College football’s Jerry Jones? Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell demands return on investment

If you’re going to take millions from a booster who is helping fund your football team, you should expect pushback when you fail to live up to expectations.

For those who haven’t noticed, we are no longer living in our fathers’ or grandfathers’ era of college athletics, when bags of money were dropped off on the back doorstep.

The $100 handshakes are still prevalent, but they’re essentially the equivalent of walking into a bar and dropping a dollar into the tip jar.

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So when Texas Tech booster, and chairman of the board of regents, Cody Campbell takes to social media to comment on the Red Raiders’ loss to Cincinnati this past weekend, I can assure you he is trying to assure those who critique the program that this type of result isn’t what he's paying for.

"There is no excuse or reason to lose a game like this. We have to be better. @TexasTechFB," Campbell wrote in a post on X.

That statement was from a man who has poured millions into the Texas Tech football team in order to compete for a national championship this season. So, when this "owner" decides to vent his frustration for the world to see, I can promise you he means it.

Remember the term "return on investment" in relation to donors putting their money to use with the only real return is seeing their favorite team hoist a trophy at seasons end?

This is essentially where Cody Campbell is at when he takes to social media to let it be known that a performance like that is not acceptable for a man who is writing the checks every month.

That brings us to the current state of college athletics, where the once outside voices who contributed without getting a final say in roster moves outside of helping pay a player's salary are now influential voices that in some cases speak for the programs they help fund.

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You think Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire isn’t having conversations this week with Cody Campbell on piecing together the roster for 2027, or renegotiating deals with current players for a return next season?

I can assure you those talks have, and will continue, to take place over the next three months.

And, I promise you they are happening all across the country between high-dollar boosters and football coaches looking for the money needed to secure the next transfer portal addition.

While there is this pressure to hold onto what once was in college athletics, the 'pureness' of a sport that was a majority of the time still breaking the rules in some form or fashion through parking lot deals or the funneling of money to an athletes family, the world is obviously changing in short order.

So, it should not come as shock when a more-involved booster who was also at the forefront of the Brendan Sorsby saga this past summer when the former college quarterback was caught gambling on his own football team while at Indiana decides to let it be known they are not happy with the current product.

Is it right?

No, especially when that same person decides to get on social media and question whether the football program should cut off access to its coaches in relation to a local Lubbock radio station.

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But, this isn’t a scene out of the movie "Blue Chips," where the head coach takes to the postgame press conference to lambast a booster for being too involved in the program by way of providing benefits to the athletes.

We got to this point when the NCAA opened the front door and invited this in by way of NIL, which should have taken place a decade ago. Yes, players deserved to be paid for the amount of money they generated for athletic departments across the country.

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No, I'm not implying the swimming star should be paid in the same manner as the starting linebacker. But it takes someone like Cody Campbell to help fund these contracts, even down to the softball team that is competing for a national championship.

And, I promise you this is taking place on the campus of your favorite team, though it's most likely not as brazen as Cody Campbell.

While the Texas billionaire has been spending a majority of his time trying to garner votes for the Protect College Sports Act for his own reasons that most likely have more to do with Texas Tech having a place in this new world, he's still just a very rich alum who has earned the right to do whatever he pleases with his own money.

If Campbell wants to spend millions to ensure his favorite team has the resources needed to compete at the highest level, I can assure you the Texas Tech athletic department isn’t going to put him on a leash when he expresses his thoughts.

Why would it?

He is essentially the unofficial "owner" of multiple Red Raiders athletic programs.

If you think Campbell’s influence is interesting now, I can promise you more boosters like him are coming down the pipeline.

The difference is that they may not hold press conferences like Jerry Jones in the aftermath of a loss.

They’ll simply take to social media—and expect their teams to listen.

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Tennessee inmate convicted of murder escapes from prison, manhunt underway: Officials

A manhunt is underway for a Tennessee inmate serving a life sentence for murder after he escaped from prison.

The Tennessee Department of Correction said that Jacob Allen Morley, 28, escaped the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on Sunday. He was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in 2025 of murdering Cody Birchfield three years earlier.

Prison staff discovered Morley was unaccounted for around 11:30 p.m. Sunday and immediately conducted an emergency count and search of the facility, according to a Tennessee Department of Correction statement given to Fox News Digital.

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Security video showed Morley breaching a fence while still wearing prison clothing.

Morley is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he should be "considered dangerous," adding Morley is now on the state's most wanted list.

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In addition to the first-degree murder conviction, he was also found guilty of burglary, vandalism, tampering with evidence and evading arrest.

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Federal and state law enforcement is assisting to help find Morley, according to officials.

Birchfield disappeared in early February 2022 after he was last seen in Elizabethton, Tennessee. According to WJHL, investigators from the Carter County Sheriff's Office saw indications that a "violent crime" had occurred inside his house.

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On March 2, 2022, Morley was arrested after a police chase that went to the North Carolina state line. After the arrest, Birchfield's body was found underneath Morley's home.

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Morley's former girlfriend, Landree Sheperd, testified at Morley's trial and claimed that the defendant said at one point that "he f---ing killed him."

People with information about Morley's whereabouts are encouraged to contact 844-832-3463.

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Trump reveals dire warning to Macron as violent unrest spreads across Europe

President Donald Trump said he warned French President Emmanuel Macron that his immigration policies were "destroying France" as he raised concerns about unrest across Europe during an interview on "Sunday Morning Futures."

"I told Macron, when I first came in, I met him early. I said, 'You are destroying France. You're letting people come in that hate your country,'" Trump told Larry Kudlow.

Trump criticized France for allowing people into the country who he said opposed French culture and national identity. He also pointed to unrest in Spain and Italy while arguing that his administration's border enforcement policies had prevented similar problems in the United States.

"The people that are causing the problems are people that hate Spain and hate France and hate Italy," he said. "It's very interesting. Somebody said, ‘They hate their art, they hate the buildings, they hate everything about France. They hate the people. And they let them come in.’"

Macron said on Thursday that his government would move to ban protests organized by "individuals or groups with no legitimate authority" as he blamed "ultra-left groups" for the riots and looting that had spread across his country.

Trump's comments come after nearly 1,000 people were arrested in France on Saturday as nationwide protests resumed, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Violence also erupted in Rome and the Albanian capital of Tirana, where protesters set government buildings ablaze.

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The nationwide marches reflected growing dissatisfaction with the French government, as protesters took to the streets over a range of grievances.

The protests began weeks earlier and were led by high school and university students who were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor school conditions. The movement gained momentum when major labor unions joined the demonstrations, expanding the movement to include opposition to government austerity measures and concerns about wages, pensions and the cost of living.

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Asked whether Americans should worry about similar unrest erupting in the United States, Trump pointed to his administration's border security measures.

"I think I stopped it. I closed the border. You know that we've had zero infiltration. We've had 0 illegal aliens in the last 18 months. It's almost not believable," he said.

The Department of Homeland Security reported a 95% drop in southwest border apprehensions compared to the Biden administration, along with the first fiscal year with zero Border Patrol releases.

Fox News Digital reached out to Macron's office for comment but did not immediately hear back.

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Hayen sacked by Burnley after just 14 games

Nicky Hayen is sacked after just 14 games in charge at Burnley following a poor start to the season.

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135 people arrested across France as police find potential weapons on protestors, official says

French authorities have so far arrested 135 people Saturday as nationwide protests resumed, France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told reporters.

Most of the arrests were prompted after police officers preemptively searched protesters, Reuters reported. Those taken into custody allegedly had items that could be used as weapons, including fireworks and ball bearings.

Nuñez did not specify where the arrests were made. In Paris, where tens of thousands of people are marching, police said they have conducted more than 3,000 checks and arrested 65 people, the BBC reported.

"Violent individuals have no place in the marches," the Paris Police Department said in a social media post. "The objective is clear: to prevent troublemakers from joining the procession, and to ensure the safety of the demonstrators."

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Central Paris resembled a city under lockdown, as shopkeepers boarded up storefronts, museums closed and more than 20 metro stations suspended service.

In other cities — including Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lille and Nice — police have resorted to firing tear gas to break up unruly crowds, Reuters reported.

Also in Nice, police used a water cannon to disperse a group of demonstrators who refused to pull back. And in Marseille and Lyon, there have been clashes between police officers and hooded youths.

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Some 70,000 police officers have been deployed across France to clamp down on agitators and prevent the kind of unrest seen during recent demonstrations, when cars were torched and the city hall building in Limoges was set on fire.

Last weekend, more than 2,700 people were arrested during protests that later turned into riots and looting sprees.

The nationwide marches were meant to reflect broader dissatisfaction with the French government, with protesters taking to the streets to air a range of different grievances.

The protests began weeks earlier and were led by high school and university students. They were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings.

The movement gained momentum when major labor unions joined the demonstrations, broadening the protests to include opposition to the government's austerity policies and concerns over wages, pensions and the overall cost of living.

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Tourist killed in freak accident at landmark designed by one of America's most famous architects

A tourist was killed in a freak accident while visiting an architectural landmark designed by one of America's greatest architects last week, according to authorities.

Rogério Renato Mateucci, 55, was killed around 2 p.m. on Friday when strong winds blew a piece of roofing material off a roof — striking him in the head.

Mateucci, the rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Brazil, had been touring Taliesin West, a historic architectural landmark designed by famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

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Taliesin West was built in 1937. It is now closed to the public, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation's website.

Joe Spector, CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, told Fox News Digital he was extending his "deepest condolences" to Mateucci's family and loved ones.

"The Scottsdale Police Department is aware of the incident, and no further details will be shared out of respect for privacy and to allow officials to complete their work," said Spector. 

"The property is closed to the public until further notice."

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A spokesperson for the Scottsdale Police Department confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital.

"The man was reportedly killed instantly and was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders," police said.

"He had been on a walking tour of the property with other people when the accident occurred."

The official added, "Detectives and crime scene personnel responded to investigate, but no foul play is suspected in this weather-related accident."

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In an Instagram post, the university announced Mateucci's death with "profound sadness."

The school canceled classes at three of its campuses on Oct. 17 and 19 and suspended administrative operations on Oct. 19 as it mourned his passing.

Vidal Martins, vice rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, told FOX 10 Phoenix that strong winds blew a piece of clear roofing material into their path, striking Brother Rogério in the head.

Mateucci was reportedly eager to visit the property, given his interest in art.

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"He loved the arts and architecture," Martins said.

Martins called the incident "deeply, deeply sad."

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"It’s hard to understand, it’s hard to accept," he said.

Martins also said Mateucci had a lasting impact on the community through his efforts to improve the lives of those around him, per FOX 10.

"He was a very kind person, someone that takes care of everybody. He was a religious man," he said.

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Frank Lloyd Wright, who lived from 1867 to 1959, is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects in American history.

His most notable works include Fallingwater in Pennsylvania and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Taliesin West served as his winter home and architectural studio.

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Pro-Israel leader warns Democrats failing to condemn ‘vicious Jew haters’ in Congress

When Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed could not say Iran is a bigger threat to the U.S. than Israel, it was a warning of elections in a post-Oct. 7 world, Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) president Morton Klein says.

American and even Israeli leaders are failing to show strength against hate as anti-Zionist voices gain power, Klein told Fox News Digital in a Monday interview.

"Ilhan Omar is one of the most vicious Jew haters in America," Klein said, speaking on behalf of himself and not as the leader of the ZOA. "And it is very painful to me that the leaders of the Democratic Party have not continuously and vigorously condemned her" and other antisemitic political leaders, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., El-Sayed and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

They are not merely "pro-Palestinian" voices, Klein says: "They're anti-Israel voices. They don't really give a damn about the Palestinians either. They just hate Jews in the Jewish state. That's my opinion."

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The ZOA is a 501(c)(3) that is unpermitted by law to talk candidacies as opposed to their positions, Klein stressed, before unloading on the voices that take aim at Israel and ostensibly handing political power to the antisemites and terrorists – which even includes Israeli elections just two weeks from now.

"Viciously antisemitic members of Congress have not been condemned in any significant way by the Democratic Party," he continued. "So it's disappointing to me as an American that we don't condemn people who are filled with hate and not filled with what's best for America."

Anti-Israel rhetoric has moved from the political fringe into elected office, he said, warning that Democrats have not forcefully condemned members of their own party who he says traffic in antisemitism.

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It has even forced Israeli leaders to move toward a dangerous level of "appeasement," according to Klein.

"I blame the Jewish leaders and the Israeli leaders themselves: You might find that surprising," he said. "The Israeli government over the years has not made it clear that the Hamas Charter has two clauses that say, murder every Jew on earth, destroy Israel. And, most recently, El-Sayed not only refused to clearly name Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terror, as a greater threat than Israel during a Michigan Senate debate, "he said worse," Klein lamented.

"He said both of them are dangerous to America, and he said Israel is as evil as Hamas," he continued.

"The Democratic Party has not condemned him. Worse, [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer endorsed him, has given him tens of millions of dollars to run," Klein said. "Elissa Slotkin, the senator from Michigan, Jewish senator, has endorsed him. And [Dana] Nessel, the attorney general, Jewish attorney general has endorsed them. This is disgraceful."

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"If this guy was unequivocally anti-Black, they would have all condemned him. Why don't they condemn people who hate Jews for no reason whatsoever? It's very, very frightening," he said.

During his push to hold the Michigan Senate seat for Democrats, Abdul El-Sayed described Judaism as "a light unto the world," expressing deep gratitude for the Jewish community's contributions.

"My commitment to Jewish safety is equivalent to the commitment to the safety of my own daughters," he said.

Klein also weighed in on Mamdani for declining to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada," a call to violence against Jews around the world, he warned.

"Mamdani was asked to condemn the phrase, globalize the intifada … he refused to condemn this phrase," Klein said. "This guy is a monster. He is a jihadist Jew-hater supporter of terrorism."

Despite the criticism, Mamdani has pledged to "protect our Jewish neighbors" and stated his commitment to "mourning with them, and committing to fight against evil and antisemitism."

As Mamdani has done explicitly, Israel is often portrayed as the aggressor and perpetrator of a so-called "genocide" in Gaza, Klein observed, stating that the reality is those atrocities were committed by Hamas terrorists Oct. 7, when terrorists invaded Israel specifically to kill "Jews," not merely "people," Klein said.

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"They went in house to house, door to door, murdering every single family," Klein said. "Can you imagine? They go in and there's a mother and a father and children sitting, they're scared out of their minds, and they shoot them to death. And oftentimes they raped the mother first and then they murdered them. Then they put babies into ovens and killed them that way. It's just a nightmare what they did."

"Yes, their goal is to murder every single Jew. In fact, the leaders of Hamas have said repeatedly: 'We will have many, many more Oct. 7s; you wait, many, more Oct. 7s," he added.

Klein said any future Israeli government after the Oct. 27 elections must be "as tough as nails, responding with overwhelming force for any terrorism," and do as the "the people demanded: destroy Hamas."

Klein warned, however, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be weakened politically if he is forced to form an alliance with left-of-center parties after Israel’s elections.

"The polls show that it’s likely that Netanyahu will win again, but he may have to have a broader coalition to bring in people from the left of center," Klein warned. "I think the odds are high Bibi will continue to be the prime minister. But his hands will be somewhat tied if he’s forced, and I think he will be forced, to bring people from left of the center to have coalition."

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Asked whether the process of forming a coalition could weaken Israel’s response, Klein answered, "Yes."

"Yes, because some of the left-of-center people are appeasement-oriented," Klein said. "They still believe just give the Arabs more, it’ll be all right."

"And people have to understand, and these people don't quite understand, this is not a war about land or about a Palestinian state. This is a war about destroying Israel and killing Jews."

He argued that Israel should reject further concessions and project strength until its enemies accept that the Jewish state cannot be destroyed and the decades of calls for a Palestinian state are a proven failure.

"They had it; they controlled it," Klein said. "They could have just said a new country of Palestine has now emerged. No, because the goal is not that. The goal is Israel's destruction."

"Only when they understand that, that it's hopeless for them to destroy the Jewish state of Israel, only then might they finally lay down their arms and say, we give up."

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