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Big 12 Team Capsules
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
By Terry Douglass
terry.douglass@theindependent.com
Missouri
HEAD COACH: Gary Pinkel (Ninth year, 59-41)
LAST SEASON: 10-4 (5-3, tied for first in Big 12 North)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (5) — TB Derrick Washington, WR Jared Perry, T Elvis Fisher, C Tim Barnes, G Kurtis Gregory. Defense (4) — NT Jaron Baston, LB Sean Weatherspoon, LB Luke Lambert, CB Carl Gettis. Kickers (1) — P Jake Harry.
NOTING: Pinkel said former Nebraska recruit Blaine Gabbert appears to have the lead in the chase to replace Chase Daniel. … Missouri’s coaching staff is dealing with its first major shakeup in the Pinkel area as offensive coordinator Dave Christensen left to become the head coach at Wyoming and defensive coordinator Dave Eberflus left for the NFL. … Walk-on Tanner Mills left NAIA Columbia (Mo.) College’s soccer program to try and win Missouri’s place-kicking job.
QUOTING: “The process is what I’ve always focused on as a head football coach. Every day waking up and making sure all your players, all your staff — everybody — is doing all the right things on that day and then go to bed, wake up, and do it again. I’ve been pleased with the work ethic of our football team. I’ve been pleased with leadership as we lost a lot of good leaders the last couple of years.” — Missouri coach Gary Pinkel.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, vs. Illinois at St. Louis; Sept. 12, Bowling Green; Sept. 19, Furman; Sept. 25, at Nevada; Oct. 8, Nebraska; Oct. 17, Texas Tech; Oct. 31, at Colorado; Nov. 7, Baylor; Nov. 14, at Kansas St.; Nov. 21, Iowa St.; Nov. 28, vs. Kansas at Kansas City, Mo.
Baylor
HEAD COACH: Art Briles (Second year, 4-8)
LAST SEASON: 4-8
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (8) — QB Robert Griffin, RB Jay Finley, WR David Gettis, WR Kendall Wright, WR Ernest Smith, TE Justin Akers, C J.D. Walton, G James Barnard. Defense (6) — NG Trey Bryant, LB Antonio Jones, LB Joe Pawelek, LB Antonio Johnson, SS Jeremy Williams; FS Jordan Lake. Kickers (2) — K Ben Parks, P Derek Epperson.
NOTING: Four of Baylor’s eight losses in 2008 came by a total of 25 points. Those four setbacks were all against bowl teams in Connecticut, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas Tech. … Running back Jay Finley is looking to become the first Bear to top the 1,000-yard mark in a season in six years. He rushed for 865 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. … Briles is hopeful that Penn State transfer Phil Taylor — all 6-foot-4 and 355 pounds of him — will give the Bears a lift at the defensive tackle spot.
QUOTING: “Expectations are always high in the football world in any locker room, in any coaching staff because that’s what we deal with. It’s not a situation where you go into a season with an attitude of not being victorious. So from our players’ standpoint, as far as how to handle that, that’s what you want. That’s something you need and that should be motivation for them. — Baylor coach Art Briles.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, at Wake Forest; Sept. 19, Connecticut; Sept. 26, Northwest Louisiana St.; Oct. 3, Kent St.; Oct. 10, at Oklahoma; Oct. 17, at Iowa St.; Oct. 24, Oklahoma St.; Oct. 31, Nebraska; Nov. 7, at Missouri; Nov. 14, Texas; Nov. 21, at Texas A&M; Nov. 28, vs. Texas Tech at Dallas.
Kansas
HEAD COACH: Mark Mangino (Eighth year, 45-41)
LAST SEASON: 8-5 (4-4, third in Big 12 North)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (8) — QB Todd Reesing, RB Jake Sharp, WR Dezmon Briscoe, WR Kerry Meier, WR Johnathan Wilson, TE Tim Biere, C Jeremiah Hatch. Defense (6) — DE Jake Laptad, DT Caleb Blakesley, CB Daymond Patterson, CB Justin Thornton, SS Darrell Stuckey, FS Phillip Strozier. Kickers (2) — K Jacob Brandstetter, P Alonso Rojas.
NOTING: Wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier return after combining for 189 receptions for 2,451 yards and 22 touchdowns. … The Jayhawks are planning to switch to a 4-2-5 defensive system this season under defensive coordinator Clint Bowen after ranking 114 nationally in pass defense. … Quarterback Todd Reesing passed for 3,888 yards and 32 TDs last season. The overlooked and under-sized Texas native now owns nearly every KU school passing record.
QUOTING: “We’re moving in the positive direction. We’re getting better all the time. That’s what we’ve set out to do. Now, to be very honest, we’re not where we want to be. We want to be a team that competes for championships and be among the best teams in the Big 12 and we’re not there yet. We’re headed that way, but we’re not there.” — Kansas coach Mark Mangino.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, Northern Colorado; Sept. 12, at UTEP; Sept. 19, Duke; Sept. 26, Southern Mississippi; Oct. 10, Iowa St.; Oct. 17, at Colorado; Oct. 24, Oklahoma; Oct. 31, at Texas Tech; Nov. 7, at Kansas St.; Nov. 14, Nebraska; Nov. 21, at Texas; Nov. 28, vs. Missouri at Kansas City, Mo.
Oklahoma
HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops (11th year, 109-24)
LAST SEASON: 12-2 (7-1, tied for first in Big 12 South)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (5) — QB Sam Bradford, RB DeMarco Murray, WR Ryan Broyles, TE Jermaine Gresham, T Trent Williams. Defense (9) — DE Auston English, DT Gerald McCoy, DT Adrian Taylor, DE Jeremy Beal, LB Keenan Clayton, LB Ryan Reynolds, LB Travis Lewis, CB Dominique Franks, CB Brian Jackson. Kickers (1) — Jimmy Stevens.
NOTING: Oklahoma has lost in five consecutive Bowl Championship Series games, including three national championships. … The Sooners averaged 51 points per game last season, including scoring 60 or more points against four bowl teams in Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. … The Sooners should benefit from the return of three potential NFL first-round draft choices, including 2008 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham.
QUOTING: “I hope so. Hopefully we can be a game or two better. You have to go and earn all of that. You have to get back with your team, get back out on the field and start competing and working to see truly where you’re at. It’s going to be another week or so before we can do that. But we have a chance to be every bit as good or hopefully maybe a little better.” — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops on if the Sooners can be as good as they were last season.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, BYU; Sept. 12, Idaho St.; Sept. 19, Rice; Oct. 3, at Miami (Fla.); Oct. 10, Baylor; Oct. 17, vs. Texas at Dallas; Oct. 24, at Kansas; Oct. 31, Kansas St.; Nov. 7, at Nebraska; Nov. 14, Texas A&M; Nov. 21, at Texas Tech; Nov. 28, Oklahoma St.
HEAD COACH: Gary Pinkel (Ninth year, 59-41)
LAST SEASON: 10-4 (5-3, tied for first in Big 12 North)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (5) — TB Derrick Washington, WR Jared Perry, T Elvis Fisher, C Tim Barnes, G Kurtis Gregory. Defense (4) — NT Jaron Baston, LB Sean Weatherspoon, LB Luke Lambert, CB Carl Gettis. Kickers (1) — P Jake Harry.
QUOTING: “The process is what I’ve always focused on as a head football coach. Every day waking up and making sure all your players, all your staff — everybody — is doing all the right things on that day and then go to bed, wake up, and do it again. I’ve been pleased with the work ethic of our football team. I’ve been pleased with leadership as we lost a lot of good leaders the last couple of years.” — Missouri coach Gary Pinkel.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, vs. Illinois at St. Louis; Sept. 12, Bowling Green; Sept. 19, Furman; Sept. 25, at Nevada; Oct. 8, Nebraska; Oct. 17, Texas Tech; Oct. 31, at Colorado; Nov. 7, Baylor; Nov. 14, at Kansas St.; Nov. 21, Iowa St.; Nov. 28, vs. Kansas at Kansas City, Mo.
Baylor
HEAD COACH: Art Briles (Second year, 4-8)
LAST SEASON: 4-8
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (8) — QB Robert Griffin, RB Jay Finley, WR David Gettis, WR Kendall Wright, WR Ernest Smith, TE Justin Akers, C J.D. Walton, G James Barnard. Defense (6) — NG Trey Bryant, LB Antonio Jones, LB Joe Pawelek, LB Antonio Johnson, SS Jeremy Williams; FS Jordan Lake. Kickers (2) — K Ben Parks, P Derek Epperson.
NOTING: Four of Baylor’s eight losses in 2008 came by a total of 25 points. Those four setbacks were all against bowl teams in Connecticut, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas Tech. … Running back Jay Finley is looking to become the first Bear to top the 1,000-yard mark in a season in six years. He rushed for 865 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. … Briles is hopeful that Penn State transfer Phil Taylor — all 6-foot-4 and 355 pounds of him — will give the Bears a lift at the defensive tackle spot.
QUOTING: “Expectations are always high in the football world in any locker room, in any coaching staff because that’s what we deal with. It’s not a situation where you go into a season with an attitude of not being victorious. So from our players’ standpoint, as far as how to handle that, that’s what you want. That’s something you need and that should be motivation for them. — Baylor coach Art Briles.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, at Wake Forest; Sept. 19, Connecticut; Sept. 26, Northwest Louisiana St.; Oct. 3, Kent St.; Oct. 10, at Oklahoma; Oct. 17, at Iowa St.; Oct. 24, Oklahoma St.; Oct. 31, Nebraska; Nov. 7, at Missouri; Nov. 14, Texas; Nov. 21, at Texas A&M; Nov. 28, vs. Texas Tech at Dallas.
Kansas
HEAD COACH: Mark Mangino (Eighth year, 45-41)
LAST SEASON: 8-5 (4-4, third in Big 12 North)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (8) — QB Todd Reesing, RB Jake Sharp, WR Dezmon Briscoe, WR Kerry Meier, WR Johnathan Wilson, TE Tim Biere, C Jeremiah Hatch. Defense (6) — DE Jake Laptad, DT Caleb Blakesley, CB Daymond Patterson, CB Justin Thornton, SS Darrell Stuckey, FS Phillip Strozier. Kickers (2) — K Jacob Brandstetter, P Alonso Rojas.
NOTING: Wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier return after combining for 189 receptions for 2,451 yards and 22 touchdowns. … The Jayhawks are planning to switch to a 4-2-5 defensive system this season under defensive coordinator Clint Bowen after ranking 114 nationally in pass defense. … Quarterback Todd Reesing passed for 3,888 yards and 32 TDs last season. The overlooked and under-sized Texas native now owns nearly every KU school passing record.
QUOTING: “We’re moving in the positive direction. We’re getting better all the time. That’s what we’ve set out to do. Now, to be very honest, we’re not where we want to be. We want to be a team that competes for championships and be among the best teams in the Big 12 and we’re not there yet. We’re headed that way, but we’re not there.” — Kansas coach Mark Mangino.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, Northern Colorado; Sept. 12, at UTEP; Sept. 19, Duke; Sept. 26, Southern Mississippi; Oct. 10, Iowa St.; Oct. 17, at Colorado; Oct. 24, Oklahoma; Oct. 31, at Texas Tech; Nov. 7, at Kansas St.; Nov. 14, Nebraska; Nov. 21, at Texas; Nov. 28, vs. Missouri at Kansas City, Mo.
Oklahoma
HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops (11th year, 109-24)
LAST SEASON: 12-2 (7-1, tied for first in Big 12 South)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense (5) — QB Sam Bradford, RB DeMarco Murray, WR Ryan Broyles, TE Jermaine Gresham, T Trent Williams. Defense (9) — DE Auston English, DT Gerald McCoy, DT Adrian Taylor, DE Jeremy Beal, LB Keenan Clayton, LB Ryan Reynolds, LB Travis Lewis, CB Dominique Franks, CB Brian Jackson. Kickers (1) — Jimmy Stevens.
NOTING: Oklahoma has lost in five consecutive Bowl Championship Series games, including three national championships. … The Sooners averaged 51 points per game last season, including scoring 60 or more points against four bowl teams in Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. … The Sooners should benefit from the return of three potential NFL first-round draft choices, including 2008 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham.
QUOTING: “I hope so. Hopefully we can be a game or two better. You have to go and earn all of that. You have to get back with your team, get back out on the field and start competing and working to see truly where you’re at. It’s going to be another week or so before we can do that. But we have a chance to be every bit as good or hopefully maybe a little better.” — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops on if the Sooners can be as good as they were last season.
SCHEDULE: Sept. 5, BYU; Sept. 12, Idaho St.; Sept. 19, Rice; Oct. 3, at Miami (Fla.); Oct. 10, Baylor; Oct. 17, vs. Texas at Dallas; Oct. 24, at Kansas; Oct. 31, Kansas St.; Nov. 7, at Nebraska; Nov. 14, Texas A&M; Nov. 21, at Texas Tech; Nov. 28, Oklahoma St.
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