Wonderings: Tech can control the message at Media Days. Will They?

Wonderings are brought to you every week by our good friends at Gator's Bayou. If you're looking for a real, authentic Cajun restaurant in Lubbock complete with a fun, Louisiana-style atmosphere, Gator's Bayou is the place to go!

Oh, and get the Dirty Bird. You can thank me later.

ON BROADWAY: Tech football's cast of characters can control the message about Red Raider football at Big 12 Media Days, but will they?

Media Days have arrived throughout the country for every major college football conference, meaning the teams that make up those conferences are busy convening to preview their upcoming seasons.

But lets be very honest here: Media Days have become an absolute drag. It's a cookie cutter, "Your Generic Answer Goes Here" Festival of bland commentary and gamesmanship where every team is simply there for Marshawn Lynchian purposes.

It's a contest to see who can say the least and make the smallest amount of noise, all in the name of simply not saying anything that might cause a stir or create any kind of controversy.

And I fully believe that college football programs are shooting themselves in the foot by taking the strong, silent type approach.

I think that doubly counts for Texas Tech football going into 2017. The narrative for the Red Raiders regionally and nationally is all fairly in-step: Defense has been terrible, you've got to replace a ton of production on offense, and unless you take a real step forward, this is all she wrote for Kliff Kingsbury's program in Lubbock.

That's what most folks around the state of Texas believe about the program. They, bluntly, see you as an afterthought heading into this fall.

And while that could end up being true, Kliff Kingsbury and his four players - Dylan Cantrell, KeKe Coutee, Cam Batson, and Jah'Shawn Johnson - have a chance to tell their side of the story. They have a chance to try and shift the narrative with what they tell all that listen on Monday in Frisco. They have a chance to influence the message.

But will they?

Again, Kliff has never been one to make bold statements or hold court at really any media event of any kind. I understand that and the idea behind it, but this year of all years is inarguably the one season where you need to come out with a strong message to set the tone. You can write the headlines you want to be out there instead of allowing media members to run roughshod over your program, because they'll dictate the common thoughts on your team's season if you don't.

And I fully understand not wanting your players to make any regrettable statements or blurt out any facepalmy ideas. But you have a group of four intelligent, well thought of players that I'd be absolutely stunned to see embarrass your program. Instead of coaching their personalities or opinions out of them, let them be a little bold. Let them be themselves. It's a group you can trust to represent Red Raider football and help spread the message of what you really feel about your team behind closed doors, which I know to be a team that believes they're being overlooked.

So, my plea to Texas Tech football: Let your hair down. Stand out from the crowd. Do yourself a favor by controlling the message. You need to.

LINK ME, BRO

-Nerd Heaven is on the horizon: Here's the first official look at Star Wars land at Disney.

-In more nerd news: Ready Player One is the latest big blockbuster from Steven Spielberg, and the first image is out. It's Easter Egg City of 80s glory.

-Former Red Raider track athlete Gil Roberts says he tested positive for drugs earlier this year because of an epic makeout sesh. And it's a defense that always works.

-It's a sad day, my friends. The Panda has been designated for assignment by the Red Sox.

-This Week in Florida Man: Florida Man goes on a bender and tries to keep partying in someone else's house.

POWER RANKINGS: Summer movies so far in 2017

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - I'll admit that I didn't love this movie, but it slides in at 5 because I don't think it's been one of the better overall summer movie seasons in the last decade or so. Still, it's a lot of fun and retains the spirit of the first. The story isn't great and it's a little clunky, though.

4. Spider-Man: Homecoming - Wow, I could not have been happier with the way that Marvel went about trying to capture the spirit of what Peter Parker and Spider-Man really embody. It's a John Hughes movie for 2017 in a superhero film's body, and it was a great setup for the character's future as a key cog in the Marvel Universe. My one complaint is that the action was a little dull and wasn't directed particularly well.

3. Wonder Woman - I was completely skeptical of this movie going in with as poorly executed as the rest of the DC Movies have been so far, but Patty Jenkins deserves a standing ovation for what she accomplished here. It's fun, epic, and has real heart. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine are both great, too.

2. War for the Planet of the Apes - I caught this on Thursday evening, and my oh my. This is a wonderful swan song for what I now consider one of the greatest movie trilogies in modern movie history. Since it just came out, I won't spoil much, but Andy Serkis as Caesar and Woody Harrelson as the leader of the human army are both fantastic and play off each other very, very well.

1. Baby Driver - This will be the best movie I see all year, and I'll stand by that until January 1st. I don't think The Last Jedi, Dunkirk, or any other film will be as good. I'm completely serious, too. This is as well directed of a movie as you're going to to see in modern film. It's a masterclass in directing and editing. The music is a living character in it, too. This embodies the magic of why we go to the movies.