It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for mail call!

Q: Mark, you mentioned Damion Sanford’s absence from a list of FBS linebackers in TTFT. I am thinking that his best move would be to use a medical this season and come back strong next year. I realize that we have a formidable stable of LBs right now, but I would hate to see him pushed hard to play this coming season and jeopardize his NFL prospects, a la LeVeon. What say you? (NemoJones)

A: It depends on the severity of the injury. If he’s out for four months, which could be what happens, then he should be good to go. If it gets to six to eight months, then I’d see about the redshirt situation.

Q: The number of football coaches on an NCAA team seems to have grown of late. When and how did this change, how do the numbers shake out, and what loopholes do teams still exploit? (Ricky)

A: FBS teams still get one head coach and 10 assistants, but there’s now no rule on how many “analysts” or “special assistants” a program can have. There’s your loophole. Teams like A&M, who have significant money at their disposal, can have a lot of extra coaches.

Q: Seems like a number of smaller schools are making the football jump from lower divisions to FBS. That number was at like 117 in the early 2000s to over 130 now. It has to be for the additional revenue right? These schools wont actually be competitive for a championship at the high levels. Right? (RetiredAirForce)

A: You’re right, it’s all about the money. I can’t imagine any of them being really competitive, though some of the FCS juggernauts that move up could be decent. But Sam Houston, which was one of the top FCS teams, has been slaughtered in the FBS.

Q: Strange request:

I have guests staying at the house for the Argentina soccer game at Kyle. They have never been to Kyle.

I might drop them off close to Reed. But I’m not picking them up in that quagmire.

How do you get an Uber? I’ve heard there is a common pick up spot? Are they plentiful. He has his wife and kid and I don’t want them stranded. (R23)

A: Looks like the rideshare location is lot 30e, which is north of the stadium, near the hotel and conference center. But you don’t call for them, you just go and get one…kind of like, you know, taxis.

Q: Is Alberts working behind the scenes to get Tennis their indoor facility?

A: I hope so. Not having one is an embarrassment. 

How many more NCAA’s before we get new basketball arena or upgrade reed?

I really don’t know, but Reed doesn’t seem like a priority at the moment.

What are the chances the TT qb gets a judge to rule him eligible?

Not real good. They had a Tech grad who was supposed to rule on the case and recused himself. The other options are A&M and Baylor grads.

If the courts keep overruling the NCAA, what is the endgame to this?

Chaos. 

Does softball have the same recruiting setup as football? If not is Alberts willing to get Elko to help her set it up? Elko seems to recognize his needs and go out and fulfill them. (LufkinAg)

She knows what she’s doing and recruits well. I think they overestimated their homegrown pitching this season, and that bit them.

Q: Heard anything regarding filling the last spot on the basketball team? Do you have any thoughts on what they are looking for or who they may be looking at currently? What do you think would be the timeline of getting that player on campus? (Spar2cus)

A: Bucky said last week that they were going to hold onto that scholarship for now and may use it later on. So there’s no real timeframe for that addition, and maybe no idea who it will be.

Q: Will this year’s OL haul beat the haul with Joeckel/Matthews? (Travster23)

A: In terms of stars, it already has. They’ll be hard-pressed to beat the performance of Joeckel and Matthews on the field.

Q: Have you got any feel for how long it will take to get a ruling on the eligibility for basketball for Bryson Warren? I’m assuming it will drag on like most NCAA cases do, but I’m hoping for an earlier result. (Rick77)

A: I’m hoping it’ll be quicker than usual, because Warren’s case is more straightforward than a lot of the cases (cough cough LSU cough cough). But even if it is “quick”, I expect it’ll be well into the summer before we hear anything — if then.