The Rock Chalkboard

Can the Big 12 be saved? Updates from the remaining eight
The news of Texas' and Oklahoma's plan to leave the Big 12 for the SEC landed like a hammer on the administration, coaches, athletes, and fans of the other eight schools in the conference. This news, which was totally unexpected, threatens to crush the Big 12, which will be in its 29th year when its final grant of media rights contracts expires in the summer of 2025. OU and UT are stating they intend to stay with the conference through that date, but a divorce that is four years in the making seems hard to fathom.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby releases statement after meeting with Texas, Oklahoma
“The Big 12 Conference Executive Committee, consisting of Big 12 Board of Directors chairman and Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec and Baylor University President Linda Livingstone; and Commissioner Bob Bowlsby met by video conference Sunday afternoon with University of Oklahoma President Joe Harroz and University of Texas President Jay Hartzell,” the statement read. “‘The meeting was cordial, and the Executive Committee expressed a willingness to discuss proposals that would strengthen the Conference and be mutually beneficial to OU and UT, as well as the other member institutions of the Conference,’ Bowlsby stated. ‘I expect that we will continue our conversations in the days ahead and we look forward to discussing thoughts, ideas and concepts that may be of shared interest and impact.’”

Kansas players building familiarity with Lance Leipold, new staff
“He sparked in me leadership, just making sure I’m doing the right things every day,” Logan said. “Makes sure I’m doing everything and more that other safeties aren’t doing to be better. Making sure we’re building a team and just making sure we’re following the culture and listening to what’s going on.”

2023 DL Tyler Gant planning Kansas football visit
Armed with offers from Arkansas, Arkansas State, Eastern Michigan, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky and Wisconsin, in addition to Kansas, Gant is the No. 50-ranked interior defensive line prospect in 2023 per the Top247. He is the No. 10-ranked player in the state of Missouri and has a grade of 88, putting him in the upper range of three-star prospects.

College football realignment: Kansas did not set up call with Big Ten, per report
"Rumor spread quickly Friday that Kansas had set up a call with Big Ten," Marcello tweeted Saturday. "No such call has been scheduled with the conference, I was told Friday."

Peach Jam Saturday Wrap-Up: Kylan Boswell, Rob Dillingham, Ty Rodgers and more
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC -- Pool play ended on Friday and tournament play began on Saturday at Peach Jam. It was a highly competitive day both from the 16s and 17s. Some players stepped up in big ways, some coming in tough losses and others in big time wins.

KU's Bobby Pettiford honored for senior year in North Carolina
Pettiford averaged 19.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals at South Granville a year ago. Along the way, he earned a four-star recruiting ranking, slotting as the No. 91 player in the class and No. 15-ranked point guard per the 247Sports Composite.

Lance Leipold: Kansas football needs 'more local players'
"Extremely important," Leipold previously said. "There's so many plusses to that."

CBS Sports names potential landing spots for Big 12 teams
From a basketball perspective, this makes perfect sense. Football? Well that is a different story. There were already enough Kansas-Rutgers jokes over the last few seasons and that would only continue. But if the Jayhawks can find themselves in the Big Ten West, they could be a little more competitive on the field. Basketball might be what saves them even though football controls the market and the Big Ten wants to add top notch academic institutions as well. According to CBS Sports, Kansas is a member of the Association of American Universities, which is a prestigious academic group beloved by the Big Ten. That could be its meal ticket.

Bits o Chalk

Luka Doncic scores 48 points in Olympic debut as Slovenia wins opener over Argentina
SAITAMA, Japan -- Luka Doncic is only a 22-year-old Olympic rookie, a player who might still be a few years away from his best basketball.

USWNT's Rose Lavelle: Loss to Sweden a blessing in disguise
United States women's national team (USWNT) midfielder Rose Lavelle has said that the loss against Sweden on the opening day of the Tokyo 2020 women's soccer tournament was a blessing in disguise for the team.

Momiji Nishiya, 13, gives Japan sweep in Olympic street skateboarding; Brazil's Rayssa Leal, also 13, takes silver
TOKYO -- Three teenage girls -- ages 13, 13 and 16 -- stood on the Olympic podium with weighty gold, silver and bronze medals around their necks, rewards for having landed tricks on their skateboards that most kids their age only get to see on TikTok.

Australia's rising swimming star Ariarne Titmus beats Katie Ledecky for gold in Olympic women's 400-meter freestyle
Australia's Ariarne Titmus chased down Ledecky to win the women's 400-meter freestyle, one of the most anticipated races of the Summer Games, capturing the gold medal with the second-fastest time in history on Monday.

Sources - Houston Texans now willing to trade QB Deshaun Watson
HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans, after initially insisting they would not trade Deshaun Watson, shifted their stance on the quarterback's trade availability earlier this offseason and have been willing to field offers from interested teams, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Eraser Dust

Never Grill Your Meat or Chicken Like This, USDA Warns | Best Life
If you thought you could start the grill up early, get some of your burgers and chicken partially cooked, put them in the fridge, and then finish them off later, you'd be mistaken. In its guidance on grilling safety, the USDA says "NEVER partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later." (Ed note - is this a thing people do?)

January 6 committee: Growing group of Republicans wants McCarthy to punish Kinzinger and Cheney for joining panel - CNNPolitics
(CNN)A growing group of rank-and-file House Republicans wants House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and GOP leadership to punish Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for accepting a position from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve on the select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection.

‘We’re f---ed’: Dems fear turnout catastrophe from GOP voting laws - POLITICO
“I’m super worried,” said Max Wood, founder and CEO of Deck, a progressive data analytics company that analyzes voting behavior. “I try to be optimistic, and I do think there are times when this kind of stuff can galvanize enthusiasm and turnout. … But I don’t know that that will be enough, especially with how extreme some of these laws are.”

Outfitter opens downtown Whitefish store | Daily Inter Lake
The one-stop shop offers tours throughout the region and outdoor gear galore. At the new Central Avenue store in downtown Whitefish, outdoor enthusiasts can buy a raft, secure a personalized Glacier National Park itinerary, or even rent baby backpacking gear.

After Nearly a Decade, LeVar Burton Gets His Chance to Host ‘Jeopardy!’ - The Ringer
In 2013, LeVar Burton tweeted, “My dream job…? The new Host of #Jeapordy,” complete with the hashtag #notevenkidding. The following day, he tweeted a link to a petition nominating him. He said much the same in 2018—“There is only one game show I’ve ever wanted to host... This Is Jeopardy!”—and again in the fall of 2020: “Not gonna lie, I feel like I’ve been preparing my whole life to occupy the @Jeopardy host podium when Alex retires.” After the 2018 declaration, TMZ stopped him at LAX, that perennial place of celebrity stop-and-chats, where he once again declared his candidacy. “Oh, I’m more than interested,” he said. “I want that gig.”

Review of Dave Matthews Band’s concert in Charlotte NC | Charlotte Observer
“It is very nice to see y’all,” were the first words he uttered to the sold-out crowd of nearly 20,000. Then he started plucking the opening riff of — wait for it — “Seek Up,” and the outdoor amphitheater erupted.