Thanks for all the emails this week. It was a fun one. Didn't make this week's mailbags? Here's where you can reach me to try again with something more interesting.

Jess in Charleston, W.V., writes: Mr Ubben, I would like to know how you can predict that WVU will not win the Big 12 for the next decade? I do not know what crystal ball you are looking in, but to make that kind of assertion is nothing short of careless and borderline absurd. You are going to see constant improvement over the years from the WVU football program. Of that I am certain. Once Coach Holgerson actually gets the team that he wants in place you are going to see something very special from the WVU football program.

David Ubben: Well, for one, it's not quite as crazy as it sounds. Get used to it. This isn't the Big East, where five different schools have won the league (and by won, I mean, won. As in, went to the BCS as the championship representative, not sharing a title) since 2004.

The Big 12? Before Oklahoma State won this year, three teams had won the league since 2002, and one of those three teams (Kansas State) had done it just once. When Texas and OU are both clicking, it's absurdly difficult to win this league. Texas has been down the past two seasons, but Oklahoma's been solid, and in the Sooners' one down year, Texas went to the national title game.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if WVU won the league, but I'm betting it doesn't. That's not so crazy. The Big 12 simply isn't anywhere near as wide open as the Big East, and with the new league set up where you can't win the league with one upset from the Big 12 North, it's going to be a lot harder to win the league.

It's not like I think it's impossible. I just don't think it'll happen, and I think the upside is much greater for TCU (perhaps some of that might be negated in recruiting by the recent scandal) to win big in this league because of its big success and program stability, along with its location in the metroplex. It's easy to see recruits saying, "Why leave the metroplex if I can stay home and win big, too?"

I wouldn't get too riled up by me saying that. WVU's best shot is going to be this season, with Texas still trying to get off the mat and a great 'Eers team coming back to Morgantown.

Finally, who is coach Holgerson? Hate that Dana Holgorsen has apparently been shelved for his nomenclatural doppelganger. (I still want to copyright that term.)

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Randy Lewis in Falls Church, Va., writes: I really dont see Wvu winning the Big 12 this year. They have the offense, but not the defense. Also, Wvu has a tendency to play good one game and take the next game off. Whats your thoughts on their chances?

DU: Thanks for the note, Randy. I'd say you've oversimplified the issue on WVU as far as it "taking the next game off." Certainly, inconsistency has been a concern for this team. Last season, it was the head-scratcher against Syracuse. It was Syracuse again in 2010, and if you want to count UConn (worst BCS team ever?), that was a pretty ugly loss, too. East Carolina and Colorado in 2008 weren't fun, and of course the infamous Backyard Brawl in 2007 with the national title game at stake.

WVU's got a decent shot to win the league this season, but ultimately, it's going to be hard to adjust to learning about nine new teams on its schedule. In that sense, TCU has a very slight advantage, having played a lot of these teams in recent seasons and recruiting some of the same players. It won't quite be as foreign. That extra work will put a little more strain on the staff.

WVU will be in the mix, but I don't see it winning the league.

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Brad in Dallas writes: Dub, How would you rank big 12 uniforms (new versions for OSU, plus the additions of TCU and WVU). I think the all black OSU unis have to be pretty high up there.

DU: Oh, we've been down this road before, Brad. I get asked this a lot. Time to look back on the Big 12's best uniforms.

I also ranked all of Oklahoma State's uniform combos this season.

Folks love uniforms. So do I.

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Steve in Jacksonville, Fla., writes: You said you wanted to see John Denver performing at Mountaineer Field, here's at least a short clip of it.

DU: Pretty awesome stuff, Steve. Thanks for the find. Personally, I'm struck by Dwight Schrute and Andy Bernard's rousing version, but I'd say that Mountaineer Field version tops it by juuuuust a little bit.

Can't wait to make my first visit to Morgantown for the spring, and for a game this fall.

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Scott Bailey at Cards Nation writes: Hey, David! Here's one more thing you need to know about West Virginia. Louisville won their last head-to-head Big East matchups in BOTH football and basketball. GO CARDS!!!

DU: Louisville is quickly becoming the Big 12's awkward stalker, I think. I'd actually be fine with Louisville and Cincinnati joining the league, but I get emails like this all the time. Louisville fans are still pretty mad about that dust-up this summer. As bad as Texas A&M wanted out of the Big 12, I think teams in the Big East wanted out about 20 times worse.

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Shaun in Lufkin, Texas, writes: Hey, David. Always love your blog. A friend was talking to me about national perception of teams and how it affects their marketability. One of the things we commented on was the fact that most marquee programs have one major annual rivalry game of national interest. Notre Dame has always taken a nation-wide barnstorming approach and has developed multiple rivalry games with national interest and this may be one of the reasons they are so recognizable and valuable even when the product on the field is less than stellar. There are very few elite programs that have more than one regularly scheduled intense rivalry game that draws national interest. Which brought us to our question; UT has always had two marquee annual matchups throughout the years. Now that they have cut that number by 50%, do you think it could affect their national brand over time?

DU: Interesting idea, Shaun, but I don't think so. Texas' appeal and profile is a whole lot bigger than a rivalry. I'd say Notre Dame's is, too. Being a national Catholic university is the biggest reason for the Irish's popularity.

Texas? It is the flagship school in one of the most talent-rich, football-crazy states in America. Florida's right there with Texas, but there are a lot more true national powers (Florida State, UF, Miami) in the state than in Texas, which doesn't have a true co-power within the league.

Losing the A&M rivalry hurts, but not that much. Texas still wants that exclusive window on Thanksgiving night with a national broadcast. Except, instead of A&M, it'll be TCU.

Texas will be fine.

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Mason in Texas writes: Ubbliminator, here's an idea for a rivalry, sort of. Obviously WVU loves them some John Denver. John Denver attended Texas Tech. I think this could be an annual game for "John Denver's Guitar," or something. Adds a little intrigue to the game and gets people a little excited. Thoughts?

DU: I didn't realize that connection, Mason. Forgive me if I'm ignorant of Denver's biography. I double-checked it, and even though Denver's not quite an alum, I love this idea. Make it happen, y'all.

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Dave in Maryland writes: Hey Ubbster, don't want to beat a dead horse, but one aspect you haven't touched on in this "should Texas play TAMU debate" is that Texas has almost nothing to gain by playing TAMU. Beating a middle tier team in the SEC (that will always be more fired up to play the game than Texas) will get Texas no credit nationally if they win and almost certainly eliminate them from the national title picture if they lose. Bragging rights are nice, but not relevant when the goal is national championship or bust.

DU: Totally disagree with you on this one, Dave. This isn't about strategic nonconference scheduling. This isn't about gaining or losing something.

This is about tradition. This is Texas. These are the two best programs in the state, and they hate each other. (Yes, A&M hates Texas a lot more than the Longhorns hate the Aggies). These teams not playing is a complete joke.

If games like A&M-UT aren't being played, what's the point of college football? It should be embarrassing for everybody involved.