The Rock Chalkboard

Assigning reasonable expectations for every Big 12 team in 2020
KANSAS JAYHAWKS: 3 WINS

Will Kansas be favored in any Big 12 game this season? The schedule is difficult, but it’s manageable, particularly after the promise we saw from the offense when Brent Dearmon took over as coordinator in the middle of last season. The big issue is this Kansas team is young and the Jayhawks must replace quarterback Carter Stanley. The good news is one of the more electric players in the country is back: Pooka Williams Jr., a running back capable of becoming a terror out of the backfield in the passing game. The Jayhawks will also be fine at receiver.

Touted DB John Howse closing in on a college decision
Because of the NCAA dead period we're in because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Howse visit to campus will not include time with the Huskers staff. He did the same with Kansas this past weekend and Boston College the weekend before.

How 2022 Jaren Kanak went from 'no interest' to KU, KSU offers
"I had minimal to none — no interest — before the Sharp Performance Combine," Kanak told Phog.net. "I put up some pretty good numbers. I started getting some follows and some texts from some people."

Countdown to KU football: Let's predict the O-line starters
To set the stage, the Jayhawks are replacing every single start at the left and right tackle spots, including with four-year starter and NFL Draft pick Hakeem Adeniji. The center spot is also missing a majority of the starts with Andru Tovi exhausting his eligibility, but the Jayhawks return talent on the interior of the O-line, while other names project to take a step forward.

Bits o Chalk

Clippers coach Doc Rivers on Jacob Blake shooting -- 'We got to demand better'
"All you hear is Donald Trump and all of them talking about fear," Rivers said of the Republican National Convention as he took his protective mask off to make sure he was heard clearly over the video conference. "We're the ones getting killed. We're the ones getting shot. We're the ones that we're denied to live in certain communities. We've been hung. We've been shot. And all you do is keep hearing about fear."

Man City's Messi contract could include New York City FC clause - sources
Manchester City are weighing up offering Lionel Messi a long-term contract that would see him move to MLS partner club New York City FC after three years in the Premier League, several sources have told ESPN.

Clippers' Paul George says he dealt with anxiety, depression inside NBA bubble
"It was just a little bit of everything," George later explained when asked what he meant. "I underestimated mental health, honestly. I had anxiety. A little bit of depression. Just being locked in here. I just wasn't there. I checked out.

Eraser Dust

Liam Gallagher shares rescheduled date for free NHS workers show
Other gigs announced as thanks to NHS staff and key workers include two shows from Manic Street Preachers, who will play a pair of huge shows at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena – with one free for NHS workers and another to benefit the health service.

What Ex-Oasis star Liam Gallagher thinks of Man City landing Lionel Messi...social media goes wild with speculation | Blackpool Gazette
With his club heavily linked with the superstar, former Oasis singer and Manchester City fan Liam Gallagher likened the rush of transfer speculation to “the space race”.

Hurricane Laura path, radar: Storm to be Category 4; aims at Texas, La
Hurricane Laura, which grew to a Category 3 storm early Wednesday, is forecast to bring "potentially catastrophic" storm surge, fierce winds winds and flash flooding to eastern Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday night and early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center says.

3 people dead in Indiana after getting trapped inside sewer manhole
hree contractors died Tuesday in northern Indiana after they became trapped in a sewer manhole, authorities said.

Residents test positive for COVID-19 at Kalispell assisted living facility | KECI
“We check on our residents’ temperature and O2 sats every eight hours just to monitor their health across campus, and we don’t have any residents across campus who are showing symptoms, so we are very pleased with that,” Immanuel Lutheran Communities CEO Jason Cronk said.