:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47231132/usa-today-8812332.0.jpg)
This is our protip for other journalists who are busy trying to sell narratives in service to their employer's other interests: you have to at least make rational sense. For example, when one writer (ESPN's Brandon Chatmon) places 1-2 Texas seventh in the Big 12 Power Rankings in one article then in another article just an hour later predicts that they'll not only go bowling but will get the #6 bowl slot, you have to question either motive or logic.
Let's summarize: the seventh-place team in the Big 12 has never won more than four conference games, and averages only 3.5 wins. To get to bowl eligibility, Texas has to go 5-4. Which five teams is Texas beating? Iowa State and Kansas seem sure bets, and Chatmon's premise is obviously that Texas can beat Kansas State (although he also has K-State bowling, which means K-State's going to have to beat someone other than the Clones and Jayhawks). If Texas is better than not one but two of the teams ahead of them in those power rankings, why isn't Texas ahead of them in those rankings?
When the logic fails the test of internal consistency, there is only one other option: deliberate spin. K-State is idle this week, so it's perfectly okay for ESPN to downgrade them; there's no game to sell on Saturday. But looky here, it seems that after taking a look at the Big 12 schedule and having lost the TCU-Texas Tech game to FOX (who presumably picked first this week), ESPN chose to carry Oklahoma State at Texas.
And now you know why ESPN is trying to talk up a team they've spent three weeks trashing. You, the viewer and college football consumer, need to understand that you are being fed analysis from a corrupt well. ESPN is to college football as FOX News and MSNBC are to politics.
It was Sunday. We relaxed, other than releasing the Week 3 college football polls.
Speaking of power rankings, here's this week's edition from the Star's Blair Kerkhoff.
It may be time for those of you who are still snarky to put down your torches regarding Kellis Robinett. For two weeks in a row, his "three thoughts" have jibed perfectly with our own. Last week, his header was the campaign to make Justin Silmon the starting tailback. That happened, and now Robinett is riding the "no more Charles Jones in the Wildcat" train. It's almost as if Kellis has become one of us. But he's got more ammo: specifically Jones himself, who agrees that the formation is entirely too predictable. (There's also a money shot regarding Bill Snyder's feelings regarding the offensive playcalling.) Do not miss this piece.
Ken Corbitt at the Capital-Journal on Dominique Heath's goat-to-hero journey yesterday.
ESPN's national writers bowl projections are more sensible than Chatmon's. Brett McMurphy has the Cats taking on Arizona State in what would essentially be a true road game at the Cactus Bowl; Mark Schlabach has a rematch with Pig Sooie at the Liberty Bowl.
Finally, from the enemy camp, a couple more pieces from Sean Isabella of the Monroe News-Star. First, a recap of the feelings in the Tech locker room post-game; second, Jonathan Barnes was the only bright spot in Tech's special teams Saturday.
The losing streak is now three. K-State (8-4) took the first two sets against Creighton Sunday, but faltered. Although the Wildcats did have match point in the fourth set, Creighton (6-7) scored three straight points to steal the set and went on to win in five. That wraps non-conference play for the Cats, who visit Lawrence on Wednesday (ESPN3) to begin Big 12 play.
The second round of the Schooner Fall Classic was cancelled due to rain and lightning, and will not be made up. Today's third round will see the Wildcats, tied for 7th at 10-over after the first round, try to climb the leaderboard with only one round to work. Madison Talley and Connie Jaffrey begin the day at 1-under, tied for 10th overall.
Very sad news in Kansas City, as former Oklahoma State basketball player Royce Jeffries was shot and killed after midnight Saturday at Bob's N Motion, a bar at 57th and Troost. Jeffries, 46, worked security at the bar, and was fatally wounded when he broke up a fight in the bar and one of the participants returned with a gun. Hailing from the tiny town of Grant in the southeastern corner of Oklahoma, Jeffries was the Small School Player of the Year in Oklahoma in 1986, and played four seasons for the Cowboys under Leonard Hamilton (and assistant Bill Self). He was the third-most accurate shooter in Oklahoma State history at 56.9%, and averaged 13 points a game as a senior in 1990, earning the second of his two Big 8 honorable mention nods.
Our thoughts are with the Cowboy family today, and although he wasn't a police officer we're still going to view this as a peacemaker being brought down in the line of duty.