Big 12: Lucas Patterson
Heading into the season, I see five teams in the Big 12 with a realistic chance to win the league. I'll be breaking them down in order (which won't be the same as my post-spring power rankings) of their chances to leave the season with the Big 12 title.
No. 1 on the list was the favorites: Oklahoma
Today, we take a look at my No. 2: Texas A&M.
Why the Aggies will win the Big 12
1. They've got the most complete offense.
Center Matt Allen is the only offensive starter not returning, but the Aggies have a solid line, headlined by a maturing, but already talented pair of bookends with big potential, tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews. At the skill positions, you won't find anything close to a weakness. Texas A&M returns the best running back corps in the league and maybe the best 1-2 punch in the nation with Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. All of the team's top five receivers return, and Jeff Fuller, who chose to return for his senior season, is arguably one of the five best in the country. Ryan Tannehill doesn't have a ton of starts (six) under his belt, but he was great in a tight spot last year, and led the team in receptions his first two years on the field.
2. They're especially strong in great places on defense.
Those places: Secondary and pass-rushers. That's huge in the Big 12. New joker Damontre Moore, defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie and linebacker Sean Porter should combine for more than 15 sacks this year and tons of quarterback pressures that could result in some big plays for another defensive strength: the secondary. All four starters return, and Terrence Frederick, Coryell Judie are experienced seniors at corner, while Trent Hunter and Steven Campbell hold down the safety spots.
3. They made it hard to win nine games last year.
Texas A&M already won a share of the Big 12 South last year, despite ranking 10th in the Big 12 in turnover margin at minus-5. Its 30 turnovers (15 INTs, 15 fumbles lost) were the most in the Big 12 and 111th most in the nation. You'd have to think that number will drop this year with Tannehill at quarterback. He struggled in the loss to LSU, throwing three interceptions, but he had just three in his six previous games at quarterback, compared to 11 touchdowns. Five of those 30 turnovers came from Jerrod Johnson in a loss to Oklahoma State, and if the Aggies take care of the ball then, or this time around, they're likely Big 12 champions.
Why the Aggies won't win the Big 12
1. The defensive losses will be too much.
Damontre Moore should slide in and replace Von Miller. I'd expect him to do well, but what about middle linebacker? Michael Hodges was the heart of the defense in 2010 and its leading tackler. When a knee injury forced him out of the Cotton Bowl against LSU, the Tigers gashed the Aggies' defense, which for the few weeks to end the season, looked like one of the Big 12's best and topped the league in rush defense. Hodges is gone for good now, and the Aggies left spring without a solid replacement. For now, it looks like Jonathan Stewart will slide in, but it could end up being true freshman Donnie Baggs. Either way, A&M won't be as strong there, and teams that can run the ball (i.e., OSU, OU) may take advantage. Lucas Patterson is the only other loss on the defensive side of the ball, but my money is on Hodges being missed the most on the field, even though Miller was the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.
2. They have to travel to Norman.
Texas A&M has been outscored 107-24 in its last two trips to Norman, and Les Miles at Oklahoma State in 2001 is the only Big 12 coach to ever beat Bob Stoops at Owen Field. The odds are definitely against Mike Sherman becoming the second. The Aggies knocked off Oklahoma in College Station last year, but did it largely on the strength of the linebackers, and Hodges and Miller, who helped orchestrate those three goal-line stops to beat the Sooners, are gone.
3. Hype and the Aggies are not happy bedfellows.
Texas A&M looked like a possible Big 12 South contender last year, but the Aggies lost all three of their first real tests, and nearly lost to Florida International in College Station, erasing a 21-7 fourth-quarter deficit to avoid embarrassment. After being written off by most, they rallied for a share of the Big 12 South, but this year, the attention is back on the Aggies, who will likely be toting a top-15 ranking into the preseason. How will the team handle big games early in the season against Oklahoma State and an early trip to Lubbock before the showdown in Norman? Their recent history suggests "not well."
No. 1 on the list was the favorites: Oklahoma
Today, we take a look at my No. 2: Texas A&M.
Why the Aggies will win the Big 12
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Rod AydelotteQuarterback Ryan Tannehill will be crucial to Texas A&M's success in 2011.
AP Photo/Rod AydelotteQuarterback Ryan Tannehill will be crucial to Texas A&M's success in 2011.Center Matt Allen is the only offensive starter not returning, but the Aggies have a solid line, headlined by a maturing, but already talented pair of bookends with big potential, tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews. At the skill positions, you won't find anything close to a weakness. Texas A&M returns the best running back corps in the league and maybe the best 1-2 punch in the nation with Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. All of the team's top five receivers return, and Jeff Fuller, who chose to return for his senior season, is arguably one of the five best in the country. Ryan Tannehill doesn't have a ton of starts (six) under his belt, but he was great in a tight spot last year, and led the team in receptions his first two years on the field.
2. They're especially strong in great places on defense.
Those places: Secondary and pass-rushers. That's huge in the Big 12. New joker Damontre Moore, defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie and linebacker Sean Porter should combine for more than 15 sacks this year and tons of quarterback pressures that could result in some big plays for another defensive strength: the secondary. All four starters return, and Terrence Frederick, Coryell Judie are experienced seniors at corner, while Trent Hunter and Steven Campbell hold down the safety spots.
3. They made it hard to win nine games last year.
Texas A&M already won a share of the Big 12 South last year, despite ranking 10th in the Big 12 in turnover margin at minus-5. Its 30 turnovers (15 INTs, 15 fumbles lost) were the most in the Big 12 and 111th most in the nation. You'd have to think that number will drop this year with Tannehill at quarterback. He struggled in the loss to LSU, throwing three interceptions, but he had just three in his six previous games at quarterback, compared to 11 touchdowns. Five of those 30 turnovers came from Jerrod Johnson in a loss to Oklahoma State, and if the Aggies take care of the ball then, or this time around, they're likely Big 12 champions.
Why the Aggies won't win the Big 12
1. The defensive losses will be too much.
Damontre Moore should slide in and replace Von Miller. I'd expect him to do well, but what about middle linebacker? Michael Hodges was the heart of the defense in 2010 and its leading tackler. When a knee injury forced him out of the Cotton Bowl against LSU, the Tigers gashed the Aggies' defense, which for the few weeks to end the season, looked like one of the Big 12's best and topped the league in rush defense. Hodges is gone for good now, and the Aggies left spring without a solid replacement. For now, it looks like Jonathan Stewart will slide in, but it could end up being true freshman Donnie Baggs. Either way, A&M won't be as strong there, and teams that can run the ball (i.e., OSU, OU) may take advantage. Lucas Patterson is the only other loss on the defensive side of the ball, but my money is on Hodges being missed the most on the field, even though Miller was the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.
2. They have to travel to Norman.
Texas A&M has been outscored 107-24 in its last two trips to Norman, and Les Miles at Oklahoma State in 2001 is the only Big 12 coach to ever beat Bob Stoops at Owen Field. The odds are definitely against Mike Sherman becoming the second. The Aggies knocked off Oklahoma in College Station last year, but did it largely on the strength of the linebackers, and Hodges and Miller, who helped orchestrate those three goal-line stops to beat the Sooners, are gone.
3. Hype and the Aggies are not happy bedfellows.
Texas A&M looked like a possible Big 12 South contender last year, but the Aggies lost all three of their first real tests, and nearly lost to Florida International in College Station, erasing a 21-7 fourth-quarter deficit to avoid embarrassment. After being written off by most, they rallied for a share of the Big 12 South, but this year, the attention is back on the Aggies, who will likely be toting a top-15 ranking into the preseason. How will the team handle big games early in the season against Oklahoma State and an early trip to Lubbock before the showdown in Norman? Their recent history suggests "not well."
TEXAS A&M
2010 overall record: 9-4
2010 conference record: 6-2
Returning starters: Offense (9), Defense (8) P/K (2)
Top returners: RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller, QB Ryan Tannehill, CB/KR Coryell Judie, RB Christine Michael, WR Ryan Swope, LB Damontre Moore, LT Luke Joeckel
Key losses: LB Von Miller, DE Lucas Patterson, LB Michael Hodges, C Matt Allen
2010 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Cyrus Gray* (1,133 yards)
Passing: Jerrod Johnson (1,947 yards)
Receiving: Jeff Fuller* (1,066 yards)
Tackles: Michael Hodges (115)
Sacks: Von Milller (10.5)
Interceptions: Dustin Harris*, Coryell Judie* (4)
Three spring answers
1. Gray’s running mate is back on track. Cyrus Gray handled the duties well after Christine Michael went down with a broken leg. Gray finished the season with seven consecutive 100-yard games, but Michael is back and looked good this spring. The Aggies have one of the best running back duos in the country, and it should be better than ever this year.
2. Linebackers looking good. Texas A&M is losing Von Miller and Michael Hodges, but linebackers Sean Porter and Garrick Williams look ready to step into roles as the leaders on the defense. Damontre Moore is likely to replace Miller, while Hodges spot in the middle is up for grabs, with true freshman Donnie Baggs competing to win it alongside Jonathan Stewart and Kyle Mangan. It’s a question mark on a team without many, but the spring had to be encouraging.
3. Offensive line coming together. Texas A&M returns four starters on the line, and loses center Matt Allen. Brian Thomas is likely to replace him and worked most of the spring as the first-team center. On the outside, the Aggies pair of sophomore tackles, Luke Joeckel on the left side and Jake Matthews on the right continue to mature and could be two of the Big 12’s best.
Three fall questions
1. Can the Aggies handle the pressure? There was tons of buzz about the Aggies last year, despite coming off a 6-7 season. After six games, though, Texas A&M was 3-3. Once plenty of folks had written them off, they ripped off an impressive six-game win streak and shared the Big 12 South title. This year, the hype is back, but the Aggies won’t be able to weather a three-game losing streak this time around and still have a shot at the Big 12 title.
2. Will Ryan Tannehill continue his tear? Tannehill replaced the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, Jerrod Johnson, midway through the season last year, and helped pace the Aggies during their impressive streak. This time around, with defenses more sure of what to expect from him, can he become a bona fide star? Not to mention that lingering Aggie senior QB curse…
3. How good is Damontre Moore? Von Miller is gone, and Moore looks likely to replace him at the Joker position this year. The Aggies want to see him slide in and re-establish the dominance he showed early in the season when Miller was slowed by an ankle injury, but Miller was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime player. Moore may be good, but just how good? We’ll find out next year.
2010 overall record: 9-4
2010 conference record: 6-2
Returning starters: Offense (9), Defense (8) P/K (2)
Top returners: RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller, QB Ryan Tannehill, CB/KR Coryell Judie, RB Christine Michael, WR Ryan Swope, LB Damontre Moore, LT Luke Joeckel
Key losses: LB Von Miller, DE Lucas Patterson, LB Michael Hodges, C Matt Allen
2010 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Cyrus Gray* (1,133 yards)
Passing: Jerrod Johnson (1,947 yards)
Receiving: Jeff Fuller* (1,066 yards)
Tackles: Michael Hodges (115)
Sacks: Von Milller (10.5)
Interceptions: Dustin Harris*, Coryell Judie* (4)
Three spring answers
1. Gray’s running mate is back on track. Cyrus Gray handled the duties well after Christine Michael went down with a broken leg. Gray finished the season with seven consecutive 100-yard games, but Michael is back and looked good this spring. The Aggies have one of the best running back duos in the country, and it should be better than ever this year.
2. Linebackers looking good. Texas A&M is losing Von Miller and Michael Hodges, but linebackers Sean Porter and Garrick Williams look ready to step into roles as the leaders on the defense. Damontre Moore is likely to replace Miller, while Hodges spot in the middle is up for grabs, with true freshman Donnie Baggs competing to win it alongside Jonathan Stewart and Kyle Mangan. It’s a question mark on a team without many, but the spring had to be encouraging.
3. Offensive line coming together. Texas A&M returns four starters on the line, and loses center Matt Allen. Brian Thomas is likely to replace him and worked most of the spring as the first-team center. On the outside, the Aggies pair of sophomore tackles, Luke Joeckel on the left side and Jake Matthews on the right continue to mature and could be two of the Big 12’s best.
Three fall questions
1. Can the Aggies handle the pressure? There was tons of buzz about the Aggies last year, despite coming off a 6-7 season. After six games, though, Texas A&M was 3-3. Once plenty of folks had written them off, they ripped off an impressive six-game win streak and shared the Big 12 South title. This year, the hype is back, but the Aggies won’t be able to weather a three-game losing streak this time around and still have a shot at the Big 12 title.
2. Will Ryan Tannehill continue his tear? Tannehill replaced the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, Jerrod Johnson, midway through the season last year, and helped pace the Aggies during their impressive streak. This time around, with defenses more sure of what to expect from him, can he become a bona fide star? Not to mention that lingering Aggie senior QB curse…
3. How good is Damontre Moore? Von Miller is gone, and Moore looks likely to replace him at the Joker position this year. The Aggies want to see him slide in and re-establish the dominance he showed early in the season when Miller was slowed by an ankle injury, but Miller was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime player. Moore may be good, but just how good? We’ll find out next year.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- It's tough to plan around which practices I'll get to see when I come to campuses during the spring or preseason camp, but it was a pretty ideal situation at Texas A&M on Wednesday. The team was in full pads, practiced for about an hour and a half, and the vast majority of it was 11-on-11 team drills.
Texas A&M's practices are open to the public, something that's increasingly rare in college football, but there were probably 70-80 fans who made it to the afternoon workout on a gorgeous day for spring football. To my knowledge, the only teams in the new Big 12 that open up spring practice to fans are Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor.
Additionally, it takes a lot for women's hoops to generate buzz, but there was definitely a bit out at practice. The Aggies beat rival Baylor, featuring arguably the game's biggest star, 6-foot-8 Brittney Griner, in Dallas earlier this week to reach the first Final Four in school history. I'm sure there will be plenty of maroon in the stands in Indianapolis this weekend. (More on that here from colleague Mechelle Voepel.)
But back to football.
A few thoughts and observations from practice:
Two guys a bit under the radar who had great days: Receiver Kenric McNeal and running back Ben Malena. With all the skill-position talent at Texas A&M, both get a bit overshadowed, but Malena, at least for one day, looked every bit as good a runner as the backs ahead of him on the depth chart, Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. He has a lot of development to do in things like feeling creases in the line but when he got a chance to get to the second level and let his instincts take over, he was giving the defense fits. He looked solid in the open field.
Additionally, McNeal has a reputation as a shifty slot receiver who works best underneath, but he was stretching the field on Thursday like I hadn't seen from him before. His two longest plays of the year (27 and 32 yards) came late last season, but he had a couple of deep catches in the end zone after slipping past the safeties and bringing it in behind the defense. He got open a few more times, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill missed a couple of deep balls to him, but it has to be encouraging for the offense to see him break a few off like that.
Michael looking confident on healed leg
Michael was one guy I wanted to see, and it was tough to get a read on his mobility -- he didn't get into the open field very much. But one encouraging sign was he didn't look like he was shying away from contact at all. That's exactly what A&M wants to see. Michael brings a mean running style that no other back on the roster can provide. Early in the conference season last year, he was running over plenty of linebackers. He looks like he wants to get back to doing exactly that, and he did it on Thursday, dragging a couple of defenders at times.
I don't think the mental side of returning from the injury will be an issue. He's never been quite as shifty as Cyrus Gray, but he runs with power that you won't find anywhere else in the Big 12, and considering how the rest of the league defended the run during the bowl season -- especially power runners -- the Aggies will once again be glad he's on their team this fall.
Wrecking Crew missing a few members
Diehard A&M fans are surely already aware, but the Aggies' defense is missing quite a few key pieces this spring, especially in the back seven. Defensive backs Terrance Frederick and Coryell Judie are both sidelined after offseason shoulder surgery and linebacker Sean Porter is out with an injury to his left foot from earlier in spring practice.
Lionel Smith is also out for spring ball.
Former Aggies on hand
It's always good to see alums and former coaches on hand for spring practice. Former Aggies linebacker Michael Hodges was milling around the practice field. He's one of just three defensive starters (Von Miller, Lucas Patterson) the Aggies have to replace this spring.
Additionally, former Aggies coach R.C. Slocum was in attendance.
Texas A&M's practices are open to the public, something that's increasingly rare in college football, but there were probably 70-80 fans who made it to the afternoon workout on a gorgeous day for spring football. To my knowledge, the only teams in the new Big 12 that open up spring practice to fans are Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor.
Additionally, it takes a lot for women's hoops to generate buzz, but there was definitely a bit out at practice. The Aggies beat rival Baylor, featuring arguably the game's biggest star, 6-foot-8 Brittney Griner, in Dallas earlier this week to reach the first Final Four in school history. I'm sure there will be plenty of maroon in the stands in Indianapolis this weekend. (More on that here from colleague Mechelle Voepel.)
But back to football.
A few thoughts and observations from practice:
Two guys a bit under the radar who had great days: Receiver Kenric McNeal and running back Ben Malena. With all the skill-position talent at Texas A&M, both get a bit overshadowed, but Malena, at least for one day, looked every bit as good a runner as the backs ahead of him on the depth chart, Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. He has a lot of development to do in things like feeling creases in the line but when he got a chance to get to the second level and let his instincts take over, he was giving the defense fits. He looked solid in the open field.
Additionally, McNeal has a reputation as a shifty slot receiver who works best underneath, but he was stretching the field on Thursday like I hadn't seen from him before. His two longest plays of the year (27 and 32 yards) came late last season, but he had a couple of deep catches in the end zone after slipping past the safeties and bringing it in behind the defense. He got open a few more times, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill missed a couple of deep balls to him, but it has to be encouraging for the offense to see him break a few off like that.
Michael looking confident on healed leg
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AP Photo/Dave EinselChristine Michael is working his way back from a broken tibia he suffered against Texas Tech.
AP Photo/Dave EinselChristine Michael is working his way back from a broken tibia he suffered against Texas Tech.I don't think the mental side of returning from the injury will be an issue. He's never been quite as shifty as Cyrus Gray, but he runs with power that you won't find anywhere else in the Big 12, and considering how the rest of the league defended the run during the bowl season -- especially power runners -- the Aggies will once again be glad he's on their team this fall.
Wrecking Crew missing a few members
Diehard A&M fans are surely already aware, but the Aggies' defense is missing quite a few key pieces this spring, especially in the back seven. Defensive backs Terrance Frederick and Coryell Judie are both sidelined after offseason shoulder surgery and linebacker Sean Porter is out with an injury to his left foot from earlier in spring practice.
Lionel Smith is also out for spring ball.
Former Aggies on hand
It's always good to see alums and former coaches on hand for spring practice. Former Aggies linebacker Michael Hodges was milling around the practice field. He's one of just three defensive starters (Von Miller, Lucas Patterson) the Aggies have to replace this spring.
Additionally, former Aggies coach R.C. Slocum was in attendance.
The 2010 All-Big 12 team ... as recruits
January, 27, 2011
1/27/11
11:00
AM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
We're now less than a week away from signing day. Any national recruiting class is littered with five-stars who don't quite meet their potential, and two-star recruits who turn into first-round picks.
Analyzing the recruiting game isn't perfect, but it's not worthless, either.
Looking back is always interesting, so here's how my All-Big 12 team from 2010 looked as recruits on signing day.
OFFENSE
QB: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State -- walk-on, returned to OSU after minor league baseball career
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State -- No. 73 running back, three stars
RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State -- signed with K-State out of junior college, ranked No. 35 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
WR: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State -- No. 139 receiver, three stars
WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma -- No. 58 athlete, four stars
TE: Michael Egnew, Missouri -- not ranked as receiver, two stars
C: Tim Barnes, Missouri -- No. 18 offensive guard, three stars
OL: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State -- unranked JUCO prospect
OL: Nate Solder, Colorado -- No. 35 tight end, three stars
OL: Ricky Henry, Nebraska -- No. 53 offensive guard, three stars
OL: Danny Watkins, Baylor -- No. 39 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
DEFENSE
DE: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma -- No. 11 defensive end, No. 137 overall prospect, four stars
DT: Jared Crick, Nebraska -- No. 86 defensive end, three stars
DT: Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M -- No. 10 offensive guard, three stars
DE: Sam Acho, Texas -- No. 14 defensive end, No. 114 overall prospect, four stars
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M -- No. 37 defensive end, three stars
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska -- No. 7 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
LB: Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State -- No. 40 outside linebacker, three stars
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska -- No. 31 running back, three stars
CB: Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska -- No. 44 cornerback, three stars
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma -- No. 39 safety, three stars
S: Byron Landor, Baylor -- No. 48 safety, three stars in high school, No. 100 overall JUCO recruit
SPECIALISTS
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State -- unranked
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska -- walk-on, unranked
KR: Coryell Judie, Texas A&M -- No. 28 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
PR: Niles Paul, Nebraska -- No. 49 receiver, three stars
Analyzing the recruiting game isn't perfect, but it's not worthless, either.
Looking back is always interesting, so here's how my All-Big 12 team from 2010 looked as recruits on signing day.
OFFENSE
QB: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State -- walk-on, returned to OSU after minor league baseball career
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State -- No. 73 running back, three stars
RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State -- signed with K-State out of junior college, ranked No. 35 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
WR: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State -- No. 139 receiver, three stars
WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma -- No. 58 athlete, four stars
TE: Michael Egnew, Missouri -- not ranked as receiver, two stars
C: Tim Barnes, Missouri -- No. 18 offensive guard, three stars
OL: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State -- unranked JUCO prospect
OL: Nate Solder, Colorado -- No. 35 tight end, three stars
OL: Ricky Henry, Nebraska -- No. 53 offensive guard, three stars
OL: Danny Watkins, Baylor -- No. 39 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
DEFENSE
DE: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma -- No. 11 defensive end, No. 137 overall prospect, four stars
DT: Jared Crick, Nebraska -- No. 86 defensive end, three stars
DT: Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M -- No. 10 offensive guard, three stars
DE: Sam Acho, Texas -- No. 14 defensive end, No. 114 overall prospect, four stars
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M -- No. 37 defensive end, three stars
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska -- No. 7 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
LB: Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State -- No. 40 outside linebacker, three stars
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska -- No. 31 running back, three stars
CB: Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska -- No. 44 cornerback, three stars
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma -- No. 39 safety, three stars
S: Byron Landor, Baylor -- No. 48 safety, three stars in high school, No. 100 overall JUCO recruit
SPECIALISTS
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State -- unranked
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska -- walk-on, unranked
KR: Coryell Judie, Texas A&M -- No. 28 overall JUCO recruit, four stars
PR: Niles Paul, Nebraska -- No. 49 receiver, three stars
Inspired by our friends at the Big Ten and SEC blogs, we'll put together a long-overdue team composed of the league's best seniors.
We made a team full of freshmen, so why skimp on the old guys? Well, we won't.
My All-Big 12 team featured 16 seniors, and they're all on the team below, but plenty of other guys put together distinguished careers and 2010 seasons that deserve recognition.
Their careers may be over, but you can bet all these players will live on in school lore for quite some time. Here goes:
OFFENSE
QB: Taylor Potts, Texas Tech
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
WR: Lyle Leong, Texas Tech
WR: Detron Lewis, Texas Tech
WR: Aubrey Quarles, Kansas State
C: Tim Barnes, Missouri
T: Nate Solder, Colorado
T: Danny Watkins, Baylor
G: Keith Williams, Nebraska
G: Ricky Henry, Nebraska
DEFENSE
DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
DL: Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M
DL: Sam Acho, Texas
DL/LB: Brian Duncan, Texas Tech
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M
LB: Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State
LB: Michael Hodges, Texas A&M
CB: Andrew McGee, Oklahoma State
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma
S: Byron Landor, Baylor
SPECIALISTS
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska
P: Derek Epperson, Baylor
Returns: Niles Paul, Nebraska
Selections by school: Nebraska (5), Texas Tech (4), Oklahoma State (3), Texas A&M (3) Baylor (3), Kansas State (2), Oklahoma (2), Texas (1), Missouri (1), Colorado (1)
A few thoughts:
We made a team full of freshmen, so why skimp on the old guys? Well, we won't.
My All-Big 12 team featured 16 seniors, and they're all on the team below, but plenty of other guys put together distinguished careers and 2010 seasons that deserve recognition.
Their careers may be over, but you can bet all these players will live on in school lore for quite some time. Here goes:
OFFENSE
QB: Taylor Potts, Texas Tech
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
WR: Lyle Leong, Texas Tech
WR: Detron Lewis, Texas Tech
WR: Aubrey Quarles, Kansas State
C: Tim Barnes, Missouri
T: Nate Solder, Colorado
T: Danny Watkins, Baylor
G: Keith Williams, Nebraska
G: Ricky Henry, Nebraska
DEFENSE
DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
DL: Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M
DL: Sam Acho, Texas
DL/LB: Brian Duncan, Texas Tech
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M
LB: Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State
LB: Michael Hodges, Texas A&M
CB: Andrew McGee, Oklahoma State
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma
S: Byron Landor, Baylor
SPECIALISTS
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska
P: Derek Epperson, Baylor
Returns: Niles Paul, Nebraska
Selections by school: Nebraska (5), Texas Tech (4), Oklahoma State (3), Texas A&M (3) Baylor (3), Kansas State (2), Oklahoma (2), Texas (1), Missouri (1), Colorado (1)
A few thoughts:
- It was kind of slim pickings at receiver, but only because the Big 12's top five and 11 of its top 15 receivers will be coming back in 2011. Colorado's Scotty McKnight only narrowly missed the team. I'd say he's probably a more talented receiver than Quarles, but Quarles' production was there in 2010. McKnight's, after adding freshman Paul Richardson to the mix, took a bit of a dive in his senior year.
- That's a heck of a defense. All 11 guys weren't very far off from making the regular All-Big 12 team. The same is true of the offensive line.
- Potts' year was a lot better than a few Texas Tech folks would have you believe, but he didn't have a lot of competition to make the cut on this squad. His own teammate, Steven Sheffield, was probably the only guy who could keep him from this squad. The only other Big 12 starters this year were Iowa State's Austen Arnaud, Kansas State's Carson Coffman and Colorado's Cody Hawkins.
- It's a solid group at running back, too. Thomas and Hunter were the same two guys on my All-Big 12 team, getting the nod just over Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray, Nebraska's Roy Helu Jr. and Baylor's Jay Finley. Definitely a great year for Big 12 running backs, especially the seniors.
David Ubben talks to Texas A&M defensive end Lucas Patterson.
IRVING, Texas -- A little less than a year ago, Tim DeRuyter signed up to coach Texas A&M's defense. When he got to College Station he saw a young unit, albeit one full of playmakers. He saw the worst defense in the Big 12, one that let opponents ring up almost 34 points a game and one that gave up an average of more than 425 yards each time it stepped on the field.
Worst of all, he saw a defense with a glass jaw.
"When adversity hit them, they struggled, which is very stereotypical of young football players," DeRuyter said. "They don't understand, 'Hey, there's going to be some give and take in a game.'"
Said defensive tackle Lucas Patterson: "We were immature as a team. When things started to go bad, we kind of went in the tank. We were expecting, 'Oh, here we go again.'"
Opponents scored 40 points against the Aggies five times. Twice, Texas A&M gave up at least 60.
"There was a time where they were, I don't want to say embarrassed to be a defensive player, but they'd been beaten down a little bit," DeRuyter said. "So when I first came in here, there was that attitude of let's just try to slow someone down."
Said senior linebacker Michael Hodges: "We needed something new. We were coming off a season that none of us were pleased with, and so when you get an opportunity to do something new, you've got to jump all over it ... the best way to do that is to buy in to what coaches have."
Enter DeRuyter and his 3-4 defense that better fit the Aggies personnel.
"It really paid off on Day 1 of spring ball," Hodges said. "You trust a guy like him and he keeps delivering, the next promise he brings forward you're going to give it a shot, and sure enough, that one pays off.
"We bought in fully from the beginning because we had nothing to lose."
The Aggies defense looked dominant at times early against Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Florida International, but that was, well, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Florida International.
Dates with offenses like Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Missouri meant the adversity had arrived. With it, three losses.
"If you want to play at a championship level, then you better play with your chin out there saying, 'Bring it on,'" DeRuyter said.
A year ago, Texas A&M sat at 3-3, and did it in the exact same way as in 2010. A 3-0 start preceded a three-game losing streak that brought them down to earth. The Aggies finished 6-7 in 2009 and looked headed for a similar finish once again.
Not this team.
"The big game was Oklahoma. We had some situations where we were backed up and had to make plays, and our kids did," DeRuyter said.
Three times, the Aggies stuffed Oklahoma's physical offense at the goal line, igniting the Kyle Field crowd. In 2009, the Aggies left Owen Field in Norman as 65-10 losers. This time, they were 33-19 winners who left to chants of "Wrecking Crew."
"I think our kids started feeling, 'Hey, if we can do this to Oklahoma, who laid one on us the year before, it doesn't matter who lines up against us, we can compete with anybody when we play well,'" DeRuyter said.
It continued with a physical 9-6 win over Nebraska two weeks later before beating arch rival Texas in Austin and finishing as Big 12 South co-champions. Now, with a win against LSU in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, the Aggies will have their first 10-win season since 1998.
How? By turning the team's biggest weakness into one of its strengths in just one season.
Worst of all, he saw a defense with a glass jaw.
"When adversity hit them, they struggled, which is very stereotypical of young football players," DeRuyter said. "They don't understand, 'Hey, there's going to be some give and take in a game.'"
Said defensive tackle Lucas Patterson: "We were immature as a team. When things started to go bad, we kind of went in the tank. We were expecting, 'Oh, here we go again.'"
Opponents scored 40 points against the Aggies five times. Twice, Texas A&M gave up at least 60.
"There was a time where they were, I don't want to say embarrassed to be a defensive player, but they'd been beaten down a little bit," DeRuyter said. "So when I first came in here, there was that attitude of let's just try to slow someone down."
Said senior linebacker Michael Hodges: "We needed something new. We were coming off a season that none of us were pleased with, and so when you get an opportunity to do something new, you've got to jump all over it ... the best way to do that is to buy in to what coaches have."
Enter DeRuyter and his 3-4 defense that better fit the Aggies personnel.
"It really paid off on Day 1 of spring ball," Hodges said. "You trust a guy like him and he keeps delivering, the next promise he brings forward you're going to give it a shot, and sure enough, that one pays off.
"We bought in fully from the beginning because we had nothing to lose."
The Aggies defense looked dominant at times early against Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Florida International, but that was, well, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Florida International.
Dates with offenses like Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Missouri meant the adversity had arrived. With it, three losses.
"If you want to play at a championship level, then you better play with your chin out there saying, 'Bring it on,'" DeRuyter said.
A year ago, Texas A&M sat at 3-3, and did it in the exact same way as in 2010. A 3-0 start preceded a three-game losing streak that brought them down to earth. The Aggies finished 6-7 in 2009 and looked headed for a similar finish once again.
Not this team.
"The big game was Oklahoma. We had some situations where we were backed up and had to make plays, and our kids did," DeRuyter said.
Three times, the Aggies stuffed Oklahoma's physical offense at the goal line, igniting the Kyle Field crowd. In 2009, the Aggies left Owen Field in Norman as 65-10 losers. This time, they were 33-19 winners who left to chants of "Wrecking Crew."
"I think our kids started feeling, 'Hey, if we can do this to Oklahoma, who laid one on us the year before, it doesn't matter who lines up against us, we can compete with anybody when we play well,'" DeRuyter said.
It continued with a physical 9-6 win over Nebraska two weeks later before beating arch rival Texas in Austin and finishing as Big 12 South co-champions. Now, with a win against LSU in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, the Aggies will have their first 10-win season since 1998.
How? By turning the team's biggest weakness into one of its strengths in just one season.
The Big 12 North versus Big 12 South
December, 20, 2010
12/20/10
4:10
PM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
Like it or not, the Big 12 will be without divisions after 2010, no matter how many legends or leaders made their mark in the league's short history as a two-part conference.
Over that history, the South has been dominant with a pair of national powers, Texas and Oklahoma who were consistently racking up big win totals over the last decade while the North has, more often than not, sent a significantly less impressive team to the title game. That's measurable in plenty of ways, but I'll settle for the 11-4 advantage in the championship game and a 13-4 advantage in BCS bowl game appearances.
But what about this year? The South is clearly the deeper division when you talk total teams, but then I got this e-mail, which got me wondering:
John in Omaha, Neb., wrote: Bored at work, thought I'd give you a blog topic idea. If you had to pick two all star teams, one made entirely of B12 north players at each position and then a B12 south all star team at each position and then had them play a game. Who would win and who would be the players. Off the top of my head I'd say the south would but I bet it's pretty close once you break it down player by player.
My interest was piqued. We know what the All-Big 12 team looks like, but what if you broke it down by division? For reference, my All-Big 12 team had 11 players from the North and 15 from the South.
Here are my picks, when broken down by division:
Big 12 South
OFFENSE
QB: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State; DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
WR: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State; Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
TE/FB: Bryant Ward, Oklahoma State
OL: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State; Danny Watkins, Baylor; Eric Mensik, Oklahoma; Matt Allen, Texas A&M, Lonnie Edwards, Texas Tech
DEFENSE
DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma; Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M; Colby Whitlock, Texas Tech; Sam Acho, Texas
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M; Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State; Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
CB: Andrew McGee, Oklahoma State; Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma; Byron Landor, Baylor
SPECIALISTS:
K: Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
KR: Coryell Judie, Texas A&M
PR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Big 12 North
OFFENSE
QB: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
RB: Rodney Stewart, Colorado, Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
WR: T.J. Moe, Missouri; Scotty McKnight, Colorado
TE/FB: Michael Egnew, Missouri
OL: Nate Solder, Colorado; Ricky Henry, Nebraska; Tim Barnes, Missouri; Zach Kendall, Kansas State, Ben Lamaak, Iowa State
DEFENSE
DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska; Aldon Smith, Missouri; Brad Madison, Missouri; Pierre Allen, Nebraska
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska; Andrew Gachkar, Missouri; Jake Knott, Iowa State
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska; Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
S: Eric Hagg, Nebraska; Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State
SPECIALISTS:
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska
P: Alex Henery, Nebraska
KR: William Powell, Kansas State
PR: Niles Paul, Nebraska
So, there are my teams. I'll offer some further observations, plus my pick in a post Tuesday. But for now ... who you got?
Over that history, the South has been dominant with a pair of national powers, Texas and Oklahoma who were consistently racking up big win totals over the last decade while the North has, more often than not, sent a significantly less impressive team to the title game. That's measurable in plenty of ways, but I'll settle for the 11-4 advantage in the championship game and a 13-4 advantage in BCS bowl game appearances.
But what about this year? The South is clearly the deeper division when you talk total teams, but then I got this e-mail, which got me wondering:
John in Omaha, Neb., wrote: Bored at work, thought I'd give you a blog topic idea. If you had to pick two all star teams, one made entirely of B12 north players at each position and then a B12 south all star team at each position and then had them play a game. Who would win and who would be the players. Off the top of my head I'd say the south would but I bet it's pretty close once you break it down player by player.
My interest was piqued. We know what the All-Big 12 team looks like, but what if you broke it down by division? For reference, my All-Big 12 team had 11 players from the North and 15 from the South.
Here are my picks, when broken down by division:
Big 12 South
OFFENSE
QB: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State; DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
WR: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State; Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
TE/FB: Bryant Ward, Oklahoma State
OL: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State; Danny Watkins, Baylor; Eric Mensik, Oklahoma; Matt Allen, Texas A&M, Lonnie Edwards, Texas Tech
DEFENSE
DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma; Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M; Colby Whitlock, Texas Tech; Sam Acho, Texas
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M; Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State; Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
CB: Andrew McGee, Oklahoma State; Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma; Byron Landor, Baylor
SPECIALISTS:
K: Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
KR: Coryell Judie, Texas A&M
PR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Big 12 North
OFFENSE
QB: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
RB: Rodney Stewart, Colorado, Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
WR: T.J. Moe, Missouri; Scotty McKnight, Colorado
TE/FB: Michael Egnew, Missouri
OL: Nate Solder, Colorado; Ricky Henry, Nebraska; Tim Barnes, Missouri; Zach Kendall, Kansas State, Ben Lamaak, Iowa State
DEFENSE
DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska; Aldon Smith, Missouri; Brad Madison, Missouri; Pierre Allen, Nebraska
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska; Andrew Gachkar, Missouri; Jake Knott, Iowa State
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska; Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
S: Eric Hagg, Nebraska; Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State
SPECIALISTS:
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska
P: Alex Henery, Nebraska
KR: William Powell, Kansas State
PR: Niles Paul, Nebraska
So, there are my teams. I'll offer some further observations, plus my pick in a post Tuesday. But for now ... who you got?
There were definitely plenty of tough calls in this group, and a lot of deserving guys who got left off, but here is my All-Big 12 team for the 2010 season. For reference, here is how the media voted, and how the coaches voted.
OFFENSE
QB: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
WR: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
TE: Michael Egnew, Missouri
C: Tim Barnes, Missouri
OL: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
OL: Nate Solder, Colorado
OL: Ricky Henry, Nebraska
OL: Danny Watkins, Baylor
DEFENSE
DE: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
DT: Jared Crick, Nebraska
DT: Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M
DE: Sam Acho, Texas
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska
LB: Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
CB: Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma
S: Byron Landor, Baylor
SPECIALISTS
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska
KR: Coryell Judie, Texas A&M
PR: Niles Paul, Nebraska
I'll stop short of listing who I had to snub on my own team, but the easiest positions for me to pick were receiver, linebacker, kicker and tight end. The most difficult were cornerback, kick returner, safety, defensive tackle and quarterback.
Here's how it shook out by team:
1. Nebraska (7)
2. Oklahoma State (6)
3. Texas A&M (3)
3. Oklahoma (3)
5. Missouri (2)
5. Baylor (2)
7. Texas (1)
7. Kansas State (1)
7. Colorado (1)
10. Kansas (0)
10. Iowa State (0)
10. Texas Tech (0)
OFFENSE
QB: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
WR: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
TE: Michael Egnew, Missouri
C: Tim Barnes, Missouri
OL: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
OL: Nate Solder, Colorado
OL: Ricky Henry, Nebraska
OL: Danny Watkins, Baylor
DEFENSE
DE: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma
DT: Jared Crick, Nebraska
DT: Lucas Patterson, Texas A&M
DE: Sam Acho, Texas
LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M
LB: Lavonte David, Nebraska
LB: Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State
CB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
CB: Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
S: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma
S: Byron Landor, Baylor
SPECIALISTS
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
K: Alex Henery, Nebraska
KR: Coryell Judie, Texas A&M
PR: Niles Paul, Nebraska
I'll stop short of listing who I had to snub on my own team, but the easiest positions for me to pick were receiver, linebacker, kicker and tight end. The most difficult were cornerback, kick returner, safety, defensive tackle and quarterback.
Here's how it shook out by team:
1. Nebraska (7)
2. Oklahoma State (6)
3. Texas A&M (3)
3. Oklahoma (3)
5. Missouri (2)
5. Baylor (2)
7. Texas (1)
7. Kansas State (1)
7. Colorado (1)
10. Kansas (0)
10. Iowa State (0)
10. Texas Tech (0)
Gray is the difference in gritty A&M win
November, 21, 2010
11/21/10
1:21
AM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Cyrus Gray said earlier this week he was playing for two people.
He was way off. Like, 90,077 off -- and then some.
Gray was referencing himself and his teammate, friend and fellow running back Christine Michael, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a broken leg after leading the Aggies in rushing in their first eight games.
On Saturday night, the 12th Man showed up in force, and Gray didn't disappoint the 90,079 in attendance, giving Texas A&M a 9-6 win over No. 8 Nebraska -- the Aggies' second signature win this season.
"I thought he had an extraordinary night, with his catches, his runs, picking his holes," said coach Mike Sherman, whose team also beat then-No. 8 Oklahoma earlier this year. "If he didn't play the game he did, we wouldn't be able to do what we did."
No player in Saturday's slugfest came close to Gray's 202 yards of total offense. Texas A&M's entire team amassed only 310 yards against a stingy Nebraska defense.
Gray carried the ball 26 times for 137 yards. He caught nine passes -- quarterback Ryan Tannehill only completed 19 -- for 65 yards. On all three of Texas A&M's scoring drives, the Aggies leaned on Gray. He carried them.
"The defense we played was tough, they weren't giving much up," Tannehill said. "We knew we needed to run the ball, and Cyrus carried that load. He got so many tough yards today. It seemed like he was going to get a 3-yard gain, and he took it 15. Those are huge plays for us on offense, especially when times are tough and yards are tough. He fought for every yard."
Gray's longest run went for just 18 yards. Rare were his opportunities to reach the deeper levels of Nebraska's defense. But he punished Nebraska's linebackers with powerful runs, all while Michael coached him up on the sideline in street clothes.
"He was my eyes for the night," Gray said. "It was great to have him on the sidelines tonight. He was just telling me to be patient."
Without Gray's efforts, his teammates never could have posed for those postgame photo ops with fans who rushed the field. The well-deserved chants of "Wrecking Crew" as the defense left the field once again would have been non-existent.
"My face will hurt tomorrow from smiling so much," said defensive tackle Lucas Patterson.
The 12th Man would have gone home with its head in his chest after a legendary, relentless, towel-waving performance.
"The 12th Man was three-quarters of the victory," said safety Trent Hunter, who picked off two passes after snagging three in practice on Thursday. Sherman called the practice "an omen."
If the 12th Man was three-quarters of the win, Gray certainly accounted for most of the remaining 25 percent. Gray has racked up five consecutive games of at least 100 yards rushing since Michael went down, becoming the first Aggie to do so since 1990.
Gray woke up at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning with a text from the defense's leader, Von Miller, that told him to "Play all out. Ball out and let's get this win." Gray, a junior, wanted nothing more than to send out Texas A&M's group of 12 seniors with a win.
"We knew going into the game that it would be a battle throwing the football. They're a heck of a defense," Sherman said. "We wanted to stay true to the run."
They did, thanks to Gray. After the game, the team huddled in the locker room and yelled "Family!" after a short count. Gray found Michael, and told him he loved him.
"There's nothing else to be said," Gray said.
After a performance that will be forever logged in Aggie lore, the feeling from the 12th Man is mutual.
He was way off. Like, 90,077 off -- and then some.
Gray was referencing himself and his teammate, friend and fellow running back Christine Michael, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a broken leg after leading the Aggies in rushing in their first eight games.
On Saturday night, the 12th Man showed up in force, and Gray didn't disappoint the 90,079 in attendance, giving Texas A&M a 9-6 win over No. 8 Nebraska -- the Aggies' second signature win this season.
[+] Enlarge
Brett Davis/US PRESSWIRECyrus Gray rushed for 137 yards on 26 carries and caught nine passes for 65 yards against Nebraska.
Brett Davis/US PRESSWIRECyrus Gray rushed for 137 yards on 26 carries and caught nine passes for 65 yards against Nebraska.No player in Saturday's slugfest came close to Gray's 202 yards of total offense. Texas A&M's entire team amassed only 310 yards against a stingy Nebraska defense.
Gray carried the ball 26 times for 137 yards. He caught nine passes -- quarterback Ryan Tannehill only completed 19 -- for 65 yards. On all three of Texas A&M's scoring drives, the Aggies leaned on Gray. He carried them.
"The defense we played was tough, they weren't giving much up," Tannehill said. "We knew we needed to run the ball, and Cyrus carried that load. He got so many tough yards today. It seemed like he was going to get a 3-yard gain, and he took it 15. Those are huge plays for us on offense, especially when times are tough and yards are tough. He fought for every yard."
Gray's longest run went for just 18 yards. Rare were his opportunities to reach the deeper levels of Nebraska's defense. But he punished Nebraska's linebackers with powerful runs, all while Michael coached him up on the sideline in street clothes.
"He was my eyes for the night," Gray said. "It was great to have him on the sidelines tonight. He was just telling me to be patient."
Without Gray's efforts, his teammates never could have posed for those postgame photo ops with fans who rushed the field. The well-deserved chants of "Wrecking Crew" as the defense left the field once again would have been non-existent.
"My face will hurt tomorrow from smiling so much," said defensive tackle Lucas Patterson.
The 12th Man would have gone home with its head in his chest after a legendary, relentless, towel-waving performance.
"The 12th Man was three-quarters of the victory," said safety Trent Hunter, who picked off two passes after snagging three in practice on Thursday. Sherman called the practice "an omen."
If the 12th Man was three-quarters of the win, Gray certainly accounted for most of the remaining 25 percent. Gray has racked up five consecutive games of at least 100 yards rushing since Michael went down, becoming the first Aggie to do so since 1990.
Gray woke up at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning with a text from the defense's leader, Von Miller, that told him to "Play all out. Ball out and let's get this win." Gray, a junior, wanted nothing more than to send out Texas A&M's group of 12 seniors with a win.
"We knew going into the game that it would be a battle throwing the football. They're a heck of a defense," Sherman said. "We wanted to stay true to the run."
They did, thanks to Gray. After the game, the team huddled in the locker room and yelled "Family!" after a short count. Gray found Michael, and told him he loved him.
"There's nothing else to be said," Gray said.
After a performance that will be forever logged in Aggie lore, the feeling from the 12th Man is mutual.
Both sides must align for an Aggies rise
October, 9, 2010
10/09/10
9:15
PM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The last time Texas A&M lined up against Arkansas, the Aggies gave up 30 points in the first half, ending any real chance of a win early, despite a double-digit lead to open the game.
On Saturday, the defense allowed just three points in the second half, and any remaining thoughts of an upset remained realistic through the final snap solely because of the defense's play.
But a Texas A&M offense that sputtered with turnovers, false starts and incompletions, sandwiched around two long passes to receiver Jeff Fuller that resulted in points, couldn't make enough plays to upset No. 11 Arkansas, losing 24-17.
Last week, five turnovers produced a loss to Oklahoma State. This week, the Aggies will be blaming a lack of execution and offensive miscues that didn't allow the defense's play to spark a win.
"It's not so much what we did, it's who we did it with," said coach Mike Sherman. "Last year, we did it with 18 freshmen, and those guys are sophomores this year."
The good news for Texas A&M is obvious: If the offense catches up to a clearly improved defense, the Aggies can rebound from a frustrating 3-2 start. But a year ago at this time, the thought of Texas A&M's offense being the reason for a loss -- two consecutive losses, to be exact -- was unthinkable.
The Aggies' offense entered the season quarterbacked by the Big 12's preseason player of the year, Jerrod Johnson, who led an team that ranked No. 5 nationally in total offense a year ago. But on Saturday, the offense produced just 324 yards of offense, almost 200 beneath its average.
Meanwhile, the defense was outside the national top 100 last season but sat inside the top 15 this year entering Saturday's game. That defense handed the ball back to the offense with a chance to lead or tie six times in the second half.
"It's obvious we've made some big strides," said senior linebacker Michael Hodges. "We're older. That helps. We've definitely grown a lot since our last two seasons. But really the mindset we take into it, we just build on it in practice, that fanatical effort we're always talking about. That really pushes us to be that defense that can stop anybody at any time."
But with that maturity came defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who has put to good use the experienced talent Texas A&M already had, like Hodges, linebacker/defensive end Von Miller, safety Trent Hunter and defensive tackle Lucas Patterson.
They hassled Johnson throughout fall camp and did the same thing to Arkansas' Heisman hopeful, Ryan Mallett, who was just 10-of-16 for 81 yards in the second half.
"The constant movement of the defense makes it hard. One thing Coach [DeRuyter] is constantly saying in practice is don't show anything too soon. They show you one thing and then give you something else. They run every type of coverage you can think of," Johnson said. "They just do so much, they throw so much at you, but at the same time, they're sound and they're covering all their gaps."
The defense gave up a 45-yard run to Arkansas as part of an 80-yard drive to open the game. It gave up a 71-yard touchdown pass to fall behind 14-7. It had to defend its side of the field three times when the offense turned it over on the Texas A&M side of the field, limiting Arkansas to just three points on those turnover.
"The past years we've been hit and just shut down," said defensive back Terrence Frederick.
That's clearly not the case this year, when twice, the offense has been given chances to win with timely defensive stops late in the fourth quarter.
This is a different Texas A&M defense. Most importantly, this is a better Texas A&M defense.
"I just go back to maturity; that's really the big difference," Hodges said.
But without the offense behind it, clicking like it did in 2009, this is the same Texas A&M team, headed for the middle of the Big 12 South and a low-level bowl game.
Next week, it'll host a Missouri team that may come to College Station undefeated and ranked. The opportunities for the Aggies will be there. But to win, both sides of the ball will have to take advantage of them.
"You always have to take something from every time you play the game; you either get better or you get worse," Sherman said. "Did we win the game? No. Did we improve during the course of the game? Yes. Do I think they lack confidence because they lost the game? No. If we catch the last pass instead of them, and have a chance to win the football game [in overtime], are we an entirely different football team? No, I don't think so. So I think we take a lot from today into next week."
On Saturday, the defense allowed just three points in the second half, and any remaining thoughts of an upset remained realistic through the final snap solely because of the defense's play.
But a Texas A&M offense that sputtered with turnovers, false starts and incompletions, sandwiched around two long passes to receiver Jeff Fuller that resulted in points, couldn't make enough plays to upset No. 11 Arkansas, losing 24-17.
Last week, five turnovers produced a loss to Oklahoma State. This week, the Aggies will be blaming a lack of execution and offensive miscues that didn't allow the defense's play to spark a win.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Mike FuentesMike Sherman expects his team to grow from Saturday's loss to Arkansas.
AP Photo/Mike FuentesMike Sherman expects his team to grow from Saturday's loss to Arkansas.The good news for Texas A&M is obvious: If the offense catches up to a clearly improved defense, the Aggies can rebound from a frustrating 3-2 start. But a year ago at this time, the thought of Texas A&M's offense being the reason for a loss -- two consecutive losses, to be exact -- was unthinkable.
The Aggies' offense entered the season quarterbacked by the Big 12's preseason player of the year, Jerrod Johnson, who led an team that ranked No. 5 nationally in total offense a year ago. But on Saturday, the offense produced just 324 yards of offense, almost 200 beneath its average.
Meanwhile, the defense was outside the national top 100 last season but sat inside the top 15 this year entering Saturday's game. That defense handed the ball back to the offense with a chance to lead or tie six times in the second half.
"It's obvious we've made some big strides," said senior linebacker Michael Hodges. "We're older. That helps. We've definitely grown a lot since our last two seasons. But really the mindset we take into it, we just build on it in practice, that fanatical effort we're always talking about. That really pushes us to be that defense that can stop anybody at any time."
But with that maturity came defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who has put to good use the experienced talent Texas A&M already had, like Hodges, linebacker/defensive end Von Miller, safety Trent Hunter and defensive tackle Lucas Patterson.
They hassled Johnson throughout fall camp and did the same thing to Arkansas' Heisman hopeful, Ryan Mallett, who was just 10-of-16 for 81 yards in the second half.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Mike FuentesThe Texas A&M defense did enough for the Aggies to win, but the offense couldn't come through when needed the most.
AP Photo/Mike FuentesThe Texas A&M defense did enough for the Aggies to win, but the offense couldn't come through when needed the most.The defense gave up a 45-yard run to Arkansas as part of an 80-yard drive to open the game. It gave up a 71-yard touchdown pass to fall behind 14-7. It had to defend its side of the field three times when the offense turned it over on the Texas A&M side of the field, limiting Arkansas to just three points on those turnover.
"The past years we've been hit and just shut down," said defensive back Terrence Frederick.
That's clearly not the case this year, when twice, the offense has been given chances to win with timely defensive stops late in the fourth quarter.
This is a different Texas A&M defense. Most importantly, this is a better Texas A&M defense.
"I just go back to maturity; that's really the big difference," Hodges said.
But without the offense behind it, clicking like it did in 2009, this is the same Texas A&M team, headed for the middle of the Big 12 South and a low-level bowl game.
Next week, it'll host a Missouri team that may come to College Station undefeated and ranked. The opportunities for the Aggies will be there. But to win, both sides of the ball will have to take advantage of them.
"You always have to take something from every time you play the game; you either get better or you get worse," Sherman said. "Did we win the game? No. Did we improve during the course of the game? Yes. Do I think they lack confidence because they lost the game? No. If we catch the last pass instead of them, and have a chance to win the football game [in overtime], are we an entirely different football team? No, I don't think so. So I think we take a lot from today into next week."
COLLEGE STATION, Texas--Just finished the first of two practices today at Texas A&M. Plenty to see and talk about, but you'll have to wait until next week for the goods.
Two quick notes: Nose tackle Lucas Patterson said he expects play some defensive end this year, in part give some of the other ends a break when needed. Also, linebacker/defensive end Von Miller was held out of the morning workout with a minor injury. Had it been game day, he would have played.
I'll have more in-depth thoughts and notes next week, plus plenty of video and a story for our Big 12 preview. Hope you're enjoying your Friday.
For those of you keeping count, the season is 15 days away.
Two quick notes: Nose tackle Lucas Patterson said he expects play some defensive end this year, in part give some of the other ends a break when needed. Also, linebacker/defensive end Von Miller was held out of the morning workout with a minor injury. Had it been game day, he would have played.
I'll have more in-depth thoughts and notes next week, plus plenty of video and a story for our Big 12 preview. Hope you're enjoying your Friday.
For those of you keeping count, the season is 15 days away.
1. Texas: Texas' big-time freshmen receiving recruits Darius White and Mike Davis are on campus to compete with the remainder of the Longhorns receivers after the departures of Jordan Shipley and Dan Buckner. Whoever develops solid chemistry with quarterback Garrett Gilbert first should have a nice advantage heading into the season. Very few questions surround the Longhorns on defense, who also have exciting freshman Jordan Hicks competing for playing time at linebacker.
2. Oklahoma: Honestly, my gut tells me to slide the Sooners above the Longhorns based on coach Bob Stoops comments at media days, but I'll give the champs their due entering the preseason. Oklahoma loses its top three blockers from a season ago, and any growth from Oklahoma's eight-win team last season will have to start on the offensive line. Stoops believes it will. If it does, look for the Sooners and Longhorns to switch positions if Oklahoma earns wins against Florida State and Cincinnati while Texas beats up on Rice and Wyoming. A convincing win at Texas Tech might keep the Longhorns on top.
3. Nebraska: The Huskers quarterback issues can't end soon enough. The Big 12 blog's pick: Zac Lee. With its offensive line and quality running backs, Nebraska will be able to run the ball. If Lee can establish himself as the best passer of the group, his skills will better serve the offense than the more athletic Cody Green and Taylor Martinez. We won't know very much about how good the defense will be again this year until the Huskers' date with Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies on Sept. 18 in Seattle.
4. Missouri: A solid contender in the North, Missouri's key to hopping over the Huskers lies in the secondary. That group returns all four starters and has another experienced player in junior Kenji Jackson entering camp as a new starter at safety. If it solidifies, Missouri will be a force that spends most of the season in the top 25. Jerrell Jackson and Wes Kemp should share the spotlight catching balls from Blaine Gabbert along with slot man T.J. Moe and tight end Michael Egnew.
5. Texas A&M: The Aggies have the conference's best player, but its worst defense. Both will need to improve for the Aggies to earn a South title. On defense, new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter will have to build around tackle Lucas Patterson, linebacker Von Miller and safety Trent Hunter. Three freed-up offensive line spots -- which might all be filled by freshman -- will have to be solid and consistent for the offense to remain one of the Big 12's best, despite the Aggies' talent at the skill positions.
6. Kansas State: Running back Daniel Thomas led the Big 12 in rushing with almost no help from the quarterback spot last season, so the competition between Carson Coffman, Collin Klein and Sammuel Lamur isn't immensely important to Kansas State's success. No doubt, they'll be a lot better with great play from one of those three, but they won't be a bad team without it. Two of the Wildcats' top four tacklers will be junior defensive backs in 2010, Emmanuel Lamur and Tysyn Hartman.
And yes, I am very proud that I'm still batting 1.000 in not mixing up Sammuel and Emmanuel Lamur. Stay tuned, though.
7. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders have a great chance to move up this poll after hosting Texas on Sept. 18. Whoever wins the quarterback competition between Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield should excel, which not every team in the Big 12 with a quarterback battle can say. Tech's aggressive new defense will have to limit big plays to see success in the first year under coach Tommy Tuberville and defensive coordinator James Willis. A convincing opening-week win against SMU will look better in December than some Tech fans might think after the team's Sunday, Sept. 5 debut.
8. Oklahoma State: One of the conference's wildcards, the Cowboys bring back just eight starters from last season, and will showcase a radical new offense in Dana Holgorsen's version of the Air Raid. Oklahoma State's receiving corps, led by Hubert Anyiam and Tracy Moore, is extremely underrated and could surprise plenty of folks in 2010. Their first real test comes Sept. 30, when they'll get a chance to knock off media darling Texas A&M in Stillwater.
9. Iowa State: The Cyclones nonconference schedule has made plenty of headlines this offseason, and Iowa State isn't shying away from its dates with Northern Illinois, Iowa and Utah. The legal issues surrounding defensive star David Sims appear to be resolved with an opening-game suspension, and running back Alexander Robinson looks ready for another big season after rushing for over 1,000 yards in his 2009 breakout season. Iowa State will need to steal a few games like last season to qualify for a second consecutive bowl game.
10. Baylor: Freshman safety Ahmad Dixon is impressing early in camp with a few big hits, and is making good on his status as one of the best recruits in Baylor history. Another -- Robert Griffin -- is already dealing with the pressures of delivering a bowl game to Waco. Coach Art Briles will need more players like Dixon and Griffin to move the Bears goals past just making a bowl game.
11. Colorado: The only team to move up from its position in the post-spring power rankings, Colorado simply brings back more talent than Kansas, and added two new receivers in UCLA non-qualifier Paul Richardson and Travon Patterson, whose transfer from USC was finalized on Monday. The offensive line has a lot of talent in Nate Solder and Ryan Miller, but the other three members will have to improve if the Buffs are going to rush for more than 1,055 yards like in 2009 (11th in the Big 12) and give up fewer than 43 sacks, 11 more than any other team in the Big 12.
12. Kansas: Losing your three best players from a team that finished last in the Big 12 North a season ago -- plus implementing a new coaching philosophy -- is a recipe for a rebuilding year. That's where the Jayhawks sit to begin 2010. They've got a good young talent in sophomore receiver Bradley McDougald, but they face major questions at quarterback with inexperienced candidates Jordan Webb and Kale Pick battling for the No. 1 spot. Last season's leading rusher, Toben Opurum, is also nowhere to be found on the depth chart after battling injuries throughout the spring. The Jayhawks were the only team in the conference to return all five starters on the offensive line, but a season-ending injury to tackle Jeff Spikes eliminated that status. Brad Thorson, who played both guard and tackle last season, is also recovering from a broken foot. A win against Southern Miss and a competitive loss to Georgia Tech would earn the Jayhawks some more respect.
2. Oklahoma: Honestly, my gut tells me to slide the Sooners above the Longhorns based on coach Bob Stoops comments at media days, but I'll give the champs their due entering the preseason. Oklahoma loses its top three blockers from a season ago, and any growth from Oklahoma's eight-win team last season will have to start on the offensive line. Stoops believes it will. If it does, look for the Sooners and Longhorns to switch positions if Oklahoma earns wins against Florida State and Cincinnati while Texas beats up on Rice and Wyoming. A convincing win at Texas Tech might keep the Longhorns on top.
3. Nebraska: The Huskers quarterback issues can't end soon enough. The Big 12 blog's pick: Zac Lee. With its offensive line and quality running backs, Nebraska will be able to run the ball. If Lee can establish himself as the best passer of the group, his skills will better serve the offense than the more athletic Cody Green and Taylor Martinez. We won't know very much about how good the defense will be again this year until the Huskers' date with Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies on Sept. 18 in Seattle.
4. Missouri: A solid contender in the North, Missouri's key to hopping over the Huskers lies in the secondary. That group returns all four starters and has another experienced player in junior Kenji Jackson entering camp as a new starter at safety. If it solidifies, Missouri will be a force that spends most of the season in the top 25. Jerrell Jackson and Wes Kemp should share the spotlight catching balls from Blaine Gabbert along with slot man T.J. Moe and tight end Michael Egnew.
5. Texas A&M: The Aggies have the conference's best player, but its worst defense. Both will need to improve for the Aggies to earn a South title. On defense, new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter will have to build around tackle Lucas Patterson, linebacker Von Miller and safety Trent Hunter. Three freed-up offensive line spots -- which might all be filled by freshman -- will have to be solid and consistent for the offense to remain one of the Big 12's best, despite the Aggies' talent at the skill positions.
6. Kansas State: Running back Daniel Thomas led the Big 12 in rushing with almost no help from the quarterback spot last season, so the competition between Carson Coffman, Collin Klein and Sammuel Lamur isn't immensely important to Kansas State's success. No doubt, they'll be a lot better with great play from one of those three, but they won't be a bad team without it. Two of the Wildcats' top four tacklers will be junior defensive backs in 2010, Emmanuel Lamur and Tysyn Hartman.
And yes, I am very proud that I'm still batting 1.000 in not mixing up Sammuel and Emmanuel Lamur. Stay tuned, though.
7. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders have a great chance to move up this poll after hosting Texas on Sept. 18. Whoever wins the quarterback competition between Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield should excel, which not every team in the Big 12 with a quarterback battle can say. Tech's aggressive new defense will have to limit big plays to see success in the first year under coach Tommy Tuberville and defensive coordinator James Willis. A convincing opening-week win against SMU will look better in December than some Tech fans might think after the team's Sunday, Sept. 5 debut.
8. Oklahoma State: One of the conference's wildcards, the Cowboys bring back just eight starters from last season, and will showcase a radical new offense in Dana Holgorsen's version of the Air Raid. Oklahoma State's receiving corps, led by Hubert Anyiam and Tracy Moore, is extremely underrated and could surprise plenty of folks in 2010. Their first real test comes Sept. 30, when they'll get a chance to knock off media darling Texas A&M in Stillwater.
9. Iowa State: The Cyclones nonconference schedule has made plenty of headlines this offseason, and Iowa State isn't shying away from its dates with Northern Illinois, Iowa and Utah. The legal issues surrounding defensive star David Sims appear to be resolved with an opening-game suspension, and running back Alexander Robinson looks ready for another big season after rushing for over 1,000 yards in his 2009 breakout season. Iowa State will need to steal a few games like last season to qualify for a second consecutive bowl game.
10. Baylor: Freshman safety Ahmad Dixon is impressing early in camp with a few big hits, and is making good on his status as one of the best recruits in Baylor history. Another -- Robert Griffin -- is already dealing with the pressures of delivering a bowl game to Waco. Coach Art Briles will need more players like Dixon and Griffin to move the Bears goals past just making a bowl game.
11. Colorado: The only team to move up from its position in the post-spring power rankings, Colorado simply brings back more talent than Kansas, and added two new receivers in UCLA non-qualifier Paul Richardson and Travon Patterson, whose transfer from USC was finalized on Monday. The offensive line has a lot of talent in Nate Solder and Ryan Miller, but the other three members will have to improve if the Buffs are going to rush for more than 1,055 yards like in 2009 (11th in the Big 12) and give up fewer than 43 sacks, 11 more than any other team in the Big 12.
12. Kansas: Losing your three best players from a team that finished last in the Big 12 North a season ago -- plus implementing a new coaching philosophy -- is a recipe for a rebuilding year. That's where the Jayhawks sit to begin 2010. They've got a good young talent in sophomore receiver Bradley McDougald, but they face major questions at quarterback with inexperienced candidates Jordan Webb and Kale Pick battling for the No. 1 spot. Last season's leading rusher, Toben Opurum, is also nowhere to be found on the depth chart after battling injuries throughout the spring. The Jayhawks were the only team in the conference to return all five starters on the offensive line, but a season-ending injury to tackle Jeff Spikes eliminated that status. Brad Thorson, who played both guard and tackle last season, is also recovering from a broken foot. A win against Southern Miss and a competitive loss to Georgia Tech would earn the Jayhawks some more respect.
Today begins the Big 12's three days in the spotlight, but the first team to take the stage, Nebraska, won't do so until 2 p.m. ET, so I won't be making the short trek to Irving, Texas until a little later.
One quick note, defensive tackle Jared Crick has replaced Prince Amukamara as the Huskers representative. Amukamara stayed in Lincoln so he could take an exam, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.
Here's your full guide to media days.
And here's who'll be up first on Day 1. (all times ET)
2:00 Nebraska: Coach Bo Pelini, WR Niles Paul, DE Pierre Allen, DT Jared Crick
2:45 Baylor: Coach Art Briles, LB Antonio Johnson, OT Danny Watkins, DT Phil Taylor
3:30 Iowa State: Coach Paul Rhoads, QB Austen Arnaud, RB Alexander Robinson, DE Rashawn Parker
4:15 Texas A&M: Coach Mike Sherman, QB Jerrod Johnson, LB Von Miller, DT Lucas Patterson
Remember, you can watch each team's time on the podium live at Big12Sports.com.
What should you expect?
One quick note, defensive tackle Jared Crick has replaced Prince Amukamara as the Huskers representative. Amukamara stayed in Lincoln so he could take an exam, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.
Here's your full guide to media days.
And here's who'll be up first on Day 1. (all times ET)
2:00 Nebraska: Coach Bo Pelini, WR Niles Paul, DE Pierre Allen, DT Jared Crick
2:45 Baylor: Coach Art Briles, LB Antonio Johnson, OT Danny Watkins, DT Phil Taylor
3:30 Iowa State: Coach Paul Rhoads, QB Austen Arnaud, RB Alexander Robinson, DE Rashawn Parker
4:15 Texas A&M: Coach Mike Sherman, QB Jerrod Johnson, LB Von Miller, DT Lucas Patterson
Remember, you can watch each team's time on the podium live at Big12Sports.com.
What should you expect?
- Nebraska will obviously be asked plenty about the coaches and players' perspective on leaving the Big 12, along with the intensified rivalry with Texas. On the field, the situation at quarterback is the obvious conversation piece, but expect coach Bo Pelini to elaborate on why this year's defense could be better than the Huskers' top-ranked unit last season, as well as sophomore Rex Burkhead's role in the offense.
- Baylor QB Robert Griffin III won't be making the trip, but that won't stop the room full of reporters from asking coach Art Briles about Griffin's progress, both physically and mentally from last season's knee injury. Also, expect the words "bowl drought" to surface early.
- For Iowa State, it's continuing to progress from last year's success in the face of one of the toughest schedules in the Big 12. The Cyclones return just four starters on defense, so the new guys should be discussed at length. Parker should be one of that defense's stars. Good money says some reporter will try to bait coach Paul Rhoads into making some quotable comment about being picked last in the North, but I wouldn't expect any Sabanesque one-liners. Iowa State's been the subject of one of the biggest news stories in the Big 12 in the past week, the investigation surrounding an incident involving the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, defensive back David Sims. Depending on how much Rhoads knows -- or can disclose -- about the case, expect an update there. At the very least, he should be able to update those in attendance on Sims' status with the team.
- Lofty expectations, thy name is Aggie. This should be an entertaining session. Both Jerrod Johnson and Von Miller can be funny and insightful, and at the end of the day, the room will thank them if the bright lights don't change that. Texas A&M wasn't shying away from the league's expectations of them this spring, and there's no reason to think that'll change.
- Barring breaking news between now and this afternoon, agents won't be making headlines like they did at SEC Media Days last week, considering no Big 12 schools are currently being investigated for sketchy contact (that's a technical term) with agents by the NCAA. But the issue will surely come up several times during the week.
- Don't expect fireworks. The coaches and players didn't have a ton of pull in the decisions that were made this summer, and I'd be surprised if anyone spoke candidly on the record about their thoughts surrounding this summer's realignment, especially after Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville's public reprimand and possible fines looming for future violators. Like I said then, there's little for coaches to gain from brutal honesty on the issue. I expect everyone to play nice.
Big 12 Media Days in Irving, Texas are only a couple weeks away, and the schedule for the three-day gabfest has been released.
First thing I noticed: Nebraska (first) and Texas (last) are as far away as possible. Though I don't think the week is going to be as conducive to fireworks as some believe, it should still be plenty entertaining.
Media Days run July 26-28, and here's when to look for who on your team. (all times ET)
Monday, July 26
2:00 Nebraska: Coach Bo Pelini, WR Niles Paul, DE Pierre Allen, CB Prince Amukamara
2:45 Baylor: Coach Art Briles, LB Antonio Johnson, OT Danny Watkins
3:30 Iowa State: Coach Paul Rhoads, QB Austen Arnaud, RB Alexander Robinson, DE Rashawn Parker
4:15 Texas A&M: Coach Mike Sherman, QB Jerrod Johnson, LB Von Miller, DT Lucas Patterson
Tuesday, July 27
10:00 Missouri: Coach Gary Pinkel, QB Blaine Gabbert, RB Derrick Washington, CB Kevin Rutland
10:45 Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy, QB Brandon Weeden, LB Orie Lemon, DE Jamie Blatnick
11:30 Kansas State: Coach Bill Snyder, RB Daniel Thomas, S Tysyn Hartman, OL Zach Kendall
12:15 Texas Tech: Coach Tommy Tuberville, QB Taylor Potts, QB Steven Sheffield, DL Colby Whitlock
Wednesday, July 28
10:00 Kansas: Coach Turner Gill, DE Jake Laptad, CB Chris Harris, OL Brad Thorson
10:45 Oklahoma: Coach Bob Stoops, DE Jeremy Beal, LB Travis Lewis, WR Ryan Broyles
11:30 Colorado: Coach Dan Hawkins, CB Jalil Brown, WR Scotty McKnight, OL Nate Solder
12:15 Texas: Coach Mack Brown, QB Garrett Gilbert, OT Kyle Hix, DE Sam Acho, DT Kheeston Randall
A few quick thoughts:
First thing I noticed: Nebraska (first) and Texas (last) are as far away as possible. Though I don't think the week is going to be as conducive to fireworks as some believe, it should still be plenty entertaining.
Media Days run July 26-28, and here's when to look for who on your team. (all times ET)
Monday, July 26
2:00 Nebraska: Coach Bo Pelini, WR Niles Paul, DE Pierre Allen, CB Prince Amukamara
2:45 Baylor: Coach Art Briles, LB Antonio Johnson, OT Danny Watkins
3:30 Iowa State: Coach Paul Rhoads, QB Austen Arnaud, RB Alexander Robinson, DE Rashawn Parker
4:15 Texas A&M: Coach Mike Sherman, QB Jerrod Johnson, LB Von Miller, DT Lucas Patterson
Tuesday, July 27
10:00 Missouri: Coach Gary Pinkel, QB Blaine Gabbert, RB Derrick Washington, CB Kevin Rutland
10:45 Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy, QB Brandon Weeden, LB Orie Lemon, DE Jamie Blatnick
11:30 Kansas State: Coach Bill Snyder, RB Daniel Thomas, S Tysyn Hartman, OL Zach Kendall
12:15 Texas Tech: Coach Tommy Tuberville, QB Taylor Potts, QB Steven Sheffield, DL Colby Whitlock
Wednesday, July 28
10:00 Kansas: Coach Turner Gill, DE Jake Laptad, CB Chris Harris, OL Brad Thorson
10:45 Oklahoma: Coach Bob Stoops, DE Jeremy Beal, LB Travis Lewis, WR Ryan Broyles
11:30 Colorado: Coach Dan Hawkins, CB Jalil Brown, WR Scotty McKnight, OL Nate Solder
12:15 Texas: Coach Mack Brown, QB Garrett Gilbert, OT Kyle Hix, DE Sam Acho, DT Kheeston Randall
A few quick thoughts:
- Definitely surprised that Texas' Garrett Gilbert will be making the trip. I saw firsthand how well-spoken he was this spring on my visit to Austin, but I'm still surprised Brown would trot out his first-year starting quarterback for the media horde outside Dallas. Although his presence guarantees there should be plenty to talk about with the Longhorns.
- Tommy Tuberville probably had to bring two or none of his quarterbacks, lest he tip his undecided hand at his starter and get people talking about a nonexistent decision. He chose the former. Interesting to note that Colorado's Dan Hawkins went with the latter.
- Not sure why DE Jamie Blatnick will be one of Oklahoma's State's representatives instead of DE Ugo Chinasa or S Markelle Martin. Chinasa is a senior two-year starter heading into his third, while Blatnick is a junior who started only part-time last season. Martin is one of the conference's rising stars.
- Baylor is the only team in the league bringing just a three-man contingent, and in Waco, they're the closest team to Media Days. A little surprised that Robert Griffin III won't be making the short drive, but at least that forces everyone to ask questions not about Griffin's knee. For that, I thank you, Art. But throwing WR Kendall Wright in the car at the last minute wouldn't be a terrible idea.
- Meanwhile, Texas is the only team with a five-man crew. Everything's bigger.
- Pretty good representation elsewhere, no real complaints. What do you think?
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ubben
Ubben joined ESPN.com in March 2010 after covering Big 12 football for two seasons at the Columbia Missourian and The Oklahoman. Ubben, a native of Springdale, Ark., lives in Dallas.
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