College Confidential

How will Big 12 end up in 2012? My guess for final standings:

Here's how I see the Big 12 finishing after four league games played (for every team but Oklahoma State and Baylor). Please hold your jeers until I'm proven to be dumb and misguided Dec. 1.

Kansas State	7-0, 4-0	11-1, 8-1
Oklahoma	5-1, 3-1	11-1, 8-1
Texas Tech	6-1, 3-1	10-2, 7-2
TCU	5-2, 2-2	8-4, 5-4
Oklahoma State	4-2, 2-1	7-5, 5-4
West Virginia	5-2, 2-2	7-5, 4-5
Texas	5-2, 2-2	7-5, 4-5
Iowa State	4-3, 1-3	6-6, 3-6
Baylor	3-3, 0-3	4-8, 1-8
Kansas	1-6, 0-4	1-11, 0-9

TCU's alternate defensive looks aid secondary against pass-first opponents

TCU coach Gary Patterson repeated a familiar concern Tuesday: the defense's penchant for giving up big plays over the top of the secondary.
“It’s the old adage; you can play three-deep coverage, you don’t have to play man, but if they run three verticals after 15 yards you’re in man coverage,” Patterson said during his media luncheon. “It doesn’t matter what you call, when the ball is in the air you have to make plays.”
However, Patterson has shaped his defense a little different at times this season to help give his secondary some support.
Varying from Patterson’s traditional four defensive linemen, two linebacker and five defensive back formation, he’s opted to pull a defensive lineman off the field in favor of an extra safety to aid in pass coverage.
Saturday, TCU ran this package four times against Texas Tech with a high success rate, typically subbing free safety Geoff Hooker in for defensive tackle Davion Pierson.
In the first quarter, the extra coverage support allowed Patterson to blitz Jason Verrett, stopping a Tech run for a loss.
In the third quarter, Devonte Fields punishing sack on Seth Doege came from this formation. Patterson rolled this formation out exclusively on third down and long distances. The coaching staff dialed up a noticeably larger number of blitzes in the Frogs past two games, rushing more than the front four approximately 16 times against Texas Tech. Out of those 16 blitzes, TCU picked up a sack, a tackle for loss, or put significant pressure on Doege at least seven times.
The game plan could remain similar Saturday against another pass-first Big 12 team, Oklahoma State, at 2:30 p.m. in Stillwater.

-- Travis L. Brown
@Travis_L_Brown 

Texas Tech loses two receivers to injury, gains formerly dismissed linebacker

Texas Tech will be without its fourth and fifth leading receivers Saturday against No. 23 TCU. Coach Tommy Tuberville said receivers Javon Bell and Brad Marquez are out for the rest of the season with injuries.
Bell broke his foot and Marquez injured his knee last week against West Virginia. Bell and Marquez had 17 and 16 receptions and one touchdown between them. Tight end Jace Amaro (23 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns), and cornerback Cornelius Douglas are questionable to play Saturday, Tuberville said.
Linebacker Daniel Cobb, who was arrested for felony burglary and dismissed from the team in August, is back with the team and will play Saturday, Tuberville said.
Authorities declined to press charges and his record was cleared.
"He was 100 percent innocent and we're glad to have him back on this team," Tuberville said. "No wrongdoing whatsoever. He's had to clear his name. The kid's going to graduate in two months and three and a half years in business. Never gave us one bit of problem. But it cost him two and a half months of playing college football and six games."
Cobb started seven of Tech's last eight games in 2011 and finished with 70 tackles, including 7.5 for losses.
-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

Kansas selected as runaway Big 12 men's BKB favorite; Baylor 2nd in poll, TCU last

Kansas has been selected as the prohibitive favorite in the Big 12 men’s basketball preseason poll, receiving nine of 10 possible first-place votes in balloting by league coaches.

Big 12 officials announced the results today. The lone remaining first-place vote went to Baylor, which finished second. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

TCU, a first-year Big 12 member, finished last in balloting behind Texas Tech, last year’s league cellar-dweller. The projected order of finish: Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas, Kansas State, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Iowa State, Texas Tech, TCU.

Kansas lost to Kentucky in last year’s NCAA championship game. Baylor fell to Kentucky in the Elite Eight.

Below is a loot at the balloting:

2012-13 BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
Team (First-place votes) Points
1. Kansas (9)* 81
2. Baylor (1) 63
3. Oklahoma State 60
4. Texas 58
5. Kansas State 54
6. West Virginia 45
7. Oklahoma 34
8. Iowa State 28
9. Texas Tech 18
10. TCU 9

* - Unanimous Selection
Nine points were awarded for first place, eight for second, etc.
Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.

_ Jimmy Burch

Best college FB team in Texas? Sagarin Ratings say Aggies, then Horns; both ranked in Top 10 nationally

After Saturday’s losses by Texas and TCU, there are no more undefeated major-college football teams in the Lone Star State. But several have only one loss. So, which team is best?

While voters in both the Associated Press and coaches polls sided this week with Texas (4-1), the No. 15 team in both polls, the Sagarin College Football Ratings selected Texas A&M (4-1). And the computer-generated rankings have the Aggies ranked sixth in the nation, two spots ahead of Texas, in A&M’s first season as an SEC member. TCU (4-1) is 19th.

The Sagarin Ratings, used in BCS calculations, also have five SEC schools ranked among the top seven teams in the country: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 South Carolina, No. 5 Florida, No. 6 A&M and No. 7 LSU.

A pair of Big 12 teams ranked in the Top 10 of both voter polls, Kansas State and West Virginia, come in at No. 12 (K-State) and No. 15 (West Virginia) with Sagarin. K-State is behind No. 11 Oklahoma, a team the Wildcats (5-0) defeated in Norman, Okla. West Virginia (5-0) is behind No. 8 Texas, a team the Mountaineers defeated in Austin.

Below is a look at where college football teams from Texas, as well as Big 12 schools, fell in this week’s Sagarin College Football Ratings:

6. Texas A&M (4-1)
8. Texas (4-1)
11. Oklahoma (3-1)
12. Kansas State (5-0)
15. West Virginia (5-0)
19. TCU (4-1)
22. Oklahoma State (2-2)
26. Texas Tech (4-1)
30. Baylor (3-1)
32. Iowa State (4-1)
68. SMU (2-3)
92. Houston (2-3)
107. Kansas (1-4)
123. UTEP (1-5)
127. North Texas (2-4)
129. Rice (1-5)
136. UTSA (5-0)

_ Jimmy Burch

Gillispie resigns as Texas Tech men's BKB coach, to be paid through April, 2013

Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie has resigned, school officials announced Thursday. Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt accepted the resignation and said Gillispie, who cited health reasons as the basis of his resignation, will be paid through April 30, 2013.

Gillispie has been hospitalized twice in the past month for issues related to stress and high blood pressure. The health issues surfaced in concert with an ESPN.com report of a player mutiny, in which all nine of the team’s remaining scholarship players went to Hocutt in late August to complain about Gillispie’s mistreatment of players, citing “mind games” and marathon practices.

The Red Raiders posted an 8-23 record last year in Gillispie’s first season at the school, winning only one game against a Big 12 opponent. Since the season ended, six players have transferred.

In a prepared statement, Hocutt cited only the health issues while announcing the coach’s departure Thursday.

“Billy has decided to focus on his health and we wish him a full recovery,” Hocutt said in the statement. “We are proud of the young men that he has brought to this campus. Billy’s decision allows him to concentrate on his well-being and allows us to turn our attention to preparations for the upcoming season.”

Chris Walker, the team’s associate head coach, has been handling day-to-day operations of the basketball program in Gillispie’s absence and school officials said Walker will continue to do so until an interim head coach for the 2012-13 season has been identified.

Before taking the Tech job, Gillispie spent two seasons at Kentucky. He was fired after missing the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and accused, at that time, of behavioral problems with players. Gillispie, who entered the John Lucas After Care Program in Houston in 2009 following his third DUI arrest since 1999, earned a reputation for running tough practices while helping turn around programs at UTEP and Texas A&M before taking the job at Kentucky.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

A breakdown of the Big 12's big TV deal and what it means to fans

The Big 12’s mega-TV deal, officially announced today, is a 13-year agreement with Fox Sports Media Group and ESPN/ABC that will keep league teams collecting an average of $20 million per school through 2025. Reports of the verbal agreement on terms surfaced in March, pegging the financial numbers _ not announced today _ at $2.6 billion, or $200 million annually for the 10-member league.

What does the deal mean to fans? Here are some highlights:
-- An increase in the number of guaranteed full national football telecasts to a minimum of 25 per season on a combination of FOX, FX, ABC and ESPN.
-- Allows FOX over-the-air access to Big 12 football with a minimum of six games annually on broadcast television.
-- Provides FOX with enhanced selections through 2015. ESPN and FOX share rotating game selections beginning in 2016.
-- All media, “TV everywhere” rights to FOX and ESPN.
-- Big 12 events to be carried on various FOX and ESPN platforms including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, FOX, FX, FSN, Fox College Sports (FCS), and FOX Sports Digital Platforms.
-- Institutions have option to retain rights to one home football game and a minimum of four men's basketball games per season for distribution via permitted member institution outlets and third-party licenses including the FSN Regional Networks and FOX College Sports.
-- No exclusive telecast windows, except for ESPN men's basketball “Big Monday” and “Saturday College GameDay” telecasts featuring Big 12 teams.
-- FOX Sports Media Group platforms to carry a minimum of 40 non-football events annually.
-- Minimum of 31 women's basketball games per season on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or FSMG platforms.
-- ESPN networks retain option for up to 25 additional women's basketball and/or other sports contests per season.
-- Championship events, except men’s basketball, on Fox Sports platforms.

Below is a breakdown of annual football telecasts, with rights to all Big 12-controlled contests falling to either Fox or ESPN:
-- FOX: Approximately 38 games with minimum of six contests annually on FOX broadcast and six games on a national cable outlet.
-- ABC/ESPN: 19 games per year through 2015, increasing to 23 games annually in 2016 (minimum 13-15 full national exposures via ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or in combination with reverse mirror); maximum four-five games on ESPNU.
-- Member Retained Game: One member-retained game, which must be carried on a FOX platform if returned.
-- Television partners have a maximum four six-day picks between them per season.
-- Minimum four Thursday games each season (including Labor Day weekend and Thanksgiving Day); and one Labor Day Sunday appearance.
-- Maximum of four games scheduled for 8:15 p.m. local time starts per season with the following restrictions: no program required to play more than twice; host more than once; play consecutive weekends; and six-day pick only with conference consent.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Texas Tech men's BKB coach Gillispie hospitalized after report of possible player mutiny

Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie has been hospitalized today in Lubbock, based on multiple media reports, in the wake of an ESPN.com report about a player mutiny that could put his job status in jeopardy.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, in an online report, cited a spokesman at University Medical Center who confirmed that Gillispie was in satisfactory condition and underwent an ultrasound procedure around noon. Gillispie’s hospital stay began hours after ESPN.com reported that all nine of Tech’s remaining scholarship players went to Kirby Hocutt, the school’s athletic director, to complain about Gillispie’s mistreatment of players, citing “mind games” and marathon practices.

The Red Raiders posted an 8-23 record in Gillispie’s first season at the school, winning only one game against a Big 12 opponent. Since the season ended, six players have transferred.

In the ESPN report, Tech associate athletics director Blayne Beal said: “We are aware and are looking into concerns within the leadership of our men’s basketball program. Student-athlete well-being is our top priority and a matter that we take extremely seriously at Texas Tech. Texas Tech is devoting its full resources to look into this matter.”

CBS Sports cited an unnamed source close to Gillispie as suggesting the coach’s job could be in jeopardy. Asked if Gillispie’s job was in danger, the source replied: “This is very, very serious.”

Before taking the Tech job, Gillispie spent two seasons at Kentucky. He was fired after missing the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and accused, at that time, of behavioral problems with players. Gillispie, who entered the John Lucas After Care Program in Houston in 2009 following his third DUI arrest since 1999, earned a reputation for running tough practices while helping turn around programs at UTEP and Texas A&M before taking the job at Kentucky.

In the ESPN report, a current anonymous Tech player described Gillispie as a “good coach, teacher and mentor, but he's not the most personable person, not the coach you can go and talk to. He breaks you down. But he doesn’t build you back up. It’s hard to play for him when that happens every day. You feel like you’re getting torn down and you can’t get back up.”

Another current Tech player told ESPN: “The feeling is that some guys will leave if (Gillispie) stays, maybe some of the new guys or some of the old guys. We all have to talk to our families first.”

_ Jimmy Burch

Big 12 releases its men's basketball schedule for 2012-13

Big 12 officials have released their 2012-13 men's basketball schedule. The schedules will feature home-and-home matchups between all league schools. The full schedule is below.

2012-13 Big 12 Men's Basketball Composite Schedule
Dates, times and television listings subject to change; All times are Central.

Saturday, January 5
Oklahoma State at K-State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Baylor (ESPNU) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at TCU TBA
  
Tuesday, January 8 
Baylor at Texas Tech (ESPN2) 6:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 9 
Iowa State at Kansas (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
TCU at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Texas (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 12 
K-State at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Iowa State (ESPNU) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 2:00 p.m.
Kansas at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
TCU at Baylor TBA
  
Monday, January 14 
Baylor at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 16 
Texas Tech at Oklahoma (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
K-State at TCU (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Iowa State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 19 
Iowa State at TCU (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Kansas at Texas (CBS) 1:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at K-State (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) TBA
  
Monday, January 21 
Oklahoma State at Baylor (ESPN) 4:30 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma (ESPN) 8:30 p.m.
  
Tuesday, January 22 
Kansas at K-State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 23 
TCU at West Virginia (ESPN2) 6:30 p.m.
Iowa State at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, January 26 
West Virginia at Oklahoma State (ESPNU) Noon
K-State at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Baylor at TCU (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at Kansas (ESPN) 3:00 p.m.
Texas Tech at Texas TBA
  
Monday, January 28 
Kansas at West Virginia (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, January 30 
Oklahoma at Baylor (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
Texas at K-State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 2 
West Virginia at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Kansas (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
K-State at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 5:00 p.m.
Baylor at Iowa State (ESPN2) 7:00 p.m.
TCU at Texas TBA
  
Monday, February 4 
Oklahoma at Iowa State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Texas at West Virginia (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, February 5 
K-State at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  

Wednesday, February 6
Kansas at TCU (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 9 
Oklahoma State at Texas (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at Baylor (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
West Virginia at TCU (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Kansas at Oklahoma (ESPN or ESPN2) 3:00 p.m.
Iowa State at K-State (ESPN or ESPN2) 5:00 p.m.
  
Monday, February 11 
TCU at Oklahoma (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
K-State at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 13 
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Texas (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Baylor (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 16 
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
TCU at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Baylor at K-State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Texas at Kansas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Monday, February 18 
West Virginia at K-State (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, February 19 
Texas at TCU (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 20 
Oklahoma at Texas Tech (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Iowa State at Baylor (ESPNU) 8:00 p.m.
Kansas at Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, February 23 
Texas Tech at Iowa State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Oklahoma State at West Virginia (ESPN2) 1:00 p.m.
TCU at Kansas (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Baylor at Oklahoma (ESPNU) 4:00 p.m.
K-State at Texas TBA
  
Monday, February 25 
Texas Tech at K-State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Kansas at Iowa State (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, February 27 
Oklahoma State at TCU (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at Texas (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, March 2 
Iowa State at Oklahoma (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
West Virginia at Kansas (CBS) 1:00 p.m.
TCU at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma State (ESPN) 3:00 p.m.
K-State at Baylor (ESPN2) 6:00 p.m.
  
Monday, March 4 
Texas Tech at Kansas (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
Baylor at Texas (ESPN) 8:00 p.m.
  
Tuesday, March 5 
TCU at K-State (Big 12 Network) 7:00 p.m.
  
Wednesday, March 6 
Oklahoma State at Iowa State (ESPNU) 6:00 p.m.
West Virginia at Oklahoma (ESPN2) 8:00 p.m.
  
Saturday, March 9 
Iowa State at West Virginia (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
K-State at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Network) 12:30 p.m.
Texas at Texas Tech (Big 12 Network) 3:00 p.m.
Kansas at Baylor (ESPN) 5:00 p.m.
Oklahoma at TCU TBA

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas DE Okafor earns pre-season Big 12 defensive honor; TCU DL Maponga also recognized

Texas defensive end Alex Okafor earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Years honors on the pre-season All-Big 12 team released today by league officials. Other individual honorees, selected by media members who cover the league, included West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith (Offensive Player of the Year) and Oklahoma freshman receiver Trey Metoyer (Newcomer of the Year).

League officials also released the list of first-team honorees, which included TCU defensive lineman Stansly Maponga. Maponga was the lone Horned Frog selected to the first-team unit.

The full list of first-teamers and individual honorees:

2012 Big 12 Football Pre-Season Honorees

Offensive Player of the Year: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

Newcomer of the Year: Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma

OFFENSE
QB: Geno Smith, WVU
RB: Malcom Brown, Texas
RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
WR: Tavon Austin, WVU
WR: Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
TE: Jordan Najvar, Baylor
C: Ben Habern, Oklahoma
OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor
OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
OL: LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech

DEFENSE
DL: Alex Okafor, Texas
DL: Stansly Maponga, TCU
DL: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
DL: Jamarkus McFarland, Oklahoma
LB: Jake Knott, Iowa State
LB: Arthur Brown, Kansas State
LB: A.J. Klein, Iowa State
DB: Nigel Malone, Kansas State
DB: Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma State
DB: Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
DB: Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma

SPECIALISTS
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

PK: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

PR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

KR: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

_ Jimmy Burch