ESPN's Craig James to Run for U.S. Senate In Texas

The next senator from Texas?

Craig James, ESPN college football analyst who was personally involved in two ugly college football scndals of varying degrees, is running to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate.

The Dallas Morning News reports he'll file the papers before the Thursday deadline.

Because what this country needs, apparently, is someone who was prominently involved in shutting down a major college football program by the death penalty.

James was a star at SMU when Governor Bill Clements was approving payments to players. In the 30 for 30 ESPN documentary on the school's death penalty, James was smugly coy about whether he'd taken any illegal enticements during his recruitment or college career.

Maybe he'll have to answer the question on the stump.

James, who went to Stratford High, also was involved in the messy firing of Mike Leach from Texas Tech. There were disputes about how his son Adam was treated on the team, including an allegation that he was forced to stand in a shed for two hours.

Anyway, James probably shouldn't expect to carry Lubbock.

Our suggested campaign slogan: "If I am elected, there will be a sharp reduction in inept college-football analysis on your TV."