The Rock Chalkboard

Yahoo! gives grades for first-year Big 12 football coaches
247Sports' take: The Jayhawks were arguably better than their 3-9 record indicated, and even then, Kansas' first year under the "Mad Hatter" still had plenty of moments for fans to cheer about. The Jayhawks posted their first Power 5 road win since 2008 in September when the team posted a 48-24 victory at Boston College, and the mid-season change that put Brent Dearmon at offensive coordinator should have folks in Lawrence feeling that much more optimistic about the team's trajectory. Kansas' first game after that staff change saw the Jayhawks come achingly shy of defeating Texas on the road, dropping a 50-48 thriller after Longhorns kicker Cameron Dicker hit a walk-off field goal. Kansas ended the regular season scoring more than 30 points on four occasions -- three times in conference play.

Jeff Long evaluates KU football, Les Miles after Year 1
“It’s not successful because we didn’t win every game, but it was a positive step forward and we’re getting better,” Long said. “Do I wish we were further along? Yes. Am I disappointed in where we are? No. And we’ve taken the first step.”

'Fearless driver' Devon Dotson standing out in Kansas backcourt
Those who have watched KU's early-season games on television have heard ESPN announcer and Duke standout Jay Bilas use a word to describe Devon Dotson and the way he attacks the hoop: "fearless."

Bill Self, KU players see room for improvement on 3PT defense
"Because we're playing two bigs," McCormack explained. "Not a lot of teams play two bigs anymore, they try to go four guards. And they try to space the floor going against me and Silvio [De Sousa]."

Jeff Long: KU football 'far closer' now to meeting expectations | KUsports.com
“I think we saw improvement,” Long replied Thursday, when asked during an interview session with reporters how KU’s win-loss record measured up to his expectations. “We only saw three wins. I think we saw other games that, wow, we competed in. You look at the Texas game, I mean we were one minute and 10 seconds away from a victory there, and that that would have been huge for our program. But we're closer. We’re far closer than we have been.”

Bits o Chalk

Nationals owner Mark Lerner says team can't keep both Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon
"We really can only afford to have one of those two guys," Lerner told NBC Sports Washington in a interview excerpt published Thursday. "They're huge numbers. We already have a really large payroll to begin with."

Nationals owner Mark Lerner says team can't keep both Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon
"We really can only afford to have one of those two guys," Lerner told NBC Sports Washington in a interview excerpt published Thursday. "They're huge numbers. We already have a really large payroll to begin with."

Sources -- Yankees make signing righty Gerrit Cole top offseason priority
The Yankees' fondness for the 29-year-old Cole, whose fantastic 2019 season with the Houston Astros set him up to smash David Price's record contract for a pitcher of $217 million, was only reinforced during a meeting with him earlier this week, sources said.

Patriots' Tom Brady makes light of toe, elbow injuries
"That might be the first time my toe's ever been on the injury report. You know us Patriots. We're pretty diligent about listing everything, so I guess we have to make mention of my toe now as well," Brady said with a laugh Thursday night in his weekly interview with Westwood One Sports.

Chelsea able to buy in January after transfer ban reduced
Chelsea were handed a two-window transfer ban and fined £460,000 ($599,000) in December 2018 after FIFA found them guilty of breaching rules relating to the transfers of 29 players under the age of 18.

Army football program dropped motto of white supremacist origin
For the past several years, the Black Knights have taken the field for each game flying a pair of banners: the American flag and a black skull-and-crossbones flag with four letters inscribed on what would be the upper lip of the skull: GFBD. The acronym is shorthand for "God Forgives, Brothers Don't" and has been part of the football program's lexicon since the mid-1990s.

West Point officials and members of the athletic department said they were unaware that the phrase links to motorcycle gangs and Aryan Brotherhood sects until that connection was brought to their attention in September.

Eraser Dust

Whitefish City Council approves new city manager
The Whitefish City Council approved Dana Smith to be the new City Manager on Monday. Smith was previously the City of Whitefish Finance Director and has been the interim City Manager since September.

Guatemalan boy who died in federal custody was on the floor for hours before anyone found him, video shows - CNN
A sick Guatemalan boy who died in government custody was lying on the floor for hours before someone found him dead, a video first obtained by ProPublica shows.

Papa John's founder John Schnatter's wife is divorcing him
The wife of Papa John's founder John Schnatter filed for divorce on Thursday. The couple has been married for 32 years.

New senior condos under construction in Kalispell already half sold | KECI
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