The Mid-Morning Dump - The Big 12 is a Meat Grinder

Iowa State Basketball

THE MAYOR APPROVES. Because Iowa State basketball can't seemingly exist without Fred Hoiberg, The Des Moines Register called him up to ask about Steve Prohm's progress so far, and the Mayor has pleasant things to say.

MCKNEEDED. Jameel McKay's knee is limiting his production and it couldn't be at a worse time.

MORE TALKING. A "tough" talk with Steve Prohm and the players has the Cyclones hoping they can increase their toughness and survive the Big 12.

CLOCKING IN AS A 4, BARELY. SBNation's Bracketology has Iowa State holding on tightly to the last 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

MEAT GRINDER. The Big 12 is the best league in college basketball, again, and it won't get easier.

Iowa State Football

FROM SOUP TO NUTS. How Matt Campbell and his staff took a bad recruiting class and turned it in to one of the best in Iowa State's history.

Around the Country

WHY YOU MUST STREAM WHEN GAMES RUN LONG. An issue of capacity with TV networks is why a lot of places make you stream a game when the one before it runs long.

BAD MANZIEL, VERY BAD. So Johnny Manziel probably abused his girlfriend and threatened suicide. He's now moved from '2' to '1' in Jerry Jones' speed dial.

MANNING DOESN'T SUCK. Have we all been too hard on Peyton Manning, and has he been as bad as we all think?

GRINDER GRONK. A Fox Sports anchor propositioned Rob Gronkowski for a lap dance, to which he happily obliged.

EVALUATING RETURNERS. Bill Connelly talks about a better way to evaluate the progression of college football teams by looking at returning production vs returning starters.

SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. Manu Ginobili had surgery on his testicles and is going to miss some time.

SAD NEWS. BMX legend Dave Mirra dead of an apparent suicide at 41.