The Rock Chalkboard

Kevin Feder talks position battles on KU football offensive line
Kevin Feder has high expectations for the KU offensive line this year. Feder believes that the ongoing competition for starting spots (center, right guard, right tackle) has brought out the best in himself and his teammates. Additionally, according to the offensive tackle, offensive line coach Luke Meadows has helped raise the line's game to a new level.

Jamahl Horne survived 'death around every corner' on path to KU
Originally from a neighborhood where violence and drug use were are all-too common, the KU football receiver eventually left his home to go live with a coach, a decision his mother said wasn’t difficult for her to accept because the safety of her son was paramount. He then made the ultimate bet on himself, traveling half way across the country without even a guarantee he would have a chance to try out for the KU football team. One year later, he’s listed as the starting kick returner on Les Miles' first depth chart as KU coach, and you can’t find a person in his life who won’t rave about him.

Former KU safety Fish Smithson signs with Baltimore Ravens
Fish Smithson, a former first-team All-Big 12 honoree and KU safety, has latched on with the AFC squad. In fact, the news was tweeted in an especially matter-of-fact fashion from the Ravens' Twitter account:

Steven Parker learning from vets, enjoying feel of KU program
Steven Parker walked by one table while D.J. Eliot was speaking. The KU defensive coordinator, who was already speaking on the impact freshmen, couldn't help but pause and make a joke.

Position Breakdown: Middle Blockers
Hill is entering her fourth year with the program and played in 27 matches with 21 starts last season. Hill led KU in blocks (125.0) and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2018. The Houston, Texas native was named to the 2019 All-Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team earlier this summer.

Position Breakdown: Setters – Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas enters the 2019 fall schedule with two setters on its roster, including returner Camryn Ennis who split time with Gabby Simpson last season in the setter role.

McClure earns National, Big 12 weekly awards – Kansas Jayhawks
Following a four-goal, two-assist opening two matches of the 2019 regular season, Kansas senior forward Katie McClure earned both national and conference accolades. The United Soccer Coaches named her the National Player of the Week, while the Big 12 awarded her with the Offensive Player of the Week honor. It marked the first National Player of the Week award for McClure, while it was the fifth Big 12 weekly honor in her career and the fourth time she has been named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week.

Who's No. 1?: Kansas WRs think collective approach will benefit passing attack | KUsports.com
It’s not uncommon for a successful football offense to feature a go-to receiver in the passing game. A target who is not only reliable but also possesses the kind of athleticism and instincts that lead to chunks of yardage and quick-strike touchdowns.

After losing weight in offseason, KU linebacker Jay Dineen ready for his turn | KUsports.com
As the only Dineen left with the Jayhawks, the redshirt sophomore linebacker knows better than anyone that it will be no easy task replacing his older brother this year. Joe Dineen Jr., who is now with the Denver Broncos, is KU’s all-time leader in career tackles for loss (45.5) and ranks fourth in the program’s record books in total career tackles (386) after all.

Bits o Chalk

College football conference previews and storylines using SP+
Considering Alabama had played one game in the past month-plus leading up to the title game, the whole "Did the SEC grind wear Alabama down heading into the national title game?" line of questioning that emerged from this year's media days circuit was mostly nonsense.

Sources: Dolphins interested in Clowney trade
The Miami Dolphins are interested in trading for Houston Texans star Jadeveon Clowney and recently met with the pass-rusher, according to ESPN and multiple reports.

Sources -- Royals owner negotiating sale for $1B
Kansas City Royals owner David Glass is negotiating to sell the team to local businessman John Sherman for more than $1 billion, sources familiar with the discussions told ESPN.

Lloyd serious about NFL try, but not until 2020
Carli Lloyd's 55-yard field goal at a Philadelphia Eagles-Baltimore Ravens practice last week generated enough buzz that the soccer star said she's now mulling multiple offers from NFL teams to explore kicking.

Family of Rays prospect killed in triple homicide
The wife, child and mother-in-law of a Double-A pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization were killed Tuesday in a small Virginia town, with police arresting the brother-in-law of right-hander Blake Bivens and charging him with three counts of first-degree homicide, sources told ESPN.

Prep sports involvement falls; 1st time in 30 years
Led by a decline in football for the fifth straight year, participation in high school sports dropped in 2018-19 for the first time in 30 years, according to an annual survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Eraser Dust

Boris Johnson asks Queen to suspend UK Parliament ahead of Brexit - Live - CNN
The prospect of Britain crashing chaotically out of the European Union seems increasingly likely as time goes on.

Deutsche Bank bombshell: It has Trump's tax returns — and Democrats may soon see them | Salon.com
Just ahead of a later afternoon court-ordered deadline on Tuesday, financial giant Deutsche Bank indicated it is possession of at least some tax return documents filed by President Trump and possibly members of his family.

Dorian Will Hit Florida As Category 2 Hurricane, New Forecast Says : NPR
Tropical Storm Dorian is bearing down on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, bringing heavy rain and sustained winds up to 60 mph. Forecasters are now warning the storm will strengthen into a dangerous hurricane as it nears the U.S. mainland.

Sacklers Would Give Up Ownership of Purdue Pharma Under Settlement Proposal - The New York Times
The Sackler family would give up ownership of Purdue Pharma, the company blamed for much of the opioid epidemic, and pay $3 billion of their own money under terms of a settlement proposal to resolve thousands of federal and state lawsuits, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

Why some voters are increasingly concerned about Joe Biden’s age - Vox
Campaigning in New Hampshire over the weekend, former Vice President and 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden talked himself into another news cycle about his gaffes. He confused the first primary state for neighboring Vermont. Then he forgot where he had spoken on Dartmouth College’s campus just hours before.

The Backlash to the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Is Finally Here - VICE
The Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich was released just over two weeks ago, but after two weeks of being nothing short of obsessed with it, both online and in real life, we’ve reached the “I felt like destroying something beautiful” stage of appraising this breaded and spiced masterpiece. The inevitable backlash to the sandwich—or, more accurately, to the unyielding frenzy that the sandwich has created—is finally here. I am Jack’s grease-stained social conscience.