2008 KANSAS JAYHAWKS FOOTBALL
2008 BIG 12 SOUTH PREVIEW (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12)
BY CASE KEEFER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quarterback Blake Szymanski is slated to Baylor's starter. He beat out three other players for the top spot.
Coach: Art Briles, first year
Baylor
2007 Record: 3-9
Key Players: Junior safety Jordan Lake, junior linebacker Joe Pawelek, junior receiver David Gettis, senior receiver Thomas White Key Losses: Running back Brandon Whitaker, safety Brandon Stiggers, linebacker Nick Moore
Don't do it. That's what everyone told new coach Art Briles as he contemplated leaving his job at Houston to become the 25th coach in Baylor history. His own daughter thought he was crazy when he signed a contract to coach the Bears. After all, turning the Baylor football program around is the equivalent of making western Kansas a vacationing hot-spot. The Bears haven't put together a winning season in 13 years and are 11-85 all-time in Big 12 Conference games. But Briles has a vision and thinks he can turn the Bears into contenders within a few years. This year, however, might be tough. There's a four-way battle for the starting quarterback spot between Miami transfer Kirby Freeman, last year's starter Blake Szymanski, junior-college transfer Jeremy Sanders and walk-on Ryan Roberts. Baylor's defense will need to be its strength as the Bears return their two leading tacklers from last season.
Coach's Take:"If I walked through the room and 11 other head coaches from the Big 12 walked through the room, there probably wouldn't be a whole lot of people pointing at me and saying,"There goes Baylor football."That's what we're out to change."
Oklahoma
Coach: Bob Stoops, 10th year
2007 Record: 11-3, Big 12 Champions
Key Players: Sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford, sophomore running back De-Marco Murray, junior defensive end Auston English, senior safety Nic Harris
Key Losses: Linebacker Curtis Lofton,
receiver Malcolm Kelly, cornerback Reggie Smith
The Sooners don't want to talk about it, but everybody else does. Oklahoma has lost four straight BCS bowl games - including two national championship games. In a year when the Sooners are expected to compete for a national championship, it's fair to ask them what has gone wrong lately. But the players and coaches will stick to clichés and say they're taking it one game at a time and not worried about the end of the season. The Sooners will deal with it at the end of the season - assuming they live up to the lofty expectations that accompany a No. 4 national preseason ranking. Oklahoma is loaded at nearly every position. Sam Bradford, the nation's most efficient passer, and Auston English, the preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, are the leaders of their respective units.
Coach's Take:"Overall, we've been in six Big 12 Championships and we've won five of them. We are doing something right. We know how to win those games and we'll manage these others the best we can."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Running back DeMarco Murray knows how to make tacklers miss. As a freshman last year, he rushed for 128 yards against Texas and more than 100 yards four times all season. A knee injury cut his season short.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oklahoma State
Coach: Mike Gundy, fourth year 2007 Record: 7-6
Key Players: Senior quarterback Zac Robinson, senior tight end Brandon Pettigrew, senior cornerback Jacob Lacey, junior linebacker Patrick Lavine
Key Losses: Receiver Adarius Bowman, running back Dantrell Savage, safety Donovan Woods
Quarterback Zac Robinson will be the most important player on the field all year for the Cowboys. The rest of the team is unknown. Oklahoma State has to replace Dantrell Savage, the second leading rusher
Mike Gundy has an inexperienced team this season except for returning quarterback Zac Robinson. Robinson must stay healthy and lead the young offense.
in the Big 12 last season, and Adarius Bowman, the fourth leading receiver in the Big 12 despite missing his two final games because of injury. Sophomore running back Kendall Hunter and sophomore receiver Dez Bryant are among those who must progress quickly to keep the Cowboys' offense potent. Robinson did everything last year, passing for more than 2,800 yards and rushing for more than 800. But he may have to cut down on the rushing attempts this season because Mike Gundy can't even imagine what would happen if Robinson went down with an injury. How worried is the coach? He's already losing sleep over the thought.
Coach's Take:"I worry about that every night, just before I take a sleeping pill to go to sleep."
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www.kansan.com Thursday, August 28, 2008