Ten years, 20 items on the Big 12

[Eric the Red]

COMMENTARY: KIRK BOHLS

 

Ten years, 20 items on the Big 12

 

It seems like only yesterday the conference was born.

 

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Big 12 blew out 10 candles on its birthday cake last January, just about the time Texas' Vince Young was blowing past Southern California. You remember unbeatable USC, don't you?

Seems like yesterday that Texas' James Brown was coming through on his "guarantee" to upset another invincible team in the conference championship game, against the team formerly known as Nebraska.

 

When retiring Big 12 football director Donnie Duncan was asked what he learned from the league's first decade, he said, "The team with the best players wins."

But the Big 12 has schooled us in other football matters as well. Monday marked the opening of three media days otherwise known as "We Know Nobody Can Unseat Texas and Oklahoma but, Man, that Mike Leach is Funny."

However, after a decade of great football and Texas A&M games, too, we have learned that:

 

(1) Nebraska will never be Nebraska again.

Sorry, cornfed folk. Your Huskers will eventually win big again, but not with the intimidating dominance that we came to know under Tom Osborne. Lincoln won't ever be a destination point for the next Peyton Manning.

 

(2) Leach can turn a phrase and turn a decent program into the fourth-best in the league behind you-know-whom and Colorado. Asked about the Longhorns and Sooners, the Texas Tech coach said, "Those two guys are a nuisance to have around."

We can't shake the feeling, though, that Texas Tech will not hold onto the Mike Martz of the NCAA forever. Expect Leach at some West Coast site down the road.

 

(3) Texas is Texas again.

Now that the 35-year title drought has ended, the Longhorns have been reborn in Darrell Royal's image and will rise again, maybe as soon as next January.

 

(4) Iowa State needs a kicker.

No team that isn't coached by Bobby Bowden has missed more crucial kicks than the Cyclones, who have been booted from the last two Big 12 championship games because of wide kicks.

 

(5) Missouri needs a shrink. And a new coach.

Gary Pinkel has established himself as the worst coach in the league for the way he mishandled Brad Smith and blundered with a 29-30 record. He hasn't recruited well, and in five years has had just two players drafted in the first four NFL rounds.

 

(6) Other than Colorado's few transgressions, the football league has been relatively scandal-free. (Basketball's another story.)

Of course, that's like saying Richard Nixon's conduct was unimpeachable, save for that little eavesdropping incident at the Watergate Hotel.

 

(7) The Big 12 is a tough place to be if you're a head football coach interested in settling down. Of the dozen in place when this thing kicked off in 1996, only one remains on the job. That's Iowa State's Dan McCarney, the most underrated coach in the conference.

Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma State and Kansas are working on their third coaches. Guy Morriss is the fourth nameplate on Baylor's office door.

 

(8) Speaking of job security, somewhere between Tuscaloosa and College Station, Aggies boss Dennis Franchione lost his touch. And maybe his ability to relate to and motivate his players. If he doesn't regain it soon, he'll be pink-slipped out of big-time college football.

 

(9) Mack Brown could recruit Osama bin Laden into joining the United States Marines.

 

(10) The Big 12 failed miserably when it didn't mandate an annual Nebraska-Oklahoma game. Can you imagine the Big Ten without Michigan-Ohio State? It's not too late to reinstate it.

 

(11) Speaking of tradition, the Texas-OU game has enough staying power among fans that it remains in Dallas for the time being, but don't bet your last Fletcher's corny dog on it staying there forever. I still see it as a home-and-home affair, sadly.

 

(12) The conference championship game has been a disaster and complete waste of time.

It cost Nebraska, Kansas State and Texas shots at the ultimate title game and almost cost OU in 2003. And when's the last time we were even treated to a competitive game? The last three champions have won by a 147-13 margin. Abolish it now before it kills again.

 

(13) The league should unite and push hard for a postseason playoff and, barring that, a return to the BCS formula that included strength of schedule. Such could save college football from 12th-game boredom.

 

(14) We've learned through reputable sources that Baylor is, in fact, in the Big 12 and improving. As Morriss said, "We want to be a team to be reckoned with."

 

(15) Kansas' Mark Mangino is no Rachel Ray and will not soon be publishing a book on how to eat on $40 a day in every Big 12 city.

(16) It can get really cold in Ames, Iowa.

 

(17) Colorado will have the toughest non-conference schedule every year. Check out this year's slate: Colorado State in Denver. Arizona State. At Georgia.

 

(18) If you're not renovating or expanding your stadium, you're falling way behind. Are you listening, Colorado?

 

(19) The Big 12 is the second-best conference in America behind only the savage SEC, where the Jacksonville Jaguars would probably finish third.

 

(20) Some team will have to win the North and represent it in the Big 12 championship game. It's in the bylaws that someone has to.

 

kbohls@statesman.com

[gamecocks]

I agree, it is still not too late to play make the NU vs OU an annual rivalry.

[GSG]

While we might not be as completely dominant as we once were, I think that, considering the direction we are going, we will be able to be extremely competitive in the national scene as we once were. No we might not have a chance at 3 or 4 titles in a row, but I believe there will be a time where we can have back-to-back titles on several occasions.

[Husker IN Hawaii]

Colorado will have the toughest non-conference schedule every year. Check out this year's slate: Colorado State in Denver. Arizona State. At Georgia.

 

 

This is total BS. I can think of many schools that have to play much harder scheduals .... including the Big Red. Hell we are playing both teams that played for the National Championship, what more do we have to do?

[husker rob]

it did san non-confrence schedule, not trying to defend sCUm

[Hunter94]

3. Texas has a lot to prove this year.......Snead and Mccoy are freshman qbs.

you can bet they will struggle part of the time......no way in hell do they go undefeated this year!

 

9. Hell how can that old fart Mack Brown fail to be anything BUT a great recruiter?

60% of the nations real talent is in his damn backyard.....sh#t, give me a break!

 

 

hunter

[husker rob]

that is why i think that OU takes the south this year

[GSG]

Couldn't agree more. I wonder which one of those QBs is going to meet Mr. Carriker and Mr. Moore first.....

[AgMarauder04]

I dunno, but I REALLY hope Jevon Snead or Colt McCoy become best friends with them and Mr. Turf.

 

(Those are the 2 tu QBs...I don't know which one will be taking the snaps as of right now)

[Chef K]

I'm glad this Kirk Bohls was able to get off of Mack Brown's jock to write this. :hmmm

[rawhide]

That and desenex. Or an icepick and kerosene.

 

I don't think any team will ever be as dominate as NU was in the 90's. I would like to think NU would be that dominate again but only time will tell.

[Hunter94]

probably a very true statement.......parity now is geater than ever on the college level.......

 

 

hunter

[hootin' annie's goatfarm]

here is some luv from rivals on NU's '06 offense:

 

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content....1144&CID=564249

[kc_husker]

Isnt Donnie D. attached to Oklahoma some how some way.

Dumb ass

[huskernumerouno]

You know the program was strong and is feared of becoming dominate again when he starts this off with #1. Hell they all pray we never get back there, but like rawhide said. I don't think anyone will be able to be that dominat again.