Website of The Day
[www.] Has Texas Hired Nick Saban Yet [.com]
Friday Playlist
Country legend Ray Price is facing his “final days” in Tyler, after ending treatment for pancreatic cancer. He’s back at his terrestrial home, but is expected to return to that Big Concert in the Sky any day now. “I am at peace. I love Jesus. I’m going to be just fine,” said Price in final message to fans. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you again one day.” In his book The Best of Country Music, John Morthland wrote that, “Price’s career has been a study in stubbornness. He was, how you say, country when country wasn’t cool, and then he was pop when pop wasn’t cool. Such bullheadedness is the mark of a true Texas boy.” Rare is it that you have the chance to actually say goodbye. We get to sing it. This one’s for the good times.
Photo of the day
Ya gotta appreciate the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal‘s sense of humor. Below is the photo that accompanied their story about Texas Tech’s QB Baker Mayfield’s announcement that he’s leaving:
Daily Roundup
Johnny Get Your Draft — Hard to believe but Johnny Manziel, the third-year sophomore who won the Heisman tropy as a freshman, is thinking about not finishing his degree. Though, you can hardly blame him. Up again for the Heisman, Manziel said Thursday that he’s considering going pro instead of returning to A&M next year. In the coming weeks, Manziel’s going to “huddle” (the Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s words) with his council/life-mentors/coaches before making a decision. “If this was to be the end of it, I want to be one of the best to ever play at A&M,” Manziel said. “Hopefully, I did my part to try and help build the program and take it to another level.” Pretty understated for the guy who gave A&M its best fundraising year ever. If he goes pro, at least he’ll be able to make some money off of it.
The Powers That Still Be — Following a closed-door meeting of the UT regents, it was decided that university president Bill Powers will remain the president. All hail the president! “[Chancellor Francisco] Cigarroa told the regents that relations between the system and the university leader ‘remain strained,’ but he said he was committed to working with Powers to resolve their problems and to move ahead,” according to the Austin American-Statesman. Regent Wallace Hall would probably disagree with the second have of that statement.
Frozen Bank Account — Last week’s icy conditions in Dallas didn’t just cause problems for travel, schools and Whole Foods. It also had a chilling affect on the local piggy bank. The City of Dallas “spent around $300,00 to $400,000 to battle slick roads” and experienced a loss of “productivity to the tune of $1.5 million,” according to the Dallas Morning News. And that’s not all. Those figures don’t include “all possible county expenses” or “weather-related costs for the city of Dallas, TxDOT, NTTA and others.” County Judge Clay commented that at least the weather-related costs could’ve been worse; Tarrant County’s bill starts at $500,000.
Homeward Bound (And Held For Ransom) — Typically, when people say they have a “rescue” dog, this is not what they mean. “Crawford and Mary Clay Gupton of Arlington, Texas had their 10-month-old Swiss mountain dog, Heidi, kidnapped (well, ‘rescued’) by Reddit user ‘dogthedogsaver,’ who claims to have taken matters into their own hands after what he deemed was the Gupton’s neglect,” according to the fascinating Austinist story. Reddit users can have a habit of being a bit self-aggrandizing and “dogthedogsaver” is no exception. After the kidnapping, (s)he sent what was essentially the kind of ransom note the Taliban send (i.e. you’ll never see your dog again). The owners are so neglectful, they’re offering a $2,000 reward.
Bum Steer Time of Year — That’s right, folks! This morning Texas Monthly is announcing the annual Bum Steer Awards. There’s been plenty of guesses made on the Facebook page as to who will be crowned the top Bums. Hurry and submit your guess. Winner’s will receive … the smug, and priceless, satisfaction of being right.
Clickity Bits
The Galveston Giant Makes His Mark (Again)
Right, A&M, Because What the World Needs Is More Journalists
Oh, That Swimming Hole? Just One Of The Most Dangerous In The World
UT Has A Name For Its New School: Meh
‘Leaky Dumpster Could Doom Popular Rural Hangout’
Ten Plays That Defined Texas’s Season
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