Happy Friday, Y’all !
It’s Friday morning and if you’re the coach of a D1 Top Ranked Softball program, you might be wondering which of your top players are heading to Lubbock. . .
Texas Tech softball continues to shock the nation with their N.I.L. spending spree, adding even more talent over the last few days with Taylor Panell from Tennessee coming in and Mia Williams from Florida making the move to Tech. The question is, why are people shocked?
Texas Tech sent a loud and clear message last year when they singed NiJaree Canady from Stanford for a million dollars that they weren’t messing around. Why did they think that would change now after a trip to the finals of the CWS? The reason so many programs and coaches are mad is simple. Texas Tech isn’t supposed to be able to compete with them.
It’s been a Private Club for years in top-level softball. Teams like Texas Tech need not apply. Now that the rabbit has the gun, they hate it.
I love it.
Texas Tech isn’t using some sort of loop-hole, as some have written. They’re playing by the rules of the sport right now. It’s like the Ultimate Summer Travel Ball Team and I’m here for it. Anything that spreads competitiveness around college sports is good. We need it in all sports from football to hoops and certainly softball.
The rules will change and modify. Teams will adjust. Texas Tech will adjust. But for now, anyone can do what Texas Tech is doing. They just choose not to. That’s up to them. I guess some of the blue-bloods don’t have quite as much money as they thought. Either that, or certain programs aren’t as important to them as they’ve led folks to believe.
Either way, this is great for Texas Tech and all college softball players. The rising tide lifts all boats on N.I.L.
We’ll talk about that, plus Day 1 of the CWS getting underway in Omaha today and more Ludvig Aberg at the US Open tonight on The Daily Broadcast. Join us LIVE at 6:30 Central on Twitter/X, YouTube and Facebook Live. All our platforms are always free, so subscribe to them all and never miss a thing.
If you happened to make a poor life-style choice and miss our Thursday show, fret not. We’ve got it for you right here:
Most Texan Thing
Each Friday we have one standing question around Raidlerland:
What’s The Most Texan Thing You Did This Week?
The world needs more folks doing more Texan things. So whether it was big or small, tell how Texan you were this week. If you’re outside the Lone Star State, you get bonus points for showing those folks how it’s done.
Fire away in the comments, and we’ll discuss in-detail tonight on TDB.
Raiderland Hot Links
Each morning, we serve ’em up, Fresh and Hot. The best links from Raiderland and Beyond!
Our friend Dane usually leads off with a great West Texas sunrise…he must be a Lake Alan Henry this week!!!
I’m still “that guy” – the one that doesn’t like NIL
But not because I disagree with you about it benefiting Texas Tech – I agree with you 100% that that is happening.
This phrase right here – college sports – it no longer exists. That’s what I don’t like.
Call it semantics or nitpicking or get off my lawn syndrome but I don’t like it.
I have to add this.
Even though I don’t like it, I’m not so hard hearted that I don’t find the whaling and gnashing of teeth hilarious. Because yes, it is indeed quite glorious to behold.