Dave Wilson

The curious case of Sawyer Robertson, Mike Leach's last quarterback It took the former Baylor signal-caller years to get comfortable running an offense. Will he be able to make things work in the NFL?

Sawyer Robertson is the ultimate searcher, a Lubbock kid who idolized Mike Leach, was lost when he died, and now faces an uncertain NFL draft. But don’t mistake his honesty and humility and faith for softness.
“A golden retriever,” he says, “is still a dog.”
www.espn.com/nfl/draft202...

His son’s name is AUGUST NIEDERHOFER, named for the first Niederhofer born in Texas. He’s about it.

Boone Niederhofer is the most central Texas name I've ever heard.

How did a West Texas oilman make Team USA's Olympic bobsled team? Boone Niederhofer, a former Texas A&M receiver living 1,000 miles from the nearest bobsled track, followed an unusual path to the Games.

Boone Niederhofer, a 32-year-old father of two who’s a production engineer for a Midland oil company, made the US Olympic team as a bobsledder, while juggling work and dad duties. Inside the adventures of an Aggie from San Antonio who made it to Italy.
www.espn.com/olympics/sto...

I think I took 3, but they were all from Mrs. Craddock.

The only journalism instructor I’ve ever had, Bettye Craddock from Kilgore College, was announced as a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Hall of Fame today. She changed my life, and so many others’. So proud to see her get her flowers.
texasipa.org/hall-of-fame...

Dawson’s arrival in a national championship is a high-water mark for the Air Raid family, who always hoped to see it at a place like Miami, a job Mike Leach coveted but could never get.
"This is what we always wanted," Mumme said. "None of us ever got the opportunity."

How Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson emerged from nowhere The architect of the Hurricane offense began his career grinding for a job at Southeastern Louisiana.

As Miami’s drove to beat Ole Miss, Hal Mumme was thinking about SE Louisiana’s win over Arkansas-Monticello and the young coach, Shannon Dawson, who made the right call. A Dana Holgorsen protege, Dawson has put his own twist on the Air Raid with Miami’s bruising talent.
www.espn.com/college-foot...

Birthday cake for a cow? Texas' Bevo to receive custom dessert from Orlando bakery for Cheez-It Bowl While the winning players and coaches of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl get to snack on the baked crackers, the Texas Longhorns mascot will have his own special dessert.

Mascots need bowl fun, too, and the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl wanted Bevo to wake up feeling the cheesiest. So they hired an Orlando bakery — which initially thought it was being pranked — to create the big fella his own 12x12 Cheez-It.
www.espn.com/college-foot...

'Is it a real functional toaster?': Behind the scramble to engineer the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy How the internet's favorite bowl took things to the next level by making its trophy a kitchen appliance.

Closing the year with the most important one: @dwil.bsky.social went to Louisville to talk to the engineer who made the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy

The anti-anhedonic Aggies: Can Mike Elko and this Texas A&M team make all the talk about the past stop? The Aggies head into their first College Football Playoff appearance looking to banish the program's ghosts.

Mike Elko hates talking about The Past at Texas A&M. But that’s why he’s here, the ultimate overachiever imposing his will on one of college football’s biggest underachievers. Just don’t tell him about this story.
www.espn.com/college-foot...

Texas QB Manning to return for 2026 season Texas quarterback Arch Manning will return to school to play in 2026, finally putting to rest questions about his future beyond this season.

Cooper: “Arch is playing football at Texas next year.”
www.espn.com/college-foot...

Festive HAM

Also, getting to Zoom with Mick Fleetwood with my 17-year-old drummer kid this summer was one of the cooler moments of the job.

'It's our tune': How Fleetwood Mac worked with the USC Marching Band to create 'Tusk' The idea initially sounded so far-fetched band directors thought it was a prank. But the collaboration became a sensation.

On Friday, Mick Fleetwood surprised fans by playing “Tusk” with the Trojan Marching Band. But Dr. Bartner, the 85-year-old band director who helped bring it to life and earned USC two platinum, albums also surprised Mick. Inside the very L.A. story of the iconic “Tusk.”
www.espn.com/college-foot...

Y’all ever had that famous Waco Chinese Chicken?

'Are you serious?': How the LSU band got a 66 year-old tuba player This season hasn't gone according to plan for LSU, but one member of the school's band is living his dream.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. But it took this neighborhood in Baton Rouge to raise 66-year-old Tiger Tuba Kent, the LSU band sensation who has been a shining beacon of positivity in a turbulent LSU season.
www.espn.com/college-foot...

This is kinda terrifying

Week 10 preview: Why Georgia's matchup with Florida just means more, plus key matchups Key matchups and the story behind why Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton really wants a win against Florida.

One reason Gunner Stockton wants to beat Florida? His grandfather Lawrence died of a heart attack in the parking lot after the Dawgs lost to the Gators in 2010.
"He said something about Todd Grantham and collapsed," said Suzanne Frederickson, Lawrence Stockton's widow.
www.espn.com/college-foot...

'Toughest player I've ever seen': The Legend of Haynes King Stories about how the quarterback became one of the quirkiest, toughest and most insatiable players in college football.

"You could stick a knife through the guy, and he'd say, 'I feel good, Coach.'"

From me and @dwil.bsky.social ... How the legend of Haynes King was forged... www.espn.com/college-foot...

Query, Sir Fahrenheit: My graduating class at Kilgore had 210. Are y’all disavowing me?

All-American gymnast. Bad route runner.

'Toughest player I've ever seen': The Legend of Haynes King Stories about how the quarterback became one of the quirkiest, toughest and most insatiable players in college football.

Son of an old-school East Texas ball coach who was raised the Lobo Way, the tall tales of Haynes King explain his rise to being the toughest sumbitch out there. Story with the great @adavidhalejoint.bsky.social
www.espn.com/college-foot...

!!!

Week 8 preview: Heisman contenders, Big 12 title race, key conference matchups and more Our college football experts provide insight on the Baylor-TCU rivalry, Heisman contenders and more ahead of Week 8.

Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson said when TCU’s Sonny Dykes was recruiting him, he used to bring up how he hit a home run off his dad, one of Dykes’ old friends and a former MLB first-round pick. Sawyer has vowed to avenge the honor of Stan Robertson this week.
www.espn.com/college-foot...

Look at this frickin’ nerd.

I loved his work and exchanged a few notes with him. I am very sorry to hear this.