Big 12 Media Days

Unanimity was the definite byword at the Big 12 Media Days. Coaches, players, administrators and the commissioner himself all seemed to have talking points regarding how this newly rescued group will strive forward with a smile on their face and a melody in their heart.

The marriage of convenience that the Big 12 has always been nearly came to a rocky divorce after fourteen years. But the mistress was left to seek another romance as counseling provided by the richer South schools saved the union, albeit with a couple of the rooms of the family estate (Nebraska and Colorado) parcelled off. So now we move forward, with a bit of a wary eye, and a shaky confidence that it will be " 'til death do us part".

The first public event for the union with the renewed vows came here in Dallas, and the focus was what drives the bus, football. It will be a swan song for many things, the last year of divisional play, the final tour of the league for Nebraska and Colorado, and the last championship game. Then on we will go with ten teams, and a full round-robin that in my mind will create gigantic challenges for the remaining teams from the North.

But that is in the future. For the present, let's take a quick capsule look at all twelve teams outlook as it was presented by them and analyzed by us.

MISSOURI

The most highly regarded of our local teams, Mizzou carried the "no respect" banner around, hoisted highly. Nebraska was selected an officially unanimous favorite for the North, and the Tigers, titleists for two years and runners up last year, felt left out, and it was probably the best thing that could have happened for them. The news is plastered in their locker room, and even though the voters were probably just giving the Huskers the nod due to the home game between the two, they'll use it as fuel.

KANSAS STATE

Bill Snyder played the "I don't know how much we have" card, but his players have faith in the old genius, and the 'Cats have first string talent good enough to win. What they also have is a difficult, front-loaded schedule that will either inject them with a dose of confidence, or knocked them back on their heels.

KANSAS

Positive energy, positive reinforcement, and, well, just plain positive. The negative vibes of seven straight losses to close the season, and the controversial departure of Mark Mangino have been swept away in the minds of the Jayhawks. Whether they will actually been swept away is in the hands of Turner Gill, universally respected as a person, but still to be proved as a head coach. It's always a question, and Gill will get a fast test. Two very losable games loom before conference play kicks in.

IOWA STATE

The good news for the Cyclones is that the schedule flip for them with Texas and Oklahoma on the slate is only in place in divisional play for one year. The bad news is that it just previews what will happen every year in round-robin play. Everyone thinks Paul Rhoads is a good coach, and that the Cyclones will be a better team next year. But a schedule that features the Longhorns and the Sooners BACK TO BACK ON THE ROAD probably stalls the progress for a year.

NEBRASKA

The Huskers are the favorites, and they are buying in. The drumbeat from the players was that they themselves were the only people who could get in their way. Nebraska wants to leave the league they didn't want with a bang, and they have the goods to do it. The impediment could be lackluster quarterback play, and the key will be young defensive players living up to their reps.

COLORADO

They have nice, articulate kids to talk to, the leagues most quotable coach, and basically nobody really cares that they are leaving. Period.

TEXAS

They do things bigger in Texas. Every team in the league brought three players to media days, except Texas, and Oklahoma, who had four players here, and plenty of people wanted to talk to them. Texas has some question marks, but when you have averaged 11 wins the last nine years, those questions usually are answered yes. The biggest is quarterback, where Garrett Gilbert starts after playing basically only the national title game. That's the reason the favorite in the South is......

OKLAHOMA

And the reason is the fact that Landry Jones played a whole lot of football for the injury ravaged Sooners.

They did have a lot and they often referenced that when commenting abut a season that they lost five games.

Most people would be very surprised if they drop more than two this season. They are especially fond of their skill position players that Jones can get the ball to, both from scrimmage and in the air.

OKLAHOMA STATE

Just as most of the teams in the league are backing away from pure spread offense, the Cowboys are moving to one. There is some doubt as to whether coach Mike Gundy is behind the move, or if T. Boone Pickens wanted more entertainment. The Cowboys lost an experienced quarterback, but their defense is developing and in Bill Young they have a wizard of a D-coordinator. And the boys in the South are ready for an extra game with the North guys starting next year.

TEXAS A AND M

The Aggies don't envy the Texas Longhorns, they think they should BE them. And while they are definitely making strides, they have a ways to go. What they do have that nobody does is the first team all-conference quarterback in Jerrod Johnson.

TEXAS TECH

One of the folks who campaigned for the Kansas job is Tommy Tuberville, who backed off his "This league is a short-timer" stance, but still seems likely to be a breath of fresh air in the league. Tuberville feels, and rightly so, that he has accomplished alot, and is confident in airing his opinions. His opinion will only matter to Red Raider fans if he continues to win games, something Tech has quietly done for a long time. They are the only team in the Big 12 to make a bowl game in each year of the conference history.

BAYLOR

Art Briles is a nice man, a funny guy, and a talented coach in a tough spot. He has a great athlete in quarterback Robert Griffin. Do you really want to know anything more?

It's fun to talk college football, and listen to others do the same, in July. For some teams it will

be more fun than what transpires in the fall. But right now, there are no losses on the ledger, and life is good.