson.

Alexander sits one victory ahead of SA Madison coach Jim Streety. The next active coach in pursuit is Highland Park's Randy Allen, who is nearly 20 wins behind the duo.

Dave Campbell and Gary Patterson book signing

Looking to get your newest copy of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine signed by Dave Campbell himself? Good. Let's add TCU head coach Gary Patterson, the 2012 Coverboy, to the mix as well. See below for a rare opportunity to get your magazine signed by both football legends this week!

***Media Advisory***

Coach Gary Patterson and legendary Texas Football journalist Dave Campbell partner for a fan autograph session

TCU's Big 12 Days of Summer continues with a promotional event at Albertsons

Who: Dave Campbell - Editor in-chief, Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine and TCU head coach Gary Patterson

What: Coach Patterson and Mr. Campbell will team up for an autograph session to promote TCU's entrance into the Big 12. The event also will promote Patterson featured on the cover of the 2012 summer edition of Dave

Campbell's Texas Football magazine.

When: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Thursday, July 19

Where: Albertsons Grocery store located at 7400 Oakmont, Fort Worth, Texas 76132

Additional Information

The event is open to the public. TCU merchandise as well as DCTF magazines will be available for purchase on the day of the event. Fans are limited to one autographed item per person and no photos with Patterson and Campbell will be allowed.

About Dave Campbell

A native of Waco, Mr. Campbell resides in Waco, where he founded Texas Football magazine in 1960. Campbell is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and ranks as one of the most respected sportswriters in Texas, if not the country. The press box/media center at Baylor's Floyd Casey Stadium is named in his honor, and Campbell ranks as one of the longest-serving contributors in the history of Sports Illustrated. Campbell is still the Southwest representative for Heisman Trophy balloting after a lengthy term as sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, now 53 years old, covers high school, college and pro football in Texas and is commonly called the bible of Texas high school football. The 400-page annual summer edition was the first publication in Texas to cover every high school in the state.

USA Team announced

It's hard to find a state that has a bigger impact on international football competition than Texas.

The 2012 U.S. Under-19 National Team roster has been announced, and nine Texas players are on it — the most from any state in the country. Two players were replacements for other injured players. Three Texas high school coaches are on staff, tops in the program.

Starting on June 30, national teams from Panama, Austria, Japan, France, Canada, Sweden, American Samoa and the U.S. will play a seeded tournament at Austin's Burger Stadium. The U.S. team's coaches are slated to arrive in Austin today (June 21st). Players will arrive tomorrow. See the game schedule — and the U.S. team's Texas connections — below.

Texas Connections:
Players:
Austin Westwood WR Desmond Wyatt
Houston Sharpstown LB Reggie Chevis
Lancaster WR Demarcus Ayers
Arlington LB Sammy Douglas
Lancaster DE Daeshon Hall
Westlake LB Lance Duran
Belton TE Durham Smythe

Injury replacements:
FW Southwest DT Tyler Colbert
Manvel DB Tavares Garner

Coaches:
Cy Creek's Greg McCaig (tight ends, special teams)
Westbury Christian's Charlie Ward (wide receivers)
Westwood assistant L.D. Williams (Offensive line)

Game schedule:
Saturday, June 30
No. 4 Panama vs. No. 5 Austria (9 AM)
No. 3 Japan vs. No. 6 France (11:30 AM)
No. 2 Canada vs. No. 7 Sweden (5 PM)
No. 1 United States vs. No. 8 American Samoa (8 PM)

Tuesday, July 3
Japan/France loser vs. Canada/Sweden loser (5 PM)
Panama/Austria loser vs. US/Samoa loser (8 PM)

Wednesday, July 4
Japan/France winner vs. Canada/Sweden winner (5 PM)
Panama/Austria winner vs. US/Samoa winner (8 PM)

Friday, July 6
Seventh-place game (5 PM)
Fifth-place game (8 PM)

Saturday, July 7
Bronze Medal game (5 PM)
Gold Medal game (8 PM)

Hempstead reverses decision

Hempstead ISD has reinstated head coach Ricky Sargent just a week after terminating his contract, effectively reversing a punishment enforced after he voluntarily left two misbehaving students in Giddings after a track meet (original story below).

Even though I'm a little surprised — I'm sure the board will take a little bit of fussing from the populace over the decision — I feel like the right decision was made. Sargent messed up, and he knew that. But his track record in Hempstead is sterling, and not just in wins and losses. The kids and community like and respect him. Not everyone deserves a second chance, depending on the infraction, but Sargent had probably earned his through the reupation he has laid down in his seven years as the head coach.

But I think the punishment, no matter how brief, will serve its purpose — Sargent won't do anything like this again, regardless of how bad a kid is screwing around. And in return, the community gets back a leader both on and off the field. It's one man's opinion, but I think the situation ended up in the right place.

(April 10, 2012)

Fox26 in Houston reported last night that Hempstead coach Ricky Sargent, who just took the Bobcats to the 2A-DI state title game in December, has had his contract terminated after leaving two students in Giddings after a track meet.

It wasn't an accident — it was a punishment for two rowdy students who were admittedly being a disturbance on the bus. When Sargent, a popular figure in Hempstead, told the kids they would not be eating because of their actions, the two left the bus to get food anyways. Hempstead told the bus to head back home, leaving the kids about an hour from home at 11 PM. The duo called their mothers, who came and got them.

This doesn't seem like a multiple-sides-of-the-story situation — the kids were screwing around, Sargent exercised a punishment he deemed just, the kids ignored it, and Sargent escalated the discipline. The only problem is, whether you agree with his actions or not, there aren't many parents left in America that are going to side with the discipling authority in this scenario. Now if this was 1960, odds are Sargent would be gainfully employed this morning and the kids would have gotten royally chewed out by their parents for what they did.

But this is a different world now. Fifty years ago, it wasn't quite as dangerous to leave a kid at Whataburger at 11 P.M. in a strange city, because the world wasn't quite as dangerous. We were a little more innocent, maybe. But doing that now flirts with a line — and as the school board says, crosses it — of student safety that almost always nets a fierce reaction.

It's worth noting that Sargent's tough love approach has shown results — the kids and parents liked him and he turned a middle-of-the-pack team into a state runner up. It's appropriate to call Sargent effectively old school. But "old school" is becoming an increasingly double-edged sword. We saw the dangerous edge of the blade last night.

Switch on offense

Joseph Duarte wrote this morning in the Houston Chronicle that former Cy-Fair star RB — and original Michigan signee — Sam McGuffie is moving from the backfield to wide receiver for the Rice Owls this season. There's probably a caveat with that; McGuffie, who was highly reruited as a preps star, will still take some carries for coach David Bailiff. But the intent is less to solidify him at one spot as it is to diversify the way the Owls can get the ball into the playmaker's hands.

Makes sense. Rice has been hurting at receiver for several years now, and while the Owls have a bevy of big-bodied, hybrid tight end types, they've gotten next to nothing from their true receivers in this run-based offense. A guy like McGuffie, who could pummel the opposition on underneath and quick routes, could go a long ways towards softening up defenses and freeing up some room for the run game. The only downside to this move? It might have come a year too late — the Owls were blessed with a handful of quality running backs last season, but several have graduated now. The cupboard is far from bare, though. Good coaching by the Rice staff — and good for McGuffie for jumping in with both feet.

Tech loses linebacker

In an offseason in which "building" was supposed to be a key theme for the defense, Texas Tech found itself taking a step backwards over the weekend.

Linebacker Cqulin Hubert, a junior-to-be who started six games in 2011, has been kicked off the team for an undisclosed violation of team rules. He finished last season with 38 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss, but missed what would have been one start (Baylor) because of suspension. Hubert was a sought-after linebacker from Aldine Eisenhower back in the 2010 signing class and had the skills to be a solid Big 12 starter one day.

The dismissal also leaves a void at arguably the defense's weakest spot. Linebacker was a problem point on one of the nation's worst defenses in 2012, and youth and lack of experience was a primary reason. Losing Hubert makes both of those problems worse. But this may be an opportunity for JUCO signee Will Smith to nail down a starting job in the Red Raiders' new defensive scheme. He's looked good so far in the spring.

Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal was the first to report this story.

Big 12 Texans at the Combine

With the NFL Combine just around the corner — Wednesday, in fact, and running through the 28th of February — it's timely to take a quick look at all the Texas kids who will be making the trip to prove their mettle in front of scouts. Remember, roughly 300 players are invited to the Combine every year — so 48 Texas kids making the trip is pretty special. This was a great year for Texas kids at out-of-state schools, and not just at the regional rivals. Who do you think the best pro player of the mix could be?

Baylor: C Phillip Blake, RB Terrance Ganaway, QB Robert Griffin III, WR Kendall Wright

Texas: LB Emmanuel Acho, DT Kheeston Randall, LB Keenan Robinson, RB Fozzy Whittaker*

Texas A&M: K Randy Bullock, CB Terrence Frederick, WR Jeff Fuller, RB Cyrus Gray, CB Coryell Judie, QB Ryan Tannehill*

TCU: LB Tank Carder

SMU: OL Kelvin Beachum, OL Josh Leribeus

Houston: QB Case Keenum, WR Patrick Edwards

Rice: P Kyle Martens, DE Scott Solomon

Midwestern State: OT Amini Silatolu

Texas players at out-of-state schools:

Oklahoma State: DE Jamie Blatnick (Celina), FS Markelle Martin (WF Rider), FS Johnny Thomas (Texas City)

LSU: DT Michael Brockers (Houston Chavez), CB Ron Brooks (Irving MacArthur)

Louisiana Tech: RB Lennon Creer (Tatum)

Missouri: TE Michael Egnew (Plainview), DT Dom Hamilton (EP Chapin), WR Jerrell Jackson (Houston Davis), DE Jacquies Smith (Dallas SOC)

Oklahoma: CB Jamell Fleming (Arlington Seguin), TE James Hanna (Flower Mound), LB Travis Lewis (SA Lee)

Arizona: QB Nick Foles (Westlake), CB Trevin Wade (RR Stony Point)

Wake Forest: WR Chris Givens (Wylie)

Boise State: FS George Iloka (FB Kempner)

Oregon: RB LaMichael James (Tex. Liberty-Eylau), QB Darron Thomas (Aldine)

Stanford: QB Andrew Luck (Houston Stratford)

Penn State: CB D'Anton Lynn (Celina)

Iowa State: OG Kelechi Osemele (Langham Creek)

Oregon State: WR James Rodgers (Lamar Consolidated)

Utah: DE Derrick Shelby (FB Hightower)

Purdue: K/P Carson Wiggs (South Grand Prairie)

Yale: QB Patrick Witt (Wylie)

Big 12 schedules

The Big 12 schedules have been announced for the 2012 football season: check them here.

We'll have more on these schedules this afternoon.

Mathis not back (yet)

Over the weekend, the University of Houston announced that former DeSoto coach and current UH assistant Claude Mathis was leaving his post and returning to DeSoto high school. The news ended a brief one-month relationship between the two, but neither party, nor DeSoto, could confirm his new role with the Eagles.

ESPNDallas and the Austin American-Statesman hit the phones yesterday, and with good results — Mathis has not been offered the head coaching job at DeSoto yet, and the board has decided to wait until late February to decide on whether he will. The reasoning is sound; Mathis has been gone for a month, and the school has long since started the process of hiring a replacement. It's difficult to grind that search to a halt and tell all your applicants "Sorry, but we've changed our mind."

It's safe to say the Eagles probably aren't going to get a resume as good as Mathis', especially in relation to the school itself. But DeSoto has been working to move on over the past month, and now to backtrack to a coach who says he wants to be in the college ranks again one day will be emotionally trying.

I love Claude — always have. I would love to have him back in the high school ranks, especially at a high-profile program like DeSoto. But I think I understand why the school couldn't jump at the opportunity ... and why it may not work out at all.

Realignment thoughts

Someone asked a good question in our 2012 Realignment Live Chat today — when the numbers finally hit the web, where did I look first?

Caught me — Lake Travis.

How could you not? The Cavaliers are coming off a fifth-straight state title and are now about to make a highly-anticipated debut in Class 5A, possibly the nation's toughest level of prep football. They return a very good senior-to-be at quarterback and a junior-to-be at running back, plus a bevy of good defenders who have a chance to carry on the program's proud tradition of hard-nosed play. It's one of the more impact realignment moves we've seen in some time. Can you blame me for bee-lining to the new-look 15-5A?

Of course there were plenty of other noteworthy developments this morning when we pulled the districts out of the paint-shaker machine. Here's a few scattered thoughts and lists to digest as we head towards a more content-heavy Friday:

Winners:
Euless Trinity: Though the Trojans' district added Carrollton Turner and kept Colleyville Heritage, it should still add up to a near-automatic playoff berth for Steve Lineweaver's crew for two more years. I'm still waiting for a powerhouse team to finally settle into Trinity's annual rotation.

Aledo and Lake Travis: The darling children of 4A both made out well this time around; Aledo moved to the FWISD district (with Granbury), which means the Bearcats should be a prohibitive favorite almost every time they take the field, even without Johnathan Gray and Matt Bishop. Arlington Heights will be a tough test, but Tim Buchanan's squad will be picked to win that district by every media outlet in Texas. Though LT drew Westlake in its new 5A district, the rest of the Austin ISD teams it will face in 2012 and 2013 aren't on its level. It might be an easier district than the one LT had in 2010 and 2011.

Lubbock and Lubbock Monterey: Both Lubbock schools have dropped down into Class 4A, which should help things quite a bit. Both were straining to stay competitive at the 5A level, but moving down — even into Wolfforth Frenship's district — should take some of the pressure off. Poor Coronado is still stuck up in 5A, though, and in a very tough district to boot.

All of 23-3A: These Houston ISD schools were in an even worse position that the two Lubbock ones; unless they played each other in the playoffs, the postseason was always unkind to these tiny programs. Most weren't even close to 4A numbers to begin with. The travel may be worse in the postseason, but the scores should be better. I think program participation will go up for the next two years.

Kirbyville: The two-year stint back in Class 3A was not a good one for Kirbyville. Now that it's back in 2A, where it nearly one a couple of state titles, it may be able to get back into the win column.

Honorable mention: SA Brennan, EP Hanks, DeSoto.

Toughest districts:
13-5A: The Klein and Spring schools are tied at the hip, and that leaves fans fit to be tied. Both ISDs are power-packed with collegiate talent once again, and merely surviving the district is a Herculean feat. Dekaney, the 2011 DII champ, will be rebuilding at many key spots, but don't count anyone out in the slightly new-look district.

31-5A: Yikes. Weslaco East moving up from 4A and getting stuck with San Benito, Weslaco, the PSJA and the McAllen schools is a brutal draw. We may not end up with a state champion from here, but the four teams that make the playoffs out of this Valley district should get championship rings on effort alone.

4-3A: The West Texas 3A districts are always savage, because there's so much talent out there. But this one is pretty rough; Abilene Wylie, Big Spring, Midland Greenwood, Monahans, Snyder and Sweetwater. That gives me a stomach ache. Sorry, coaches.

10-2A DI and 10-2A DII: Both of these "10s" would score that high on a difficulty meter: Kirbyville, Anahuac, Newton, East Chambers and a host of other contenders fill out the coffers in DI, and the Arp-Garrison-West Rusk trio in DII isn't much better. Garrison moving up surprised me, but I guess we should have seen the rest of this coming.

12-1A DII: This may be the toughest district in Texas, even with just four teams: Bremond, Chilton, Lovelady and Normangee. That's twisted; the team that doesn't qualify for the playoffs here could probably still be good enough for a regional final. That's a lot of tradition packed into a small bag.

Oddities:
8-5A: Centex teams in Region I in Class 5A? Peculiar. Copperas Cove and Temple are both pretty good, as is Hewitt Midway. But climbing through Region I is a beating.

17-4A: Centex teams in Region III in Class 4A? Peculiar. The drop-down of the Houston ISD schools created space for a foreigner or two in 4A's traditionally Houston-dominated Region III, and Centex obliged. Hutto, Georgetown or Pflugerville Connally could be the favorite here. But how do they stack up regionally?

Aggies' first SEC slate

The SEC announced its 2012 football schedule Wednesday morning, which means Aggie fans every where got to enjoy their first taste of what life in their new home will feel like. The early prognosis? Tough love.

A&M will face Florida in the second game of the season, then wrangle Arkansas, LSU (at home) and Alabama (on the road) before the year comes to a close. If the A&M administration wanted the best football conference in America, I think they got it. Here's the full schedule:

Sept. 1: McNEESE STATE
Sept. 8: FLORIDA
Sept. 15: @ SMU
Sept. 22: TBD (possible open date)
Sept. 29: vs. Arkansas
Oct. 6: @ Ole Miss
Oct. 13: TBD (possible open date)
Oct. 20: LSU
Oct. 27: @ Auburn
Nov. 3: @ Miss. St.
Nov. 10: @ Alabama
Nov. 17: TBD (possible open date)
Nov. 24: MISSOURI

Lufkin's Outlaw passes away

Lufkin coach John outlaw died at age 58 Friday morning, according to the Lufkin Daily News.

This obviously comes a shock to the area, as Outlaw had been the coach of the Pack since 1995 and was a very well-known figure in the community. We'll relay more information when it comes available and provide some insight on Outlaw's career.