HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
Big 12 football: Longhorns and the 11 dwarves
By John Rohde Comments 50
Published: December 2, 2009
The Big 12’s hope for respectability this football season is found solely in the eyes of Texas.
MultimediaPhotoview all photos A season initially filled with promise has gone kaput outside Austin city limits.
Texas remains unscathed, but other teams within the conference have felt significant pain. The circle of life among the league’s 11 dwarfs has been difficult to fathom at times.
Nebraska lost 9-7 at home to Iowa State, which lost 34-8 at home to Oklahoma State, which lost 27-0 at Oklahoma, which lost 41-13 at Texas Tech, which lost 52-30 at home to Texas A&M, which lost 62-14 at Kansas State, which lost 38-12 at home to Missouri, which lost 40-32 at home to Baylor.
What a mess, and potentially more could go wrong.
A Nebraska upset over Texas in Saturday night’s Big 12 Championship game in Arlington would be a wonderful achievement for the resurgent Cornhuskers, but it would render the entire conference insignificant this bowl season, which is no easy task when you have eight teams in postseason play.
A season that began with high expectations could end on an all-time low.
Five Big 12 teams were ranked in this year’s Associated Press preseason Top 25 — No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 24 Nebraska and No. 25 Kansas.
Only three teams remain in the poll — No. 3 Texas, No. 21 Nebraska and No. 22 OSU.
The worst Big 12 showing in the final AP poll was 2006, with the Sooners at No. 11 and Longhorns at No. 13.
If the Longhorns win big Saturday and OSU loses in the Cotton Bowl, there’s a good chance Texas will be the only Big 12 team ranked at the end of the season.
Explanations — or excuses, depending on your viewpoint — are easy to find.
OU suffered more injuries to standout players than any college football team in the continental U.S.
Some wounds were self-inflicted. OSU wide receiver Dez Bryant repeatedly lied to NCAA investigators after being repeatedly warned.
Kansas presumably is about to fire coach Mark Mangino, who began this season 5-0 and ended it 0-7.
Colorado was expected to fire coach Dan Hawkins. When he was asked to stay, the most stunned group were members of his staff, who figured they were long gone.
Bob Stoops insists he wants to coach at Oklahoma rather than go to Notre Dame, but he’s had a hard time convincing people.
Louisville might try to steal Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.
Imagine what might have been had prominent Big 12 players stayed healthy and Deion Sanders kept his paws off Bryant until the spring semester.
The conference offered a cast of Heisman Trophy candidates in OU quarterback and defending champ Sam Bradford, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Bryant, tight end Jermaine Gresham, running back Kendall Hunter and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Instead, we’re muddling through the lamest Heisman race in history. McCoy is still very much a contender. Suh should receive some consideration, but sadly that doesn’t mean he will.
The Big 12 is down to the Big 1, which is why all eyes are upon Texas.
By John Rohde Comments 50
Published: December 2, 2009
The Big 12’s hope for respectability this football season is found solely in the eyes of Texas.
MultimediaPhotoview all photos A season initially filled with promise has gone kaput outside Austin city limits.
Texas remains unscathed, but other teams within the conference have felt significant pain. The circle of life among the league’s 11 dwarfs has been difficult to fathom at times.
Nebraska lost 9-7 at home to Iowa State, which lost 34-8 at home to Oklahoma State, which lost 27-0 at Oklahoma, which lost 41-13 at Texas Tech, which lost 52-30 at home to Texas A&M, which lost 62-14 at Kansas State, which lost 38-12 at home to Missouri, which lost 40-32 at home to Baylor.
What a mess, and potentially more could go wrong.
A Nebraska upset over Texas in Saturday night’s Big 12 Championship game in Arlington would be a wonderful achievement for the resurgent Cornhuskers, but it would render the entire conference insignificant this bowl season, which is no easy task when you have eight teams in postseason play.
A season that began with high expectations could end on an all-time low.
Five Big 12 teams were ranked in this year’s Associated Press preseason Top 25 — No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 24 Nebraska and No. 25 Kansas.
Only three teams remain in the poll — No. 3 Texas, No. 21 Nebraska and No. 22 OSU.
The worst Big 12 showing in the final AP poll was 2006, with the Sooners at No. 11 and Longhorns at No. 13.
If the Longhorns win big Saturday and OSU loses in the Cotton Bowl, there’s a good chance Texas will be the only Big 12 team ranked at the end of the season.
Explanations — or excuses, depending on your viewpoint — are easy to find.
OU suffered more injuries to standout players than any college football team in the continental U.S.
Some wounds were self-inflicted. OSU wide receiver Dez Bryant repeatedly lied to NCAA investigators after being repeatedly warned.
Kansas presumably is about to fire coach Mark Mangino, who began this season 5-0 and ended it 0-7.
Colorado was expected to fire coach Dan Hawkins. When he was asked to stay, the most stunned group were members of his staff, who figured they were long gone.
Bob Stoops insists he wants to coach at Oklahoma rather than go to Notre Dame, but he’s had a hard time convincing people.
Louisville might try to steal Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.
Imagine what might have been had prominent Big 12 players stayed healthy and Deion Sanders kept his paws off Bryant until the spring semester.
The conference offered a cast of Heisman Trophy candidates in OU quarterback and defending champ Sam Bradford, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Bryant, tight end Jermaine Gresham, running back Kendall Hunter and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Instead, we’re muddling through the lamest Heisman race in history. McCoy is still very much a contender. Suh should receive some consideration, but sadly that doesn’t mean he will.
The Big 12 is down to the Big 1, which is why all eyes are upon Texas.
