The Rock Chalkboard

Legend of Brent Dearmon: KU's OC played through nasty face gash
"So my senior year at Bethel, in the second round of the playoffs, right before halftime, we're running the two minute drill," Dearmon began, speaking in his first press conference since being named KU's offensive coordinator. "I get flushed out of the pocket. Now, I grew up with a rare disease: I was slow and couldn't jump very high."

Ranking the Big 12's quarterbacks halfway through the season
During Kansas’ loss to Oklahoma, ESPN’s Greg McElroy said on the broadcast that Stanley had ability, but needed to play with more consistency and avoid bad plays. And while that’s a pretty accurate portrayal — Stanley’s highs this season have been really high, and he’s had some lows as well — he’s fifth in the Big 12 in passing efficiency and is on pace to be the first Kansas quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards in a season since Todd Reesing in 2009. That’s not a typo. Stanley had 107 yards passing and two interceptions against Coastal Carolina, then 84 yards passing (on 41.4 percent completion) against TCU

'He’s a winner': KU O.C. Brent Dearmon ready for first shot at running a Power 5 offense | KUsports.com
Dearmon was recently promoted to KU’s offensive coordinator following a 2-4 start to the season, and was formally introduced to the media Thursday afternoon. Dearmon, who has had stints as a high school coach and at three levels of collegiate football, is now an OC at a Power Five program just 11 years after his coaching career began.

KU volleyball defeats West Virginia to earn first Big 12 win | KUsports.com
The Kansas volleyball team defeated West Virginia in five sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-15, 25-17, 15-13) Thursday night at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

KU soccer earns 1-0 win over Oklahoma | KUsports.com
Thanks to some late-game theatrics, the Kansas women’s soccer team earned a 1-0 win over Oklahoma on Thursday night on the road.

Bits o Chalk

NBA cancels media availability for rest of China trip
Saturday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets is still scheduled to be played to conclude the 2019 China Games. However, the teams involved won't be talking about it.

Dominant Gerrit Cole again too much for Rays as Astros reach ALCS
Houston ace Gerrit Cole dominated the upstart Tampa Bay Rays for the second time during the American League Division Series as the Astros beat the Rays 6-1 at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, winning the best-of-five series 3-2. It was not easy.

Tampa Bay Rays' Tyler Glasnow says tipped pitches 'pretty obvious' in ALDS Game 5 loss
The Houston Astros jumped on Tampa Bay Rays starter Tyler Glasnow from the outset Thursday in a clinching Game 5 win in their American League Division Series. It was almost as if they knew what was coming.

Connecticut vs. Washington - Game Recap - October 10, 2019 - ESPN
Emma Meesseman scored 22 points and Delle Donne added 21 to help the Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 89-78 on Thursday night in the winner-take-all Game 5 of the Finals at Entertainment and Sports Arena.

Steve Kerr says being called out by President Trump was 'surreal'
"It was really surprising," Kerr said prior to Thursday's preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. "But mainly just because it was me. Then you stop and you think, this is just every day. This is just another day. I was the shiny object yesterday. There was another one today; there will be a new one tomorrow. And the circus will go on. It's just strange, but it happened."

Eraser Dust

Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Awarded Nobel Peace Prize - The New York Times
Mr. Abiy spearheaded a peace accord in his region and catalyzed reforms at home.

Trump's Biden-Ukraine natural gas conspiracy theory: False, but alive
Now this place is ground zero for a central claim – one with no credible evidence – in a scandal that has engulfed the Trump administration in an impeachment inquiry: that former Vice President Joe Biden forced the Ukrainian government to fire a prosecutor in order to protect his son Hunter Biden, who served on Burisma's board.

Republicans divided over political costs of Syria withdrawal : NPR
The growing divide between President Trump and many of his fellow Republicans over his decision to move U.S. troops in Syria out of the way of a Turkish incursion threatens his delicate alliance with the congressional GOP at a time when he needs their support more than ever, party strategists say.

4 winners and 3 losers from the LGBTQ town hall - Vox
Sen. Cory Booker once again had a strong night, showing comfort and ease discussing LGBTQ issues and specific policies to deal with difficulties stemming from intersecting identities like race and queerness. Both Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Beto O’Rourke were also confident in addressing the multi-layered protections needed for LGBTQ people. But it was South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg who took the spotlight and finally seemed to come out of his shell, presenting himself as both vulnerable with his personal stories and humble to those in the community who don’t share his privilege.

Daily Inter Lake - Local News, Flathead child killer denied parole again
Bachman was convicted of the deaths of 9-year-old Jessica Westphal and 11-year-old Karen Tyler. Investigators said Bachman took both girls into the woods July 31, 1973, and shot each in the head six times. The girls had ridden their bikes to the Marion store to buy candy.

KRMC provides a unique coping mechanism for kids diagnosed with cancer
All Everly has to do is hold on "emotion cards" to the ducks stomach and the duck simply acts out the different emotions. This helps Everly communicate how she's feeling to doctors.

Daily Inter Lake - Local News, Nonprofit sues United Way over ‘abrupt’ expulsion
According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Flathead County District Court, Two Bears Family Center LLC and its founders, Kim Kearney and Bernadette McDonald, are suing on multiple counts, including wrongful termination, punitive damages, libel/slander and breach of contract.