Big Tex Goes to College

Welcome to the Blog

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I’m Big Tex (a.k.a. Connor Earegood), and if you’re reading this you probably know me. I’ll be posting blog posts and analyses on here as often as I can. Topics will include the wide world of sports, politics, college life, and anything else on my mind. Feel free to give comments and suggestions. Maybe follow this bad boy. Please?

• Jay Pandolfo should be BU’s next coachMarch 31, 2022
  On March 30, Boston University officially cut ties with head coach Albie O’Connell after four seasons with the Terriers. The move opens up one of the most prized gigs in college hockey, and there’s plenty of buzz around who should take the helm. But obviously, some candidates are better fits
• Post-deadline Red Wings will bridge two pathsMarch 19, 2022
  With the Red Wings prepared to sell off their UFAs at the trade deadline, Detroit coach Jeff Blashill will have plenty of pieces to play around with for the last few weeks of the season. Before we dig into what those lines might look like, first we need to establish
• The case for Robert Mastrosimone signing with the Red WingsMarch 15, 2022
  Looking at the College Hockey News Pairwise probabilities, Boston University has a 1% chance of making the NCAA Tournament as the last No. 4 seed. It’s likely that even if the Terriers made it, they would be slapped around by juggernaut Minnesota State in a regional and quickly sent back
• Is Alex Nedeljkovic that guy? Breaking down Detroit’s top tendieMarch 11, 2022
  This offseason, it looked like Detroit had figured out its biggest problem: GM Steve Yzerman stole a skilled and mildly young goaltender from Carolina in Alex Nedeljkovic. Early on, the dividends from that trade look stupendous. But the past few games — since the Red Wings’ 10-7 half-comeback/half-blowout against Toronto
• Who should win the Calder Trophy? Ranking the NHL’s rookie classMarch 4, 2022
  At this point, we’ve got a pretty clear picture of who’s making the playoffs. One thing no one is certain about: who the hell’s going to win the Calder. Let’s break down the options. Frontrunners: Moritz Seider (DET): Seider logs big minutes for the Red Wings and has been a
• Predicting the Red Wings’ trade deadline: who else gets moved?February 20, 2022
  Outside of Nick Leddy and Vladislav Namestnikov, Detroit has five other expiring UFAs: defensemen Troy Stetcher, Marc Staal, and Danny DeKeyser, forward Sam Gagner and goaltender Thomas Greiss. Some of those players might net late round picks from teams that miss out on the trade deadline’s top prizes. With most
• Projecting the Red Wings’ trade deadline: What should they do with Vlad Namestnikov?February 19, 2022
  After breaking down where Detroit could send defenseman Nick Leddy, I think it’s more appropriate to debate what might happen to forward Vladislav Namestnikov at the trade deadline instead of who takes him. On pace for the most goals since he played for Tampa Bay, Namestnikov has been solid wherever
• Projecting the Red Wings’ trade deadline: Where does Nick Leddy go?February 17, 2022
  It’s been a minute since I’ve written on here, so let’s break that slump and answer the world’s biggest question: just what the hell will Detroit do at the trade deadline? I’m a realist. I don’t think the Red Wings will reasonably come near a playoff spot unless they go
• Tom Wilson did Tom Wilson things last nightNovember 2, 2021
  If you’re not a Caps fan, it’s likely you’ve had a brewing hatred for Tom Wilson since the first cheap shot he delivered. To Washington, he’s a folk hero. To everyone else, he’s the human embodiment of a dirty hit. What can’t be argued is his influence on Washington’s success,
• What’s happening in Detroit?October 31, 2021
  If you’re a Detroit Red Wings fan, you probably had the brown paper bag on standby when the NHL season began. Seeing rookies grow seemed like the only bright spot on the roster, and bated breaths waited for the impending collapse of Alex Nedeljkovic after a brutal preseason. Detroit had
• Red Wings Report: Predicting the 2021-22 GoaltendersSeptember 20, 2021
  This will be quite short, but you know damn well I’ll milk it for the (nonexistent) pageviews. Neither pick sparks controversy, but feel free to read my analysis on the skill and positivity of this goaltending unit. Starter: Alex Nedeljkovic What an incredible player for a third-round pick. He placed
• Red Wing Report: Predicting the 2021-22 DefenseSeptember 19, 2021
  In my last article, I covered how I think the offense will shape up during the season. Jonatan Berggren may have forced me to eat my words by notching two assists in the prospect tournament. We will see if that turns into a scoring touch that Detroit would rather utilize
• Red Wing Report: Predicting the 2021-22 OffenseSeptember 16, 2021
  The NHL season lurks around the corner and before we know it, the Red Wings will begin one of their most competitive campaigns since the end of the Streak. The question remains: what will the lineup look like? This article will try to crack the elusive thinking of Detroit head
• New matchups mark MLK Day NHL scheduleJanuary 18, 2021
  With 10 games scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. day, hockey fans will have no lack of gameplay to indulge in. With a couple of series continuing while the rest begin new matchups, these games could prove to be crucial measuring sticks for which teams will compete come May 11.
• Revenge served in Sunday’s NHL gamesJanuary 17, 2021
  Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Caps lost this game, straight up. The Pens outshot them, they outplayed them, and they won 4-3 in the shootout. They shouldn’t have even gotten the point from this one. Alex Ovechkin scored his first of the season, a welcome sight for Washington fans. He
• Redemption chances available to teams in Sunday gamesJanuary 17, 2021
  Sunday proves to be the day of rest for many NHL squads. Except for Washington, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Florida. Because screw you guys. Positioned strategically before the NFL Divisional Round game between the Cleveland Browns and reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Caps-Pens rivalry will start its 2021 iteration at
• Goalies lead teams to shocker victories in Saturday’s gamesJanuary 17, 2021
  If I told you the Wings would win, would you believe me? Or that the Rangers would outplay the Isles 5-0? Or the Habs would slap around the Oilers? Well, all three happened. Saturday’s games were a hockey fan’s dream and a sports bettor’s fever dream. Boston Bruins at New
• Packed: 10 games fill NHL’S Saturday scheduleJanuary 16, 2021
  With 10 games set to take place today, hockey fans will have no shortage of entertainment this afternoon. Play begins when the New Jersey Devils take on the visiting Boston Bruins at 1 p.m. The final games of the night will begin at 10 p.m. New York Islanders at New
• Impressive youth, Avs dominate Friday nightJanuary 15, 2021
  Ten teams faced off on the third day of the NHL regular season. Solid young goaltending from Vitek Vanicek led the Washington Capitals against the Sabres, winning 2-1. In Ottawa, the Sens’ rebuild looked deadly against a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs squad that looked lost against a physical opponent. Ottawa
• Rumble in Ontario: January 15 NHL PreviewJanuary 15, 2021
  Well folks, day three of the NHL regular season kicks off at 7 p.m. With only five games tonight, I might be able to get some sleep. Maybe? OK nevermind, I’ll just stay up playing Rocket League. Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa SenatorsTonight’s Golden Jersey goes to the Sens game
• Islanders dominate, Wings suck, Wild surviveJanuary 15, 2021
  My ability to watch games tonight was limited, but what I saw mostly confirmed my earlier suspicions. The Isles were big winners tonight after shelling the Rangers all game long and winning 4-0. Buffalo looked better than I expected against the Caps, but Washington outpaced them 6-4 to bring home
• “The Captain” Names Larkin New CaptainJanuary 14, 2021
  Is there a greater honor than the lasting face of a franchise bestowing the captaincy of a team upon you? Probably, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t special nonetheless. Steve “The Captain” Yzerman named Dylan Larkin the 37th captain of the Detroit Red Wings hockey club. After edging the fanbase
• Intensity Headlines NHL Opening Night, Blackhawks look like a College Club TeamJanuary 14, 2021
  It’s been a few months since NHL teams squared off and almost a year since regular season action. But January 13 saw 10 squads in action that could be described as electric, jumping, really any words a commentator throws around to describe when players decide to push their own limits.
• Here We Go: January 14 NHL PreviewJanuary 14, 2021
  Day two of the regular season sees 18 more teams back in action. The Oilers and Canucks face off for the second time of the season, and Ottawa remains dormant until Friday, January 15. Dallas and Florida’s game was postponed after the Stars’ COVID-19 shitshow. New York Islanders at New
• The Boys are Back (And so is the Blog)January 13, 2021
  Well, well, well. Welcome back everyone. We made it to the regular season. I took a hiatus over the summer and fall, but I am back in action to cover the NHL season. If I stop publishing before Lord Stanley’s Cup is hoisted once more, I give you permission to
• Yzerman Takes Blame, Keeps BlashillMay 28, 2020
  Now that the NHL’s return-to-play plan has been announced, we can finally drink away any memories of the Red Wings’ abomination of a season. Detroit posted only 17 victories (of which only one game was won by more than a single non-empty net goal) and 39 points over 71 games.
• For Better or For Worse, NFL Plans For Normal SeasonMay 4, 2020
  The NFL will begin the 2020 regular season without delay; at least that’s the plan per Executive Vice President Jeff Pash. Games will be played in front of fans in a traditional format despite other major sports leagues planning to incorporate social distancing guidelines into their games. The only real
• RIP Joe Thornton’s BeardMay 3, 2020
  Joe Thornton’s beard died at the hands of quarantine boredom. It was 5 years old. It will be survived by Brent Burns’ facial hair and the quarantine beards of countless NHLers. Joking aside, Jumbo Joe finally sheared his soup saver. The good news: Thornton looks 15 years younger without the
• Stop Driving HighMay 2, 2020
  Recreational pot use has been legal in Michigan since December, and as more and more people partake in the new policy, more and more people abuse it. Some people find their highest enjoyment comes when getting high behind the wheel. Just stop. Stay at home and stay off of the
• Chris Platzer is an AntiheroMay 2, 2020
  After throwing back a beer, chucking his cat across the room, and ripping fellow city commissioners with language more suited for the locker room than a Zoom call, Vallejo, California’s Chris Platzer earned the national spotlight. The public’s response to his actions caused him to resign his position before his
• Despite the Wishes of Some Players, Pod Cities Might be the NHL’s Best OptionMay 1, 2020
  After rumors surfaced that the NHL will likely conduct exhibition games and the playoffs in a group of pod cities across North America, some players voiced issues with the plan according to the New York Post. While NYP tends to embellish its takes, players themselves have spoken out about resumption
• Mullet Season Could be Quarantine’s Silver LiningMay 1, 2020
  Nothing feels better than the graceful wave of long hair in the wind, peacefully flipping back and forth against your neck like a free-spirited bird. Thanks to COVID quarantine and the closure of barbershops, we’re all a little bit closer to exercising our long-haired freedom. Any guy who’s abandoned the
• NASCAR Will Run Fanless Races Starting May 17April 30, 2020
  After a few weeks stuck in quarantine’s pit lane, NASCAR will get back on the track May 17. Running seven events in 11 days, fans will indulge in plenty of raceway action. One of the sport’s oldest venues at Darlington Raceway will see three of those events. The Coke 600
• NBA Takes ‘I’m Going to Disney World’ to a Whole New LevelApril 30, 2020
  With the NBA leading the charge to resume sports, Disney World has surfaced as a potential bubble city venue for the league’s remaining games. The vacation hub’s ESPN Wide World of Sports features multiple basketball courts that could be utilized to finish off the regular season or to dive right
• Gronk Caught New Playbook Goofin’April 30, 2020
  After “joking” about possessing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playbook while under contract with the New England Patriots, Rob Gronkowski added a whole lot more meat to investigations into the Bucs’ offseason contacts. After Tom Brady accidentally waltzed into a stranger’s home when looking for Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich’s residence. The
• 4 a.m. Thoughts: Coronavirus Will Change the Way We View SportsApril 30, 2020
  With COVID-19 still menacing normalcy for millions, we likely won’t see sports for another month. Even though NBA and potentially NHL facilities will open for training soon, we’re still far away from holding physical games. And those contests will likely be fanless. The last thing sports leagues need after this
• So Whatcha Whatcha Whatcha Want?April 30, 2020
  So obviously I want this blog to serve as a forum for my own opinions and analyses, but I also want to produce content that you want to read. Do you want more trade trees? I can do that. Do you want me to detail my daily life? It’ll be
• I Stand With the Ragnone PlantApril 29, 2020
  Just when the Flint River started earning back its reputation, one pipe failure led to 1,000 gallons of sewage leaking into it Saturday, April 25. The spill occurred when a contractor working at the Anthony Ragnone Treatment Plant caused a pipe failure that led to 42,000 gallons spewing out all
• Stop Bugging Me: Colleges Should Learn From Bottle DrivesApril 29, 2020
  Every fall, my robotics team and I pick the rainiest, nastiest day of the season and collect bottles to fund ourselves. It usually turns into a fun although tedious project that builds up our communication and investment in the team. Occasionally, we run into an ancient curmudgeon who ranks a
• NCAA Governors (Finally) Approve Player EndorsementsApril 29, 2020
  In a move almost certainly galvanized by Daishen Nix’s decommit from UCLA to enter the NBA’s G-League, the NCAA Board of Governors voted to support player payments, so long as they aren’t directly from the school. The rule change will allow players to profit from third-party endorsements based on likeness,
• Red Wings Risk it For the (Potentially Plentiful) BiscuitsApril 28, 2020
  Maybe it’s because today marks super-Swede Nick Lidstrom’s 50th birthday. Maybe it’s because he lit up the Swedish men’s league for 43 points in 52 games, good for sixth-best in the SweHL. Maybe it’s because the basement-dwelling Red Wings need anything — literally, anything — that can expedite the already-too-long
• The Box is More Fun Than the Toy: Pentagon Releases UFO VideosApril 28, 2020
  Shocked. I’m absolutely shocked. The Pentagon released videos of unidentified flying objects Tuesday, April 28, a quarantine treat no one expected but everyone needed. But before you scramble to watch them, let me spoil something: they’re just regifting what the New York Times and Blink frontman Tom DeLonge already gave
• Quarantine Chronicles: Bleach, Kickers, and Florida ManApril 28, 2020
  So apparently ingesting disinfectant is the move per our gifted president. Thousands of years noting the effects of ammonias and chemicals on the human body don’t matter. This will single handedly revolutionize the way we fight viruses. Outstanding. Sarcasm aside, President Donald Trump asked a senior health official if ingesting
• Trade Trees: How the Rick Nash Deal Propelled Everlasting Change in the NHLApril 28, 2020
  Without sports to occupy my time, I’ve started researching the future roster of my beloved Detroit Red Wings. In doing so, I found a rabbit hole spanning eight years and 20 teams.

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