The Big 12 Conference Preview

Since the end of the Tom Osborne era in Nebraska and the ushering in of the new millenium you can go ahead and pencil in Texas or Oklahoma and you have a pretty good shot at being right. However, over the last couple of seasons some new teams have begun to emerge in America’s heartland led by some of the most intriguing coach’s in the college game today. Bill Callahan is now at the helm of Osborne’s Cornhusker squad, and though we still know very little about him his success so far at Nebraska has proven that he will be a mainstay in the collegiate game long before he goes back to the NFL. Down in Stillwater coach Mike Gundy is a relative unknown throughout the country but he has tried to continue the successful groundwork that Les Myles was laying down before he bolted to LSU. Gundy’s team will be experienced and bring back one of the nations top offenses to Stillwater. Lastly, over in the LoneStar state the always controversial Dennis Franchione has his Aggie squad poised and ready to take the Big 12 title this season.


NORTH DIVISION
Chase Daniel is poised and ready to lead the Missouri Tigers back to the top of the Big 12. Daniel last season replaced Brad Smith one of the most productive QB’s in the country and he lead Missouri to another winning season and the eight ranked offense in the country. Well Coach Gary Pinkle is smiling because he brings back 98% of his yards from scrimmage and 4 starting lineman. With a solid core of kickers, Jeff Wolfert set a school record with 18 field goals, and a superb offense it is up to the defense to step up for the Tigers. Leading the way will be Nose Tackle Lorenzo Williams and leading tackler MLB Brock Christopher. The Tigers should be off to a flying 4-0 start before the Cornhuskers come calling, that is the pivotal game that will decide the North division and it is in Columbia.


After reclaiming there spot atop the northern division last year everyone is ready to anoint the Nebraska Cornhuskers champs again and viable for a national championship shot. I am not drinking the kool aid. They come into the season with a new QB though Sam Keller has experience from his days at ASU, but this kid is not the leader you want. Basically at ASU when the going got tough, Keller bailed. They don’t have any real game breakers on the outside but are lead by a solid running back tandem of Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn. Defensively teams should be most apt to run on the young inexperienced defensive line. Returning linebackers Bo Rudd and Corey McKeon make the solid plays but the rest of defensive backfield is experienced but not great. I think this team is very beatable especially if you rattle the quarterback, plus Bill Callahan is still the coach and he is a moron.


The rest of the Big 12 North is substantially weaker than Missouri and Nebraska, and the next team back is the Kansas State Wildcats. True Sophmore QBJosh Freeman showed a lot of promise last season, but his decision making needs to improve. down the field he has a big time target in Jordy Nelson who needs to become more of factor int he red zone only catching 1 TD pass last season. The offensive line is inexeprienced and they dont have a lot of talent at tailback, returner Leon Patton had just 600 yards on the ground. The defense is switiching to a 3-4 scheme and depending on All Big 12 end Ian Campbell to be able to switch to and outside backer. Teh Wildats will need a huge preformance from Freeman this eason if they want to compete.


The reclamation project in Boulder continues after two of the biggest jokes in college football ruined this once proud program (thanks Rick Neuheisal and Gary Barnett). Let us remember Dan Hawkins was the guy who built that program up in Boise from scratch and now his Colorado Buffaloes may soon show some life in the Big 12. The major problem for the Buffs is at Quarterback where they will start Freshman Cody Hawkins, son of the coach. They have some playmakers back on offense, most notably Hugh Charles who is a speedster in the backfield. On the outside they Patrick Willaims and Alvin Barnett who are both solid targets for the young QB, but his line may struggle to give him time. On defense the Buffs proved to be solid against the run last season with linebacker Joradn Dizon. The secondary should be imporeved retruning three starters including CB Terrance Wheatley.


Things are still looking bleak over in Lawrence for the Kansas Jayhawks. Last season they were more competative than they have been in the past five or so seasons, but they lost a lot on offense, inclduing three line starters, their best reciever and the Big 12's leading rusher. Combine all that with an uncertain QB situation and it may make for along year in Lawrence. And to think offense is Kansas's strong point, with a defense that finished last int he nation in pass defense. Unfortunately things don't look much better with an inexperienced defensive line and only one defensive back returning. Going .500 again this season would be successful for Caoch Mangino.


If you thought things were bad in Lawrence Coach Gene Chizik is staring a possible 1-3 in season for his first year Iowa State Cyclones. This like analyzing Duke, there is just not much to talk about. Chizik knew this would be an uhill battle so he brought in a large group of JUCO players to try and help them stay competative. Offensively the Cyclones do have two good players, QB Bret Meyer is multi talented and wideout Todd Blythe has the ability to make big plays. Defensivly Will Linabacker Alvin Bowen lead the country in tackels per game but outside of that they dont have much. Most of the defense will be comprised of JUCO transfers, inthe defensive backfield they have only one senior on the 2 deep roster. Any wins would be good for this team.


SOUTH DIVISION
Down in Norman Coach Bob Stoops has another superb defense to go to war with. The Oklahoma Sooners have always had the ability to control the game with their defense and it usually starts with their secondary, this seaso n is no different. Corners Reggie Smith and Marucs Walker can cover anyone in the country and safety Nic Harris plays the run and pass equally. With that being aid this leaves the front seven the ability to go after the QB and track the runners down in the backfield. JUCO MLB Mike Reed could be the next great linebacker in Stoops program and defensive end Alonzo Dotson has great pass rush ability. On the offensive side of the ball the Sooners need to settle on a quarterback and it looks like it will be Junior Joey Halzle. Up fron they return 4 offensive linemena nd running back Allen Patrick hd 4 100 yard games in place of Adrian Peterson last season. Their receiving core is deep and full of playmakers lead by All American candidate Malcolm Kelly who had 900 yards and 10 TD's last season. the Sooners have a favorable schedule with their toughest road game maybe being at Tulsa not even in the Big 12, like most years it will come down to fall afternoon in Dallas Texas at the Red River Shootout.


Most people have the Texas Longhorns penciled in as the champs of the division because of the outstanding freshmen campaign of QB Colt McCoy. However there are a few things working against the Longhorns. Yes McCoy returns and has a hugely talented receiving corp including Limas Sweed, but who is going to run the ball and more importantly who is going to block? Along the front Texas lost its thre interior lineman and running back Jamaal Charles productionahas actually gone in reverse in his career. If they can blokc and Charles can finally step up McCoy will be able to put up some points and he will need to. LAst season the Longhorns gave up 24 or more points 5 times last season including being shredded by the pass. Having said all that they lost their entire defensive backfield and have no real pass rushers. Up front they have two solid takcles who can stop the run in Derek Lokey and Frank Okam, but not much else. They have to play Oklahoma obviously and go on the road to Oklahoma State and Texas A&M andI just don't see them winning all those games.


The state of Oklahoma may rule ove the Big 12 this year because down in Stillwater the Oklahoma State Cowboys have a very talented young squad. Bobby Reid leads a high octane offensive attack that is as lethal on the ground as in the air. His favorite target in the air is the best receiver in the country Adarius Bowman who caughty 60 balls last season.Also Artie Woods and Anthony Parks have emerged as legit targets for Reid. The line is solid returning their two tackles and center and RB Dantrell Savage racked up 800 yards and an Independence Bowl MVP trophy. The Pokes will put points on the board agaisnt anyone this season. Defensively they return 8 starters including a trio sophmores; linebackers Chris Collins and Patrick Levine and Safety Andre Sexton were all Freshmen All Americans last year. Along the front line DT Tonga Tea is an All Big 12 candidate and they have their returning sack leader Nathan Peterson back. The defense will be improved and the high octane offense will have the Pokes riding high. In the season opener the travel down between the hedges to take on Georgia and they also have road games at A&M, Nebraska and Oklahoma, look for 2 upsets from those 4 games.


Many people think this is Coach Franchione's year to bring the Texas A&M Aggies back to the top. The Aggies have an experienced squad coming back including Jun ior QB Stephen McGee. McGee threw 12 TD's last season and rushed for over 600 yards while only throwing 2 INT's. He has a favorite target in Earvi Taylor and Tight End Martellus Bennet. They will have a revamped line for the big hoss Jovorskie Lane to run behind adn that will be key to their success. On the other side of the ball linebackers Misi Tupe and MArk Dodge are soldi seniors and the backfield is anchored down by Junior Safety Devin Gregg. The Aggies striek me as solid but not spectacular on either side of the ball, and I don't knwo if they can just overwhelm any opponents. The key mathcup will be on October 6th, while most of the nations eyes are focused on the TexasState Fairgrounds, when the Aggies take on Oklahoma State in College Station.


Listen we could beat our heads against a wall all day long and try and analyze a Mike Leach coached team, but at the end of the day we can use this summary for the New Mexico State Aggies where Hal Mumme coach's, Leach's mentor. This is what will happen for the Texas Tech Red Raiders this season; a whole lot of points, a defense which causes turnovers but can't stop the run, one upset and two teams will beat them that Tech is more talented than. QB Graham Harrell played impressively in his first season at the helm, but he lost most of his receiving weapons and his line. Returning leading running Shannon Woods is suposedly buried on the depth chart but he will emerge during the season. Again defensively the secondary is strong and will be ball hawking, but the front seven is mostly new and undersized.


Also, Baylor plays in the Big 12.



At the endof he season I see Oklahoma matching up against Missouri in the Big 12 Championship game. Oklahoma will play a slow down football game and frustrate the Tiger offense eventually winning 16-7................BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!!!!!