Wolf Diamonds Storylines

1. This is most likely the end of president Guy Bailey's time as a Red Raider. Texas Tech president Guy Bailey will most likely take the president position of the University of Alabama system at some time this week after being named the lone finalist for the position.

This is a great thing for Bailey who has two degrees from Alabama-Tuscaloosa and everyone in the Tech administration seems happy for the president, but the fourth-year president has given the Red Raiders a little more power as a member of the NCAA Executive Committee and Big 12 Executive Presidency.

Aside from helping Tech inch closer to Tier 1 status, Bailey also has been in Lubbock during some of its toughest trials athletically.

Tech's president assumed his post during Tech's run toward a National Championship in 2008 and helped negotiate a new contract with former Tech head coach Mike Leach. At the end of 2009, Bailey played a role in Leach's termination from Tech.

In 2010, as Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado, began rattling the Big 12 cage, Bailey helped keep Tech in what is now a 10-team league while rumors flew the Red Raiders would end up landing in a 'Pac-16' conference with most of the former Big 12 South Division. In 2011, as Texas A&M and Missouri reneged on commitments to the Big 12 established less than a year before, Bailey was instrumental in helping the Big 12 maintain viability as a conference before the league reached out for West Virginia and TCU.

Tech has not named any candidates to replace Bailey as Bailey is still the president of the university.

2. School is back in session. Texas Tech University began its second semester of summer school Tuesday meaning most of the Red Raider football team is back into offseason workout mode.

The bigger story, however, is Tech's two U.S. Army All-American recruits in Waco (Texas) La Vega defensive end Michael Starts and Crockett (Texas) wide receiver Dominique Wheeler are finally, officially Red Raiders after a dramatic full year as commits.

Starts comes to Lubbock with more experience at offensive tackle than defensive end. The quickness in his adjustment to the defensive line will determine how much, if any, playing time Starts gets as a true freshman.

The primary focus for Wheeler should be bulking up. At 6-foot-1 and about 180 pounds, Rivals250 wideout can afford to put on a lot of good weight and he should if he expects to compete with Big 12 cornerbacks.

The second summer session also is a time to get preferred walk-ons acquainted with the program.

On the basketball side of things, head coach Billy Gillispie continues to get two hours of work per week with his young, but talented roster.

3. Good news on the health front. Offensive coordinator Neal Brown was on Lubbock's Double T 104.3 FM on Monday's edition of 'Coach Speak' and said running backs Eric Stephens and DeAndre Washington are looking like they will be ready to practice this fall off of last season's knee injuries.

It's looking like the Red Raiders will have a pretty good running back corps for a second season in a row.