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Are you engaged or recently married? These folks are better than you.

• Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle keeps thinking arrogant Texas and threat-happy Texas A&M are going to get in a room and talk out their differences, but it seems the two sides are destined for a divorce that will hurt both of them.
• Wondering how Bryce and Arthur Brown became immediately eligible, despite clearly violating NCAA rules in the Miami scandal? Dennis Dodd at CBSSports explains.
• Down powers Texas and Florida are playing it coy heading into redemptive years, writes Andy Staples of SI.com.
• There is at least one man who did not find the new Cy-Hawk trophy to be the completely awful. His name: Ivan Maisel.
• Marc Hansen of the Des Moines Register has a solid suggestion for the new trophy.
• Olin Buchanan of Rivals.com shares the story of Oklahoma State offensive lineman Jonathan Rush and his father, who is stationed in Iraq.
• Brandon Bourbon might be the most improved back on Kansas' roster, writes Jesse Newell of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Turner Gill, by the way, might be able to thank Sports Illustrated soon. Here's the new episode of the Jayhawks reality show, "The Gridiron."
• New Oklahoma beat reporter Travis Haney gives his initial observations from his campus tour on Tuesday.
• Get your Big 12 future jokes out: BYU and Houston have agreed to a home-and-home in 2013 and 2014.
• Oklahoma running back Jonathan Miller was arrested last Thursday for failure to appear.
• Here's a preview of what to expect on the Longhorn Network.
• Missouri's defensive ends are finally back to health, writes Vahe Gregorian of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• This was outstanding, and you know my rule: Write something good about Friday Night Lights. You get linked.
• The road is rough for Oklahoma State, but it has confidence from last year's team to ride it out, writes John Helsley of The Oklahoman.
• Roy Williams, NFL star and a safety from the Sooners' 2000 national title team, has joined Oklahoma's radio crew.
• Texas A&M is gunning for a national title in 2011, writes Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Kansas' season opener will be available solely on its online network.

A group of former Oklahoma players founded the group, "Pros for Africa" and colleague Bruce Feldman profiled the group, which provides water, food, medicine, schools and other humanitarian needs to the war torn continent, specifically Northern Uganda.

The non-profit organization is based in Oklahoma City, and was founded by Roy Williams, Adrian Peterson, Tommie Harris and Mark Clayton.

You'll need ESPN Insider to read the full story, but the group recently took a larger contingent of pro players to Africa, which included another former Sooner, Gerald McCoy, who just finished his rookie season with Tampa Bay.

Says Williams:

"It is so sad," he said. "There are kids everywhere. When you driving along the road to go to Gulu (Uganda), you see kids sharing watering holes with livestock. People always ask, 'Why do you have to go to Africa?' Well, until you see what it's really like over there, you don't realize how huge the need is. If you see how bad they are living, you'll think our homeless here in the States are living in luxury. They can put their hand out and people may give them money. They can go to a Salvation Army and someone will give them food. They can go to a shelter and have a roof over the heads. In Africa, it's so sad. Those are ever-lasting memories.

"I was just looking at some of the pictures we have with the kids. In spite of all the hardships that they go through, they still smile. We complain about a car cutting us off or traffic, where we honk our horns, but come on now. We worry about petty stuff. They have huge problems over there and they don't even complain about anything."

The group raised over $100,000 in 2010, and recently joined up with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which fitted over 2,000 hearing aids for the nation, where hearing loss due to what would likely be a routine ear infection elsewhere is common.

"I tell people all of the time when I speak to kids: It's not about how much money you have in the bank or what kind car you drive. Life is about the kind of impact you have on other people's lives while you're here. I ask them, 'What kind of legacy are you going to leave when you're dead and gone?' I want my legacy to live on through these young kids and women that we're helping so they can bless somebody else."

Good stuff from the former Sooner star most known for his "Superman" play in the Red River Rivalry. Check it out.

For more information on how you can help, check out the Pros for Africa website.

For just the second time ever, the first round of the NFL draft will be the only part of the draft's first day, set for primetime on Thursday night.

This year, the Big 12 could have as many as five first-round picks, and five players from the league are in New York for the draft.

So, let's take a look back. Since the first NFL draft of the Big 12 era, who has the most first-rounders?

Texas: 16

• 2010: S Earl Thomas, 14th overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2009: DE Brian Orakpo, 13th overall, Washington Redskins
• 2007: S Michael Griffin, 19th overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2007: CB Aaron Ross, 20th overall, New York Giants
• 2006: QB Vince Young, third overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2006: CB Michael Huff, seventh overall, Oakland Raiders
• 2005: RB Cedric Benson, fourth overall, Chicago Bears
• 2005: LB Derrick Johnson, 15th overall, Kansas City Chiefs
• 2004: WR Roy Williams, seventh overall, Detroit Lions
• 2004: DT Marcus Tubbs, 23rd overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2002: OL Mike Williams, fourth overall, Buffalo Bills
• 2002: CB Quentin Jammer, fifth overall, San Diego Chargers
• 2001: OL Leonard Davis, second overall, Arizona Cardinals
• 2001: DT Casey Hampton, 19th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1999: RB Ricky Williams, fifth overall, New Orleans Saints
• 1997: CB Bryant Westbrook, fifth overall, Detroit Lions

Oklahoma: 12

• 2010: QB Sam Bradford, first overall, St. Louis Rams
• 2010: DT Gerald McCoy, third overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2010: OT Trent Williams, fourth overall, Washington Redskins
• 2010: TE Jermaine Gresham, 21st overall, Cincinnati Bengals
• 2007: RB Adrian Peterson, seventh overall, Minnesota Vikings
• 2006: OL Davin Joseph, 23rd overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2005: OL Jammal Brown, 13th overall, New Orleans Saints
• 2005: WR Mark Clayton, 22nd overall, Baltimore Ravens
• 2004: DT Tommie Harris, 14th overall, Chicago Bears
• 2003: CB Andre Woolfolk, 28th overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2002: S Roy Williams, eighth overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 2001: Stockar McDougle, 20th overall, Detroit Lions

Oklahoma State: 6

• 2010: OL Russell Okung, sixth overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2010: WR Dez Bryant, 24th overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 2009: TE Brandon Pettigrew, 20th overall, Detroit Lions
• 2004: WR Rashaun Woods, 31st overall, San Francisco 49ers
• 2003: DE Kevin Williams, ninth overall, Minnesota Vikings
• 1998: CB R.W. McQuarters, 28th overall, San Francisco 49ers

Missouri: 4

• 2010: LB Sean Weatherspoon, 19th overall, Atlanta Falcons
• 2009: WR Jeremy Maclin, 19th overall, Philadelphia Eagles
• 2009: DT Ziggy Hood, 32nd overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
• 2001: DE Justin Smith, fourth overall, Cincinnati Bengals

Kansas State: 3

• 2009: QB Josh Freeman, 17th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2003: CB Terence Newman, fifth overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 1997: DB Chris Canty, 29th overall, New England Patriots

Texas A&M: 2

• 2003: DT Ty Warren, 13th overall, New England Patriots
• 2003: DB Sammy Davis, 30th overall, San Diego Chargers

Texas Tech: 1

• 2009: WR Michael Crabtree, 10th overall, San Francisco 49ers

Kansas: 1

• 2008: CB Aqib Talib, 20th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baylor: 1

• 2009: OL Jason Smith, 2nd overall, St. Louis Rams

Iowa State: none since 1973 (George Amundson)

A few thoughts and observations:

• I doubt many would be surprised that this list is also a reasonably accurate reflection of overall success since the Big 12's inception in 1996. Obviously, Texas and Oklahoma have dominated. Since 2000, Texas has the nation's fourth-most first-rounders. Oklahoma is No. 6. Their success has paralleled that, along with recruiting rankings.
• In that same breath, it's impossible to look at this list and not once again be impressed with what Mike Leach did. He obviously has the reputation as an overachiever, but looking big picture, he was able to do it with one first-round pick. Nobody beat Texas and Oklahoma more and Leach helped put together what is still the Big 12's longest bowl streak.
• Texas' consistency sticks out, too. Since just 2001, Texas has had two first-rounders in six different seasons. If you've got two first-rounders on your team, you're probably going to be pretty good. The Longhorns, if you haven't noticed, have been. Those two first-rounders in six seasons are more or as many as half the league has in the history of the Big 12. What else you should note? Texas is unlikely to have a first rounder this year, and after Aaron Williams is drafted, Sam Acho probably will be the next to go, which won't be until the third or fourth round.
• Oklahoma State and Missouri's rise over the past three seasons has paid off in the NFL draft. Missouri had three first-rounders in the last two seasons and figures to add two more this year after having just one in the 12-year history of the league before 2009. That's quite a streak, and even more proof of what Gary Pinkel has built at Missouri. One more piece of evidence? Despite losing those two first-rounders, Missouri should be back in the preseason polls next year after losing two of its top players. That's definitely something new in Columbia. The Cowboys figure to add more soon with Justin Blackmon at least. As long as Pinkel and Gundy are at the helm for their respective programs, expect them to continue to rise.
• Don't be surprised by Texas A&M's swoon following R.C. Slocum's departure. From 1990-1998, the Aggies won nine games every season but one. From 1990-96, the Aggies had eight first-round picks. Since 1998? Two seasons with at least nine wins and just two first-round picks.
• More evidence you can't underestimate the importance of having first-round picks? None for Baylor in the history of the Big 12 before Art Briles. In just three years, Briles may have three if the Bears add two more this year with Phil Taylor and Danny Watkins. Taylor and Watkins both came from unlikely sources. Taylor was a Penn State transfer and Watkins a juco transfer that formerly worked as a fireman in Canada.

NORMAN, Okla. -- The whispers were there, especially late in the season.

"He’s a long way from that. We wouldn’t do that," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "He’s got a long way to get to that level."

He does. He and just about anyone who saw him play last season agree on that.

But it's hard not to notice. Since Roy Williams, it's hard to recall a player filling Oklahoma's nickel back position better than Tony Jefferson did in 2010, even as a true freshman.

Jefferson has heard the hype, but this early in his career, there's not much else to do but shrug and get back to work.

"I feel good hearing that stuff, but I feel I have a long way to go. We all know that, but if I continue to do what I’m doing and working hard, the sky’s the limit for me. Maybe I won’t reach the level of a Roy Williams, but as long as I’m putting in the maximum effort I can, I’ll be happy," he said.

Jefferson has spent time working with Williams this spring, which has not helped to shoo the comparisons. Williams, like loads of other NFL players locked out of their pro facilities, has been back on Oklahoma's campus this offseason.

He's offered Jefferson tips on positioning his feet for a blitz and gaining leverage for hitting, among other things.

"You’ve seen Roy hit, and I’d love to do what he does," Jefferson said.

Added defensive coordinator Brent Venables: "That’d be a great mentor."

Hyperbolic comparisons aside, there's no denying Jefferson's excellence in 2010. He finished his debut season with 65 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and a pair of picks. He enrolled early at Oklahoma with an already-deep knowledge of the game. Add a spring, a fall camp and a season, and Oklahoma had a young player who looked the part of a veteran, and one easily qualified to be named co-Big 12 defensive freshman of the year.

"He understands football. He just has a feel for the game. You can overcome some of your inexperience when you find the football and just understand the game," Venables said. "Some guys come in with a world of talent, but they don’t have a lot of background and foundation in regards to football 101. Two backs and two tight ends is just like five-wide to some guys. They don’t understand. They didn’t learn. Tony came here with a strong foundation."

In high school, Jefferson played multiple positions on both sides of the ball. This spring, in addition to the nickel back position, he's playing some more traditional strong safety.

Still just a rising sophomore, he's already seen a lot.

"Once we got through the first two or three games, you saw consistent play, good play and maturity beyond his years. As you see that early on, you’d expect him that, the more he played, the better he’d get, and that’s what happened," Stoops said. "He’s just got confidence and the ability to make plays. He’s got a great sense of the ball and where plays need to be made, and he just has a great feel for the game."

Fortunately for the Sooners, Jefferson also has a feel for his place in the game and what's to come.

"I played OK [last year], but I have a lot of improvement to do, which is why this offseason is so important for me. There’s a lot of work for me to do to get to where I want to be," he said. "Every week I just knew, I always had at least one mistake that I knew I could improve on, and that’s part of getting better, having self-constructive criticism. That’ll help me a lot this summer."

You might have heard something about this, but 2010 is the last season of the Big 12 as we know it. To commemorate the league's run as a 12-team conference, a panel of 20 media members compiled their all-time Big 12 team. Here's who made it, and you can see the full votes here.

All-time Top Offensive Player: Vince Young, QB, Texas

All-time Top Defensive Player: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

All-time Coach: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

OFFENSE:

QB: Vince Young, Texas

RB: Ricky Williams, Texas and Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

WR: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech and Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State

TE: Chase Coffman, Missouri

OL: Dominic Raiola, Nebraska; Jammal Brown, Oklahoma; Aaron Taylor, Nebraska; Justin Blalock, Texas; Russell Okung, Oklahoma State

DEFENSE

DL: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska; Tommie Harris, Oklahoma; Grant Wistrom, Nebraska; Brian Orakpo, Texas

LB: Derrick Johnson, Texas; Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M; Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma; Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma

DB: Roy Williams, Oklahoma; Terence Newman, Kansas State; Derrick Strait, Oklahoma; Michael Huff, Texas

SPECIAL TEAMS

All-purpose: Darren Sproles, Kansas State

K: Mason Crosby, Colorado

P: Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor

Here's how it breaks down by team:

1. Oklahoma: 7
2. Texas: 6
3. Nebraska: 4
4. Kansas State: 2
4. Oklahoma State: 2
6. Baylor: 1
6. Colorado: 1
6.Missouri: 1
6. Texas A&M: 1
6. Texas Tech: 1
11. Iowa State: 0
11. Kansas: 0

Who got snubbed? Who doesn't belong?

Football, Cornell-Hofstra. Slaughter. Then quick nap at my place, and we hit the tizzown.

• Over 15 years ago, Dan Beebe's solution to the agent problem was to allow players--and their universities--to sign contracts with the agents, reports Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News. "Then it's all on the table," Beebe said.
• Colorado may be making a second recent addition to its receiving corps, Paul Richardson, a former UCLA player who was kicked off the team in June for an arrest and is facing possible felony theft charges, reports Kyle Ringo of the Boulder Daily Camera. The Buffaloes are finalizing the transfer of former USC receiver Travon Patterson.
• Former Kansas State coach Ron Prince maintained in a deposition that he was guaranteed the money from his five-year, $5.5. million contract, reports Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
• One more position change is nothing new for Texas Tech linebacker Bront Bird, writes Joel Erickson of the Odessa American.
• Nebraska's quarterback uncertainty will test the coaching chops of third-year head man Bo Pelini, writes Steve Sipple of the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Dirk Chatelain of the Omaha World-Herald tells the stories of a few fans fired up for Nebraska's rematch with Texas.
• No, rookie Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant will not carry your pads, Roy Williams. Plenty of room for debate on this one.
• Commissioner Dan Beebe further detailed his efforts to save the Big 12 in a pre-media days interview with The Associated Press.
• Former Longhorn Sergio Kindle is in stable condition after suffering a head injury in a fall down two flights of stairs at a friend's house in Austin, Texas, reports Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun.
• Baylor receiver and 2010 signee Eddie Johnson did not qualify academically and will go to junior college, reports John Werner of the Waco Tribune-Herald. He was ranked as the nation's No. 61 receiver.
• Former Jayhawk Darrell Stuckey's impact is still obvious in Kansas' safeties still in Lawrence, writes Jesse Newell of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Tom Shatel at the Omaha World-Herald takes some pretty funny shots at the Big 12's summer shake-up in his own Big 12 media days itinerary.
• The Dallas Morning News tabs three freshmen who could make an impact for Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

What do you see as your job's objective?

Jeff Madden: To get athletes bigger, faster, stronger and in tremendous condition to win games.

Can you expound a little bit on the philosophy behind that?

JM: My theory is explosive power is the linkage of speed and strength. Trying to get our athletes in tremendous shape, keeping them healthy and working them as hard as we possibly can to get them tough and durable and physical and go out and win games.

What do you tell the freshmen the first time you meet them?

JM: The first time I meet freshmen is during recruiting, and I talk to them and tell them about our program and the things that we do and what is expected from them if they want to come to the University of Texas.

What's expected from them if they come to Texas?

JM: We expect them to give their best effort each and every day and try to be the best athlete they can be.

When's the busiest time of the year for you?

JM: Summertime.

What's a typical week for you during the summer?

JM: Well, we started at 6 a.m. this morning with our first group and then we've got three groups scheduled for the rest of the day that we're available for. Then we go all afternoon and we've had camps. We've had about 2,000 kids come through Texas that past two weeks for camps and we coach them all night. So it's a pretty active time.

So what's a week during the season like?

JM: It's the same deal. We'll start at the 6 a.m. hour with our first group, and we're usually done by 6 p.m.

So what about this profession made you want to be a strength coach?

JM: I've been strength and conditioning coach for 28 years. So, I started a long time ago. The kids keep you young. I saw a job where I could still wear my shorts and T-shirts and work out and enjoy life and still call it a career. And then when I found out you can help young men and women to develop themselves and become the best they can be -- I learned that from my strength coach -- I was able to luckily get into this profession.

What players have set the bar highest for you as a coach?

JM: Well, David, I've got over 200 NFL players, so there's some tremendous athletes in there. Guys that have won the Heisman, guys that were runners-up for the Heisman, guys that have won the Butkus Awards from the Ricky Williams to Eric Bieniemy at Colorado to Cory Redding, Alfred Williams. I got guys that are going in the Hall of Fame. Those guys have set tremendous, high bars for others to acheive from Casey Hampton to Shaun Rogers. There's just so many -- Roy Williams -- I've coached in this profession.

Only two Big 12 teams made the bracket for our NFL pipeline project this week, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. But ESPN Insider Chris Sprow took a closer look at the data, breaking down the production by decade.

Though the Sooners didn't make the overall bracket, if we had limited it to NFL production in the 2000s, Oklahoma would have been No. 5. They can thank safety Roy Williams, running back Adrian Peterson and defensive lineman Tommie Harris. Those three combined have been to 11 of Oklahoma's 14 total Pro Bowls this decade.

Mel Kiper also forecasted who will rise to the top in the coming decade. The Sooners topped his list after placing three players in the top four of this year's NFL Draft and sending another first rounder into the league in tight end Jermaine Gresham.

"We have to call them the clubhouse leader for this current decade, because remember, they have three of the top four picks of the first draft of the decade in Sam Bradford, Gerald McCoy and Trent Williams," Kiper wrote. "There's got to be a few Pro Bowls in that group."

Nebraska's strong defensive presence on the field and sideline put the Huskers on Kiper's four-team list of "sleepers."

"Ndamukong Suh could rack up multiple Pro Bowls, and Bo and Carl Pelini could keep churning out defensive talent year after year," Kiper wrote.

With all of the looking back we've done this week, I couldn't leave without picking my own All-Big 12 all-decade team.

It was a tough choice at several positions, but here's my all-decade team.

Please feel free to provide any changes you would make, and explain why you would make them.

Believe me, it's a hard choice. I spent more than an hour trying to choose between Darren Sproles and Cedric Benson and Jermaine Gresham and Chase Coffman.

OFFENSE

QB: Vince Young, Texas

RB: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

RB: Cedric Benson, Texas

WR: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

WR: Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State

TE: Chase Coffman, Missouri

T: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State

T: Jammal Brown, Oklahoma

G: Duke Robinson, Oklahoma

G: Derrick Dockery, Texas

C: Andre Gurode, Colorado

DEFENSE

DE: Brian Orakpo, Texas

DT: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

DT: Tommie Harris, Oklahoma

DE: Dan Cody, Oklahoma

LB: Derrick Johnson, Texas

LB: Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma

LB: Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma

CB: Terence Newman, Kansas State

CB: Derrick Strait, Oklahoma

S: Roy Williams, Oklahoma

S: Michael Huff, Texas

K: Mason Crosby, Colorado

P: Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor

Ret: Wes Welker, Texas Tech

Mack Brown revived the glory at Texas in the last decade, claiming at least 10 victories in each of the last nine seasons, including a 25-2 record in the last two seasons. The Longhorns have finished in the top 10 in five of the last six seasons.

Darrell K. Royal/Texas Memorial Stadium now has more than 100,00 seats. The Longhorns have a designated successor for Brown in place with rising star Will Muschamp. And that pesky problem with Bob Stoops has been alleviated recently with four victories in the last five seasons over the Sooners.

Times are good for Brown.

Here's a look at the Longhorns’ all-decade team during that time.

OFFENSE

QB: Vince Young

RB: Jamaal Charles

RB: Cedric Benson

WR: Jordan Shipley

WR: Roy Williams

TE: David Thomas

OL: Justin Blalock

OL: Jonathan Scott

OL: Derrick Dockery

OL: Leonard Davis

C: Lyle Sendlein

DEFENSE

DL: Brian Orakpo

DL: Cory Redding

DL: Shaun Rogers

DL: Casey Hampton

LB: Sergio Kindle

LB: Derrick Johnson

LB: Roddrick Muckelroy

DB: Earl Thomas

DB: Michael Huff

DB: Nathan Vasher

DB: Aaron Ross

P: Richmond McGee

K: Hunter Lawrence

KR: Quan Cosby

Offensive player of the decade: QB Vince Young. The most electrifying player of the decade capped his career by scoring the game-winning touchdown to lead his team to the national championship in his final drive. Brown finished with a 30-2 record, 6.040 passing yards and 3,127 rushing yards.

Defensive player of the decade: LB Derrick Johnson. He wasn’t around when the Longhorns won the national championship, but was perhaps the best player at his position at the school since Tommy Nobis. He capped his career with the Nagurski and Butkus Awards after earning All-America honors in each of his last two seasons.

Coach of the decade: Mack Brown. Remember when people used to joke about his inability to win big games or how he coddled his players. That all changed as the decade progressed. Brown got tougher and made some astute moves at defensive coordinator to help his program take the next step with the addition of coaches like Gene Chizik and Will Muschamp.

Moment of the decade: Vince Young’s run leads comeback victory to the 2005 national championship. Young’s game-winning 8-yard TD run with 19 seconds left boosted the Longhorns to a 41-38 victory over USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl, providing the margin of victory in one of the greatest college football games in history. Michael Huff’s fourth-down stop of LenDale White on the preceding drive set up Young’s heroics to snap the Trojans’ 34-game winning streak.

Oklahoma was the dominant program of the last decade in the Big 12, leading the conference with six titles, seven conference title-game appearances and four BCS title-game appearances.

All of those accomplishments are a testament to Bob Stoops, one of two conference coaches to direct his team throughout the decade.

Setting the Sooners’ all-decade team was difficult. The choice at wide receiver next to Mark Clayton was extremely difficult. Malcolm Kelly, Juaquin Iglesias or Ryan Broyles all would have been good choices. I went with Broyles because of his proficiency despite constant double-team defenses this season when he produced 89 receptions.

And at quarterback, I went with Sam Bradford over Jason White in a tough positional choice between two Heisman Trophy winners.

Here’s my choice for Oklahoma’s all-decade team.

OFFENSE

QB: Sam Bradford

RB: Adrian Peterson

RB: Quentin Griffin

WR: Mark Clayton

WR: Ryan Broyles

TE: Jermaine Gresham

OL: Jammal Brown

OL: Trent Williams

OL: Davin Joseph

OL: Phil Loadholt

C: Vince Carter

DEFENSE

DL: Dan Cody

DL: Tommie Harris

DL: Gerald McCoy

DL: Jeremy Beal

LB: Teddy Lehman

LB: Rocky Calmus

LB: Curtis Lofton

DB: Derrick Strait

DB: Roy Williams

DB: Andre Woolfolk

DB: Brandon Everage

K: Garrett Hartley

P: Jeff Ferguson

Ret: Ryan Broyles

Offensive player of the decade: QB Sam Bradford. He became the first quarterback in Big 12 history to lead his team to back-to-back titles, capping his sophomore season by throwing for 50 touchdowns and earning the Heisman Trophy. His final season in college didn’t go as expected, but he still leaves school as a player who will be immortalized with a statue at Owen Field in the not-too-distant future.

Defensive player of the decade: S Roy Williams. He was such a natural that Bob Stoops created a position “the Roy” especially for his talents. He set the standard as a physical run-stuffing safety and sealed his legacy with the hit on Chris Simms that sealed the 2001 victory over Texas.

Coach of the decade: Bob Stoops. The only coach of the decade for the Sooners had more unprecedented early success than any coach in Big 12 history, winning the national championship in his second season and claiming a record six conference championships. They aren’t calling him “Big Game Bob” as much as before, but Stoops still ranks among the most pivotal figures in Big 12 history.

Most memorable moment of the decade: On a misty night at Pro Player Stadium, the Sooners’ defense turned in a masterful performance to claim the 2001 Orange Bowl and bring home the 2000 national championship. Josh Heupel managed to direct the offense despite a sore elbow and the Oklahoma defense would have pitched a shutout in a 13-2 triumph over Florida State except for a special-teams safety in the final minute of play.

An array of memorable moments from the past decade in the Big 12 still resonate. Here are some of the most unforgettable to me.

• 1. Vince Young's game-winning touchdown in the 2006 Rose Bowl: Anyone who was there or saw it will never forget Young's 8-yard touchdown run with 19 seconds left that led Texas to a 41-38 triumph over USC and the 2005 national championship.
• 2. Michael Crabtree's last-second grab stuns Texas: Crabtree's game-winning 28-yard catch with one second left did more than merely wrap up the biggest victory in Texas Tech history, a 39-33 win over Texas. It heralded a national coming-out party for Crabtree and the rest of the Tech program, setting the stage for the wild three-way South Division tie in 2008.
• 3. Superman's leap: Roy Williams' dramatic blitz forced Chris Simms to throw an interception to Teddy Lehman, who returned it for the game-winning touchdown in Oklahoma's 14-3 triumph over Texas in 2001.
• 4. Torrance Marshall's theft saves the season: Texas A&M was driving, but Marshall's 41-yard fourth-quarter interception return provided a game-winning touchdown and a 35-31 triumph over the Aggies at Kyle Field. The big play preserved Oklahoma's victory in the Sooners' toughest challenge en route to the 2000 national championship.
• 5. Eric Crouch's catch cements Heisman bid, beats Oklahoma: Crouch's 63-yard TD reception on a throwback pass from freshman receiver Mike Stuntz was Crouch's signature moment on his path to the 2001 Heisman Trophy and sparked a 20-10 triumph over Oklahoma.
• 6. Darren Sproles sparks Kansas State's stunning 2003 Big 12 title game upset: Darren Sproles rushed for 235 yards -- the most gained against an Oklahoma defense ever to that point -- and Ell Roberson added four touchdown passes to help Kansas State claim its first Big 12 title in a 35-7 upset over No. 1 Oklahoma.
• 7. Hunter Lawrence's kick pushes Texas into national title game: Despite a sputtering performance by Colt McCoy that included nine sacks and three interceptions, Texas held on for a 13-12 victory over Nebraska in the 2009 title game on a 46-yard field goal by Hunter Lawrence on the final play of the game. Lawrence's game-winning kick came only after McCoy nearly squandered the opportunity by throwing the ball out of bounds on the previous play as the clock originally appeared to have expired. Officials put time back on the clock, setting the stage for Lawrence's heroics.
• 8. Chris Brown gashes the Cornhuskers: Colorado running back Chris Brown ripped Nebraska for 198 yards and six touchdowns, boosting the Buffaloes to a wild 62-36 victory over Nebraska that snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Cornhuskers. Brown's big game sent the Buffaloes to the 2001 Big 12 title game, which they won the following week against Texas.
• 9. Postgame clash of the titans: Oklahoma State's 49-45 victory over Texas Tech in 2007 produced one of the most memorable games in Big 12 history. The teams compiled 94 points, 62 first downs and 1,328 yards. But all of the action on the field was upstaged in a wild postgame battle of soundbites when Mike Leach questioned the toughness of his defense and Mike Gundy berated an Oklahoma City columnist who he felt had unfairly portrayed quarterback Bobby Reid.
• 10. Kyle Field's nod to patriotism: Texas A&M's 21-7 victory over Oklahoma State wasn't what was so memorable. It was that the Aggies fans decked out Kyle Field in red, white and blue in the first game after the 9/11 attacks on the country in 2001. Thousands of fans transformed the old stadium into a patriotic rainbow in a memory that endures to this day.

The Big 12 has had more top three finishers in the Heisman Trophy voting in the last decade than any conference.

And although the Big 12 had three Heisman winners during that time, the three most memorable players of the decade didn’t claim college football’s top individual award.

Here's a look at the top 10 players of the last decade in the Big 12.

1. Vince Young, Texas: Transcendent talent who capped his career by scoring the game-winning touchdown to lead his team to the national championship. Finished his career with a 30-2 record, 6,040 passing yards and 3,127 rushing yards.

2. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma: Likely would have had a chance for a Heisman if he had stayed for a senior season or not had his junior season marred by injuries. Still finished with 4,045 yards to finish within 73 yards within Billy Sims’ school career record.

3. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: Destined to go down in history as the greatest Blackshirt of all time. Capped his career by winning the Lombardi, Bednarik and Nagurski Awards, finished fourth in the Heisman and became the first defensive player to win the Associated Press’ player of the year.

4. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma: First quarterback to direct his team to back-to-back Big 12 titles, capped by winning the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt sophomore in 2008. Injured early in his junior season, he still finished his college career with 88 touchdown passes against 16 interceptions.

5. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech: Claimed back-to-back Biletnikoff awards as the most dominant and productive receiver of his era. Won the award in his second season despite being hobbled by a sprained ankle that limited his productivity.

6. Roy Williams, Oklahoma: Dominant and productive safety who was so good that Bob Stoops created a position, “the Roy,” to showcase his talents. Claimed the Nagurski and Thorpe Awards and was a unanimous All-American in his final college season.

7. Derrick Johnson, Texas: Two-time All-American earned the Butkus and Nagurski Awards in his senior season, capping a career as one of the most illustrious defensive players in Texas history.

8. Eric Crouch, Nebraska: Multi-talented runner/passer cemented his Heisman Trophy in 2001 with his pass-catching abilities against Oklahoma. That big effort helped catapult the Cornhuskers into the national championship game as a senior. Finished his career as the leading rusher quarterback and leader in total offense in Nebraska history.

9. Jason White, Oklahoma: Surrounded by a bevy of top talent, led the Sooners to the national championship game in back to back seasons and claimed the Heisman Trophy Award as a junior in 2003. Claimed back-to-back Davey O’Brien Awards, finishing his career with 8,012 passing yards and 81 touchdowns.

10. Colt McCoy, Texas: The winningest quarterback in college football history, finishing his career with an NCAA record 45 wins. He finished with virtually every passing record in school history winning the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Manning Award in a hard-luck senior season capped by an injury that didn’t allow him to complete the national championship game.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- It wasn't the easiest of situations to be thrown into last night for freshman quarterback Garrett Gilbert.

After Colt McCoy went out with a nerve injury five plays into the game, the Longhorns had to go to Gilbert, who had no experience in meaningful situations in the first nine games of his college career.

But he did show promise for the future, as these statistics compiled by Trevor Ebaugh from ESPN's Stats & Info indicate.

First, Gilbert had a masterful fourth quarter before a rash of mistakes that enabled the Crimson Tide to salt away a 37-21 victory. Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter, snuffing out the Longhorns' hopes of claiming a comeback victory.

Prior to two desperation interceptions late in the game, Gilbert completed 7-of-9 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He compiled a 173.2 pass efficiency rating before Anders' fumble and appeared to be steadily gaining more confidence in his work from the shotgun. Gilbert ended up with 38 of his 40 pass attempts coming out of the shotgun against Alabama on Thursday night.

Here's a look at how Gilbert's numbers compared in the first half and the second half.

As the game progressed, Gilbert honed in on wide receiver Jordan Shipley. The senior wide receiver had a second-half binge with 10 receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Shipley's strong finish enabled him to set the Longhorns' career reception record with 248, breaking the previous mark of 241 that was set by Roy Williams between 2000-03.

Shipley's two TD grabs enabled him to set the Texas single-season touchdown reception mark of 13, breaking the previous mark of Roy Williams (2002) and Limas Sweed (2006) who both had 12.

Shipley also boosted his Texas single-season record of receiving yards to 1,485.

Here's a look at how Gilbert honed in on Shipley in the second half.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Texas sixth-year senior wide receiver Jordan Shipley was a part of the Texas program on two previous bowl trips to Pasadena.

Shipley was redshirted during the 2004 season, which was capped by a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the 2005 Rose Bowl. And Shipley was a medical redshirt the following season, when the Longhorns claimed the national championship with a 41-38 triumph over Southern California.

"This is definitely exciting. ... I couldn't have written it up better for me," Shipley said. "Coming out here twice and not being able to participate, I got to enjoy the games. But the chance to come back here for the national championship in my final game is pretty special to me."

Shipley needs four catches to break Roy Williams' school career receptions mark of 241. He will finish his career second behind Williams in career yards and career touchdown receptions.