Sadly, another college football season comes to an end. But as the Governator would say, “I’ll be bock” in January with the 2008 REAL Big 12 Basketball Standings.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Phoenix or Bust!

The games of Week 14:

1. Central Michigan -3.5 @ Miami (Ohio) MAC Championship)

KU’s Murderer’s Row of non-conference opponents strikes another blow for the Jayhawks.

CMU

2. Tulsa +7 at Central Florida (Conf. USA Championship)

Two 9-3 teams go at it in the land of Disney. UCF won 44-23 when these same two teams played in the same venue six weeks ago.

UCF

3. Army +14 vs. Navy (Baltimore)

Navy has scored 207 points in its last four games, including that 74-62 victory over North Texas. They have also given up 191. Army, meanwhile is 65-154 over the same span. Conclusion: Army at 3-8 is more bad than Navy (7-4) is good. The rivalry aspect might keep this game close for awhile, but in the end, Navy should cover handily.

NAVY

4. Va Tech -4.5 at Boston College (Jacksonville) (ACC Championship)

Remember the 14-10 game at Va. Tech on that Thursday night in October, when whatsis name was being touted for the Heisman, and BC was being slotted into the BCS title game? Rest assured the Hokies remember it. They will come to play 60 minutes this time.

VA TECH

5. Florida Atlantic +15.5 at Troy (Sun Belt Championship)

Another rematch. The Men of Troy won 34-16 at FAU on October 6. Familiarity is on FAU’s favor. The Home Field cuts the other way. On balance, I’ll go with a similar result.

TROY

6. La Tech +7.5 at Nevada

Two 5-6 teams looking to become bowl eligible. Had the Techsters scored two more points or Nevada three more against Hawaii, the Rainbows would be on the Road to Palookaville instead of New Orleans or Miami. The two teams are comparable statistically, with the team from the desert having a bit of an edge offensively. And the Home Field.

NEVADA

7. Tennessee +7.5 vs. LSU (Atlanta)

A three overtime game certainly CAN be decided by more than 7 pints, but a more likely number is 2 or 6. And that’s not even taking into account the possibility of Tennessee winning.

TENNESSEE

8. Oregon St +4.5 at Oregon

I remember well what it was like after Nolan Cromwell went down in ’76. KU went from being able to compete with any team in the nation to being a patsy.

OREGON ST

9. UCLA +20 at USC

The Men of Troy are back to flexing their muscles both on the field and in eyes of the betting public. They win easily in the Coliseum, but 20 is a lot of points to give their arch rival.

UCLA

10. BYU -15 at San Diego St

Brigham Young should cover this spread before halftime.

BYU

11. California -13 at Stanford

Band or no band, Stanford is no match for Cal this year.

CAL

12. Pitt +28 at West Virginia

The Mountaineers will pull no punches in their quest to play Ohio St for the pretend National Championship.

13. Arizona +6.5 at Arizona St

Some interesting trends in this series: The underdog has covered 8 of the last 10 meetings, and the visitors have covered 9 of the last 12. AU is both. They also need this game to become bowl eligible. ASU, on the other hand, needs a win to keep alive its chances of staying home for the holidays. Or at least in town. The Sun Devils have been flashy at times, but have not persuaded me that they have the internal toughness necessary to run away against a single-minded opponent.

AU

14. Oklahoma -3 vs. Mizzou (San Antonio)

If I had not seen the first game between these two teams with my own eyes on my own TV, I would be convinced by now that Mizzou won the game. Tiger backers keep pointing to that game with pride, that they proved they were better than OU, because they had the lead until they turned the ball over twice.

What that game showed is that Mizzou could not handle being out of its comfort zone. They will be in the same situation again this week in San Antonio. OU is used to playing games of this ilk. Mizzou isn’t. They were fortunate last week that KU, like Mizzou, started the game tight and spotted Mizzou a 21 point lead when the Tigers loosened up first. OU won’t wait around for them.

The Sooners won by 10 in Norman. The Alamodome will resemble Norman this weekend more than it will a neutral field, as Sooner fans snatched up as many tickets as they could after beating UT in Dallas in early October. Still, even if you call it a neutral site, OU should prevail by a TD.

OU

15. Washington +14 at Hawaii

Hawaii is fighting for its BCS life. Expect them to lei into Washington like the Huskies are poi at a luau. Aloha, Prime Time.

HAWAII

Let the final games begin.

–Mark

*For entertainment purposes only. No refunds. No exchanges.

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Question:

What do you get with the crowd for a Mizzou - West Virginia National Championship game?

Answer:

A full set of teeth.

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LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas football coach Mark Mangino, defensive tackle James McClinton and return man Marcus Herford earned Big 12 Conference individual awards and 14 Jayhawks were named to the All-Big 12 Conference teams which were released Tuesday.

Of the 14 Jayhawks selected to the teams, which were voted on by the league coaches, four earned first-team honors, four earned second-team accolades and six were tabbed to the honorable mention team.

Mangino was named Big 12 Coach of the Year and became the first KU coach to earn league honors since Glen Mason was named the Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1995. The sixth-year head coach has guided the Jayhawks to an 11-1 record and a ranking of fifth in the BCS poll. KU reached its highest ranking in school history when it was second in the BCS poll on Nov. 18.

Kansas has posted one of the nation’s biggest turnarounds in 2007 as after a 6-6 season last year, KU improved five games this season. Only Illinois, which improved seven games, made a bigger turnaround this year.

Under Mangino’s direction, KU will play in a bowl game for the third time in five years. Mangino is the first coach in school history to reach a bowl game three times.

The conference coach of the year honors marks the seventh time a KU coach has won the honor. Mangino joins Pepper Rodgers (1967), Bud Moore (1975), Don Fambrough (1981), Mike Gottfried (1984) and Mason (1991 and 1995).

McClinton, a senior defensive tackle from Garland, Texas, was named the league’s Defensive Lineman of the Year by the coaches. McClinton has recorded 38 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss this year. He has 2.5 sacks and registered an interception against Colorado.

Herford was tabbed as the league’s Special Teams Player of the Year. The junior from DeSoto, Texas, leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth in the NCAA with a 30.04 kickoff return average. He is one of 10 players in the country with at least two kickoff returns for touchdowns after scoring against Southeastern Louisiana and Baylor.

KU had four players named All-Big 12 First Team in offensive tackle Anthony Collins, McClinton, linebacker Joe Mortensen and cornerback Aqib Talib, who was one of two repeat first-team honorees from last season along with Kansas State defensive tackle Ian Campbell.

KU’s four first-team picks rank third in the conference behind Oklahoma (six) and Missouri (five). KU’s eight first or second team honorees also rank third behind Oklahoma (12) and Missouri (11). Three schools had five players named first or second team.

The four first-team selections are the most since KU had four named all-Big Eight in 1993.

Collins, a junior from Beaumont, Texas, who is also a finalist for the Outland Trophy given to the nation’s top lineman, has been KU’s top lineman this season. He has averaged nearly nine knockdowns per game, while helping pave the way for KU’s offense which has averaged 197 yards rushing and 295 yards passing this season.

Mortensen ranks eighth in the conference with 8.2 tackles per game after taking over the middle linebacker position this season. The junior from Concord, Calif., leads the conference and is tied for 45th in the NCAA with 1.17 tackles for loss per game.

Talib, who is a Bronko Nagurski Award finalist, has recorded 61 tackles, 13 passes broken up and four interceptions. The junior from Richardson, Texas, leads the Big 12 and is tied for 11th nationally with 1.42 passes defended per game.

Kansas’ second-team selections include quarterback Todd Reesing, running back Brandon McAnderson, wide receiver Marcus Henry and return man Herford.

Reesing, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, who is in his first year as a starter, has had a record-breaking season. He has thrown for a school record 3,259 yards and a school record 32 touchdowns, while ranking 12th in the nation in passing efficiency.

McAnderson, a senior from Lawrence, Kan., became the 12th player in KU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and he has 1,050 yards through the regular season. McAnderson has rushed for 100 yards in five different games and has averaged 6.0 yards per carry.

Henry is just six yards shy of becoming the third player in KU history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season as he has 52 catches for 994 yards and nine touchdowns through 12 games. The senior from Lawton, Okla. has five 100-yard receiving games this season and has produced a team-best 16 plays of 20 or more yards, including eight of at least 40 yards.

KU honorable mention selections include center Ryan Cantrell, linebacker James Holt, linebacker Mike Rivera, offensive tackle Cesar Rodriguez, safety Darrell Stuckey and place kicker Scott Webb.

Cantrell, a junior, has been KU’s most consistent offensive lineman, starting all 12 games at the center position.

Holt is second on the team with 91 tackles, while also ranking second with 12 tackles for loss. The junior is the only player on the team to record at least five tackles in every game this year and has three double-digit tackle games.

Rivera ranks third on the team with 84 tackles and had a career-high 14 against Missouri in the final regular season game. The junior has been involved in five turnovers this season with one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Rodriguez, a senior, has started a team-best 41 games on the offensive line in his career, including 27 consecutive starts. He mans the right tackle position.

Stuckey, a sophomore, is the fourth-leading tackler on the team with 66 stops. He has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries this year. Against Missouri in the last regular season game, he recorded a career-best 12 tackles.

Webb, a senior, has made 17 of 24 field goal attempts as well as 63 of 64 PATs en route to a record setting year and career. His 114 points this season are the most in school history.

2007 All-Big 12 Football Awards

OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Deon Murphy, Kansas State, Jr., WR, Houston, Texas

DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Gary Chandler, Kansas State, Jr., DB, Wichita, Kan.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN OF THE YEAR
Adam Spieker, Missouri, Sr., Webb City, Mo.
Cody Wallace, Texas A&M, Sr., Cuero, Texas

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
James McClinton, Kansas, Sr., Garland, Texas

COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark Mangino, Kansas, 6th season

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chase Daniel, Missouri, Jr., QB, Southlake, Texas

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jordon Dizon, Colorado, Sr., LB, Kauai, Hawaii

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marcus Herford, Kansas, Jr., WR, DeSoto, Texas

OFFENSIVE FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
Jeremy Maclin, Missouri, Fr., WR, Kirkwood, Mo.
Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, Fr., WR, Dallas, Texas

DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, Fr., DT, Oklahoma City, Okla.

2007 All-Big 12 Football First Team

OFFENSE
Pos. Player, School
QB Chase Daniel, Missouri
RB Dantrell Savage, Oklahoma State
RB Jamaal Charles, Texas
FB Brody Eldridge, Oklahoma
WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas State
WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
OL Anthony Collins, Kansas
OL Adam Speiker, Missouri
OL Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
OL Tony Hills, Texas
OL Cody Wallace, Texas A&M
PK Alex Trlica, Texas Tech
KR/PR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

DEFENSE
DL George Hypolite, Colorado
DL James McClinton, Kansas
DL Ian Campbell [r1], Kansas State
DL Lorenzo Williams, Missouri
DL Auston English, Oklahoma
LB Jordon Dizon, Colorado
LB Joe Mortensen, Kansas
LB Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
DB Terrence Wheatley, Colorado
DB Aqib Talib [r1], Kansas
DB Nic Harris, Oklahoma
DB Reggie Smith, Oklahoma
DB Marcus Griffin, Texas
P Tim Reyer**, Kansas State
[r1] - Repeat first team selection from last season
**Unanimous Selection

2007 All-Big 12 Football Second Team

OFFENSE
Pos. Player, School
QB Todd Reesing, Kansas
QB Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
RB Brandon McAnderson, Kansas
RB Marlon Lucky, Nebraska
FB Chris Alexander, [r2] Texas A&M
WR Marcus Henry, Kansas
WR Malcolm Kelly, [r2] Oklahoma
WR Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State
TE Martin Rucker, Missouri
OL Tyler Polumbus, Colorado
OL Carl Nicks, Nebraska
OL Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
OL Brandon Walker, Oklahoma
OL David Koenig, Oklahoma State
PK Jeff Wolfert, Missouri
PK Garrett Hartley, [r2] Oklahoma
KR/PR Marcus Herford, Kansas

DEFENSE
DL Stryker Sulak, Missouri
DL Demarcus Granger, Oklahoma
DL Nathan Peterson, Oklahoma State
DL Derek Lokey, Texas
DL Frank Okam, Texas
DL Chris Harrington, Texas A&M
LB Alvin Bowen [r2], Iowa State
LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
LB Misi Tupe, Texas A&M
DB Jordan Lake, Baylor
DB Justin McKinney, Kansas State
DB Cornelius Brown, Missouri
DB William Moore, Missouri
DB D.J. Wolfe, Oklahoma
P Justin Brantly, Texas A&M
Ties in the voting created additional positions on the second team for quarterback, placekicker and defensive line.
[r2] - Repeat second team selection from last season

2007 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Baylor: Dan Gay, OL; Jake La Mar, DB; Jason Lamb, DL; Joe Pawelek, LB; Brandon Whitaker, RB;
Colorado: Hugh Charles, RB; Kevin Eberhart, PK; Edwin Harrison, OL; Brandon Nicolas, DL; Terrence Wheatley, PR/KR;
Iowa State: Todd Blythe, WR; Bryce Braaksma, DL; Athyba Rubin, DL;
Kansas: Ryan Cantrell, OL; James Holt, LB; Mike Rivera, LB; Cesar Rodriguez, OL; Darrell Stuckey, DB; Scott Webb, PK;
Kansas State: Alesana Alesana, OL; Chris Carney, DB; Josh Freeman, QB; Rob Jackson, DL; James Johnson, RB; Deon Murphy, WR;
Deon Murphy, PR/KR; Jordy Nelson, PR/KR; Michael Pooschke, FB; Logan Robinson, OL; Brooks Rossman, PK; Reggie
Walker, LB;
Missouri: Colin Brown, OL; Tommy Chavis, DL; Brock Christopher, LB; Chase Coffman, TE; William Franklin, WR; Carl Gettis, DB;
Ziggy Hood, DL; Tony Temple, RB;
Nebraska: Larry Asante, DB; Brett Byford, OL; Cortney Grixby, PR/KR; Jacob Hickman, OL; Lydon Murtha, OL; Steve Octavien, LB;
Zach Potter, DL; Maurice Purify, WR; Bo Ruud, LB; Dan Titchener, P;
Oklahoma: Lewis Baker, LB; Sam Bradford, QB; Joe Jon Finley, TE; Jermaine Gresham, TE; Juaquin Iglesias, WR; Gerald McCoy,
DL; DeMarco Murray, RB;
Oklahoma State: Perrish Cox, PR/KR: Jacob Lacey, DB; Russell Okung, OL; Donovan Woods, LB;
Texas: Ryan Bailey, PK; Quan Cosby, PR/KR; Scott Derry, LB; Jermichael Finley, TE; Brandon Foster, DB; Dallas Griffin, OL; Roy
Miller, DL; Adam Ulatoski, OL;
Texas A&M: Michael Bennett, DL; Martellus Bennett, TE; Red Bryant, DL; Marquis Carpenter, DB; Corey Clark, OL; Mark Dodge, LB;
Kirk Elder, OL; Jorvorskie Lane, RB; Stephen McGee, QB;
Texas Tech: Danny Amendola, WR; Brandon Carter, OL; Joe Garcia, DB; Rajon Henley, DL; Darcel McBath, DB; Chris Parker, DB;
Jonathan LaCour, P; Rylan Reed, OL; Louis Vasquez, OL; Jamar Wall, DB; Colby Whitlock, DL; Brandon Williams, DL;
Marlon Williams, LB;

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LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas football coach Mark Mangino, defensive tackle James McClinton and return man Marcus Herford earned Big 12 Conference individual awards and 14 Jayhawks were named to the All-Big 12 Conference teams which were released Tuesday.

Of the 14 Jayhawks selected to the teams, which were voted on by the league coaches, four earned first-team honors, four earned second-team accolades and six were tabbed to the honorable mention team.

Mangino was named Big 12 Coach of the Year and became the first KU coach to earn league honors since Glen Mason was named the Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1995. The sixth-year head coach has guided the Jayhawks to an 11-1 record and a ranking of fifth in the BCS poll. KU reached its highest ranking in school history when it was second in the BCS poll on Nov. 18.

Kansas has posted one of the nation’s biggest turnarounds in 2007 as after a 6-6 season last year, KU improved five games this season. Only Illinois, which improved seven games, made a bigger turnaround this year.

Under Mangino’s direction, KU will play in a bowl game for the third time in five years. Mangino is the first coach in school history to reach a bowl game three times.

The conference coach of the year honors marks the seventh time a KU coach has won the honor. Mangino joins Pepper Rodgers (1967), Bud Moore (1975), Don Fambrough (1981), Mike Gottfried (1984) and Mason (1991 and 1995).

McClinton, a senior defensive tackle from Garland, Texas, was named the league’s Defensive Lineman of the Year by the coaches. McClinton has recorded 38 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss this year. He has 2.5 sacks and registered an interception against Colorado.

Herford was tabbed as the league’s Special Teams Player of the Year. The junior from DeSoto, Texas, leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth in the NCAA with a 30.04 kickoff return average. He is one of 10 players in the country with at least two kickoff returns for touchdowns after scoring against Southeastern Louisiana and Baylor.

KU had four players named All-Big 12 First Team in offensive tackle Anthony Collins, McClinton, linebacker Joe Mortensen and cornerback Aqib Talib, who was one of two repeat first-team honorees from last season along with Kansas State defensive tackle Ian Campbell.

KU’s four first-team picks rank third in the conference behind Oklahoma (six) and Missouri (five). KU’s eight first or second team honorees also rank third behind Oklahoma (12) and Missouri (11). Three schools had five players named first or second team.

The four first-team selections are the most since KU had four named all-Big Eight in 1993.

Collins, a junior from Beaumont, Texas, who is also a finalist for the Outland Trophy given to the nation’s top lineman, has been KU’s top lineman this season. He has averaged nearly nine knockdowns per game, while helping pave the way for KU’s offense which has averaged 197 yards rushing and 295 yards passing this season.

Mortensen ranks eighth in the conference with 8.2 tackles per game after taking over the middle linebacker position this season. The junior from Concord, Calif., leads the conference and is tied for 45th in the NCAA with 1.17 tackles for loss per game.

Talib, who is a Bronko Nagurski Award finalist, has recorded 61 tackles, 13 passes broken up and four interceptions. The junior from Richardson, Texas, leads the Big 12 and is tied for 11th nationally with 1.42 passes defended per game.

Kansas’ second-team selections include quarterback Todd Reesing, running back Brandon McAnderson, wide receiver Marcus Henry and return man Herford.

Reesing, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, who is in his first year as a starter, has had a record-breaking season. He has thrown for a school record 3,259 yards and a school record 32 touchdowns, while ranking 12th in the nation in passing efficiency.

McAnderson, a senior from Lawrence, Kan., became the 12th player in KU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and he has 1,050 yards through the regular season. McAnderson has rushed for 100 yards in five different games and has averaged 6.0 yards per carry.

Henry is just six yards shy of becoming the third player in KU history to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season as he has 52 catches for 994 yards and nine touchdowns through 12 games. The senior from Lawton, Okla. has five 100-yard receiving games this season and has produced a team-best 16 plays of 20 or more yards, including eight of at least 40 yards.

KU honorable mention selections include center Ryan Cantrell, linebacker James Holt, linebacker Mike Rivera, offensive tackle Cesar Rodriguez, safety Darrell Stuckey and place kicker Scott Webb.

Cantrell, a junior, has been KU’s most consistent offensive lineman, starting all 12 games at the center position.

Holt is second on the team with 91 tackles, while also ranking second with 12 tackles for loss. The junior is the only player on the team to record at least five tackles in every game this year and has three double-digit tackle games.

Rivera ranks third on the team with 84 tackles and had a career-high 14 against Missouri in the final regular season game. The junior has been involved in five turnovers this season with one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Rodriguez, a senior, has started a team-best 41 games on the offensive line in his career, including 27 consecutive starts. He mans the right tackle position.

Stuckey, a sophomore, is the fourth-leading tackler on the team with 66 stops. He has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries this year. Against Missouri in the last regular season game, he recorded a career-best 12 tackles.

Webb, a senior, has made 17 of 24 field goal attempts as well as 63 of 64 PATs en route to a record setting year and career. His 114 points this season are the most in school history.

2007 All-Big 12 Football Awards

OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Deon Murphy, Kansas State, Jr., WR, Houston, Texas

DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Gary Chandler, Kansas State, Jr., DB, Wichita, Kan.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN OF THE YEAR
Adam Spieker, Missouri, Sr., Webb City, Mo.
Cody Wallace, Texas A&M, Sr., Cuero, Texas

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
James McClinton, Kansas, Sr., Garland, Texas

COACH OF THE YEAR
Mark Mangino, Kansas, 6th season

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chase Daniel, Missouri, Jr., QB, Southlake, Texas

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jordon Dizon, Colorado, Sr., LB, Kauai, Hawaii

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marcus Herford, Kansas, Jr., WR, DeSoto, Texas

OFFENSIVE FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
Jeremy Maclin, Missouri, Fr., WR, Kirkwood, Mo.
Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech, Fr., WR, Dallas, Texas

DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, Fr., DT, Oklahoma City, Okla.

2007 All-Big 12 Football First Team

OFFENSE
Pos. Player, School
QB Chase Daniel, Missouri
RB Dantrell Savage, Oklahoma State
RB Jamaal Charles, Texas
FB Brody Eldridge, Oklahoma
WR Jordy Nelson, Kansas State
WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
OL Anthony Collins, Kansas
OL Adam Speiker, Missouri
OL Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
OL Tony Hills, Texas
OL Cody Wallace, Texas A&M
PK Alex Trlica, Texas Tech
KR/PR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

DEFENSE
DL George Hypolite, Colorado
DL James McClinton, Kansas
DL Ian Campbell [r1], Kansas State
DL Lorenzo Williams, Missouri
DL Auston English, Oklahoma
LB Jordon Dizon, Colorado
LB Joe Mortensen, Kansas
LB Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
DB Terrence Wheatley, Colorado
DB Aqib Talib [r1], Kansas
DB Nic Harris, Oklahoma
DB Reggie Smith, Oklahoma
DB Marcus Griffin, Texas
P Tim Reyer**, Kansas State
[r1] - Repeat first team selection from last season
**Unanimous Selection

2007 All-Big 12 Football Second Team

OFFENSE
Pos. Player, School
QB Todd Reesing, Kansas
QB Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
RB Brandon McAnderson, Kansas
RB Marlon Lucky, Nebraska
FB Chris Alexander, [r2] Texas A&M
WR Marcus Henry, Kansas
WR Malcolm Kelly, [r2] Oklahoma
WR Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State
TE Martin Rucker, Missouri
OL Tyler Polumbus, Colorado
OL Carl Nicks, Nebraska
OL Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
OL Brandon Walker, Oklahoma
OL David Koenig, Oklahoma State
PK Jeff Wolfert, Missouri
PK Garrett Hartley, [r2] Oklahoma
KR/PR Marcus Herford, Kansas

DEFENSE
DL Stryker Sulak, Missouri
DL Demarcus Granger, Oklahoma
DL Nathan Peterson, Oklahoma State
DL Derek Lokey, Texas
DL Frank Okam, Texas
DL Chris Harrington, Texas A&M
LB Alvin Bowen [r2], Iowa State
LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
LB Misi Tupe, Texas A&M
DB Jordan Lake, Baylor
DB Justin McKinney, Kansas State
DB Cornelius Brown, Missouri
DB William Moore, Missouri
DB D.J. Wolfe, Oklahoma
P Justin Brantly, Texas A&M
Ties in the voting created additional positions on the second team for quarterback, placekicker and defensive line.
[r2] - Repeat second team selection from last season

2007 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Baylor: Dan Gay, OL; Jake La Mar, DB; Jason Lamb, DL; Joe Pawelek, LB; Brandon Whitaker, RB;
Colorado: Hugh Charles, RB; Kevin Eberhart, PK; Edwin Harrison, OL; Brandon Nicolas, DL; Terrence Wheatley, PR/KR;
Iowa State: Todd Blythe, WR; Bryce Braaksma, DL; Athyba Rubin, DL;
Kansas: Ryan Cantrell, OL; James Holt, LB; Mike Rivera, LB; Cesar Rodriguez, OL; Darrell Stuckey, DB; Scott Webb, PK;
Kansas State: Alesana Alesana, OL; Chris Carney, DB; Josh Freeman, QB; Rob Jackson, DL; James Johnson, RB; Deon Murphy, WR;
Deon Murphy, PR/KR; Jordy Nelson, PR/KR; Michael Pooschke, FB; Logan Robinson, OL; Brooks Rossman, PK; Reggie
Walker, LB;
Missouri: Colin Brown, OL; Tommy Chavis, DL; Brock Christopher, LB; Chase Coffman, TE; William Franklin, WR; Carl Gettis, DB;
Ziggy Hood, DL; Tony Temple, RB;
Nebraska: Larry Asante, DB; Brett Byford, OL; Cortney Grixby, PR/KR; Jacob Hickman, OL; Lydon Murtha, OL; Steve Octavien, LB;
Zach Potter, DL; Maurice Purify, WR; Bo Ruud, LB; Dan Titchener, P;
Oklahoma: Lewis Baker, LB; Sam Bradford, QB; Joe Jon Finley, TE; Jermaine Gresham, TE; Juaquin Iglesias, WR; Gerald McCoy,
DL; DeMarco Murray, RB;
Oklahoma State: Perrish Cox, PR/KR: Jacob Lacey, DB; Russell Okung, OL; Donovan Woods, LB;
Texas: Ryan Bailey, PK; Quan Cosby, PR/KR; Scott Derry, LB; Jermichael Finley, TE; Brandon Foster, DB; Dallas Griffin, OL; Roy
Miller, DL; Adam Ulatoski, OL;
Texas A&M: Michael Bennett, DL; Martellus Bennett, TE; Red Bryant, DL; Marquis Carpenter, DB; Corey Clark, OL; Mark Dodge, LB;
Kirk Elder, OL; Jorvorskie Lane, RB; Stephen McGee, QB;
Texas Tech: Danny Amendola, WR; Brandon Carter, OL; Joe Garcia, DB; Rajon Henley, DL; Darcel McBath, DB; Chris Parker, DB;
Jonathan LaCour, P; Rylan Reed, OL; Louis Vasquez, OL; Jamar Wall, DB; Colby Whitlock, DL; Brandon Williams, DL;
Marlon Williams, LB;

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Still looking good I think. So does Stewart Mandel

Despite suffering its first loss against Missouri, 11-1 Kansas still seems like a solid bet to garner an at-large berth to the Fiesta Bowl. The fifth-ranked Jayhawks would be an obvious replacement if the Tigers move up to the title game. If that happens the Fiesta wouldn’t have qualms with an Oklahoma-Kansas matchup since the teams did not meet during the regular season.

Did anyone realize that KU has a basketball team and that it is in the top 5 and is undefeated? Wow.

UPDATE: Jerry Palm is of like mind.

“I’m trying to think of how you get to four at-large teams that don’t include Kansas,” said Jerry Palm, who studies the BCS and runs collegebcs.com. “I haven’t come up with a scenario where that happens yet.”

If OU wins, KU will probably slip in. If Mizzou wins, KU will definitely be in.

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YouTube will help capture this “high point” in Mizzou’s history, so someone send me the link when it’s up.

Here’s what happened:

Chris Fowler recounted the history of this rivalry:

“Kansas - Missouri hatred dates back to the 1850’s…pre Civil war, hideous tales of rape, and murder, and pillage…Missourians once burned Lawrence to the ground…”

At that moment, the entire Missouri cheering section erupted in cheers. Pathetic. A sign behind fowler reads “Billy Quantrill, a true American hero.”

Here’s a history of said “American Hero” from PBS:

The climax of Quantrill’s guerilla career came on August 21, 1863, when he led a force of 450 raiders into Lawrence, Kansas, a stronghold of pro-Union support and the home of Senator James H. Lane, whose leading role in the struggle for free-soil in Kansas had made him a public enemy to pro-slavery forces in Missouri. Lane managed to escape, racing through a cornfield in his nightshirt, but Quantrill and his men killed 183 men and boys, dragging some from their homes to murder them in front of their families, and set the torch to much of the city.

Whatever happens tonight, Missouri ought to be ashamed of its behavior.

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I’ve never read much Chris Fowler in the past, but I’ll definitely be reading more. Despite the fact that he ends up favoring Mizzou in this matchup, his article does quite a bit more than simply recounting the history of the rivalry, which is pretty much what every other national writer besides Dennis Dodd has done this week.

In any case, I can’t wait for kickoff in what I hope will be a wild display with just enough service breaks to make it dramatic. By the end of the night, I want to be able to hum both fight songs in my sleep!

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This isn’t good.

Jayhawks on SI Cover

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With a Thursday night game looming here is the earlier than usual slate for Week 13.*

TURKEY DAY:

1. USC -3.5 at Arizona St

No turkey of a game here. Could be the second wildest game of the weekend. I will take the Home Dog to at least stay within a field goal against one of the country’s premiere underachieving teams this year.

ASU

SHOPPING DAY:

2. Nebraska +5.5 at Colorado

Which NU team shows up: the one that allowed 76 points to KU, or the one that scored 73 against k-state? Wouldn’t the Huskers like to push a reset button and start the conference season over?

NU

3. UT -5.5 at A&M

This one’s easy: the Aggies played KU to within 8 points in College Station. And they don’t even hate the Jayhawks.

A&M

4. Arkansas +12.5 at LSU

LSU is a fine team, and if they make it to the BCS title game on a virtual Home field, they will be tough. But they get a little more respect than they have earned.

ARKANSAS

5. Boise St +3.5 at Hawaii

By the time this one is over, there will be but one FCS team remaining with a zero in the loss column. Say it loud. Say it proud., “Rock Chalk, Jay-Hawk. . .”

BSU

JUDGMENT DAY:

6. Duke +14 at UNC

The greatest rivalry in all of sports. Game Day. Fifty-two cable and satellite channels. 720 degree coverage. Hey–it makes as much sense now as it does in February or March.

Regardless, the Tar Heel pigskinners avenge Tyler Hansbrough’s broken nose.

UNC

7. Alabama +6 at Auburn

Historically, the most bitter rivalry in college football. For REAL. But a distant second this week.

Ya know something? It is hard to take a team that loses to La. Monroe seriously.

AUBURN

8. Tennessee +3 at Kentucky

The second best basketball school on the football field in the land states its case for the Cotton Bowl

KENTUCKY

9. Georgia -3.5 at Georgia Tech

Matthew Stafford is good. So good, he would be a nice back up QB at a number of Big 12 schools: KU, Mizzou, NU, Oklahoma, Texas, A&M, Tech. . .

Should be good enough in this game.

GEORGIA

10. Okie St +12 at Oklahoma

Speaking of backups, Joey Halzle will get the job done after a week of taking first team reps. Barry Switzer, the Big M’s old boss, will have the Sooners ready to play. They will put the finishing touches on a 6-2 record and stamp their ticket for San Antone a week hence.

But by 12 points? Are you kidding me? Against a team that could stay within 15 of KU at Home?

Okie St

11. Notre Dame +3.5 at Stanford

Notre Dame has one last chance to avoid double digits in the L column. If this game were only in South Bend, where the Fighting Irish are riding their longest home field winning streak of the season. . .

STANFORD

12. Florida St +14 at Florida

You can throw the record book out the window in this rivalry game. Unfortunately, for FSU, Tim Tebow will be throwing the football into the end zone—and carrying it. . .

FU

13. k-state +1 at Fresno St

What could Vegas be thinking?

FRESNO

14. Oregon -2 at UCLA

Like the other OU, Oregon’s backup QB—in this case, Ryan Leaf’s little brother—will look a lot better after a week of preparation as The Man. Unlike the other OU, the Ducks’ starter is irreplaceable.

UCLA

15. KU -2 v. Mizzou (Kansas City)

Saving the best for last. Almost always a good practice.

Mizzou would have had the edge in this game in October, before the Jayhawks learned that they could not only compete with, but beat teams on the Road—teams that had counted the KU game as a W before the season started.

On the last Saturday of November, this game is rated as a virtual toss-up by Vegas and by anyone who has a clue.

But someone has to have the edge. Who is it?

Some say Mizzou. Some say KU has been the beneficiary of an easy schedule, that they have not played anyone currently in the Top 25 or anyone with more than six wins. As if that somehow means they are not a legitimate Top 5 team. Never mind winning at a venue where Oklahoma lost while at full strength. Never mind defeating k-state on the Road when they were playing well, one week after they pounded Texas by 20 points in Austin. Never mind taking out A&M on the Road when they were playing well and were desperate to win when it was still conceivable that their coach could keep his job.

Never mind scoring more points than any team in history against Nebraska. Never mind putting up 43 in Stillwater, and handily taking out a team by 15 that had beaten Tech and k-state and lost to Texas on the last plays of those games.

Forget the schedule. KU has taken care of business the way a strong team should take care of lesser teams.

Some still subscribe to the myth that Mizzou has the edge at QB. In REALity, Chase Daniel is very good. He has a strong arm, he is elusive, he makes good decisions. But he is no better in any of these respects than Todd Reesing. In fact, if anything, Touchdown Todd is more accurate than Daniel. But the difference in the two in quarterbacking skills is so slight as to be negligible.

If there is any meaningful edge at QB, it stems from the fact that Daniel has shown that he is susceptible to succumbing to big game pressure. Those championing Mizzou point to the fact that they played OU tough in Norman. They rarely mention that, although Mizzou was in position to win that game, Daniel dropped the ball. Literally, as well as figuratively. Meanwhile, Reesing has not shown that anything adversely affects him. He shrugged off two early INT’s in his first Road start and proceeded to rip k-state apart. And virtually every time the Hawks have fallen behind this season, he has responded immediately with a T.D. drive. No matter the situation, he just keeps playing his game.

Still, I doubt that QB will be the deciding factor in this game. As they say in those PGA commercials: These Guys Are Good.

Jason Whitlock has been singing the praises of Jeremy Maclin, Mizzou’s freshman speed demon, calling him the best player on either team, and suggesting that he will be the X-Factor that separates the teams.

Again, I have to give Mizzou its due. Maclin is a play-maker. And if the game were likely to be a low scoring, 14-10 affair, I might agree that he is the most likely player to break the big play that determines the Big 12 North’s representative next week in Alamo-town.

But KU has playmakers, too. The same day Maclin took a short pass and turned it into an 82 yard TD to help Mizzou down A&M, Marcus Henry took a short pass from Reesing between two Okie St defenders and turned it into an 82 yard TD. Maclin had more separation from the defense as he crossed the goal line, but whether you beat your pursuers to the end zone by two yards or five, you get six points. No extra credit for style points. And don’t forget Dexton Fields, Dez Briscoe, and Brandon McAnderson, all of whom have recorded big plays this season—not to mention Reesing’s 53 yard scramble at Colorado.

In a game in which both teams could score in the 30’s, or even the 40’s, there will be big plays. Whether either team scores on one big play or a number of shorter plays is not going to decide the outcome. The key will be not settling for field goals.

In their last three games, KU has rolled to 164 points (54.7 ppg), while Mizzou has scored 144 (48 ppg). Neither team has a meaningful edge offensively.

So which team is better equipped to make the other settle for field goals? KU has the better defense. That much is certain. But does it REALly make a difference? It doesn’t unless the better D can actually stop or slow down the opponent’s offense.

This game is reminiscent of two games in recent years. The first, in this very stadium, being the Chiefs vs. the Colts in the 2004 playoffs. Zero punts the entire game by either team. But the Colts had the better D, relatively speaking, and held the Chiefs to a field goal on one possession. That was the game.

The other is USC vs. Texas. UT had a marginally better defense, but it was not good enough to stop the Trojans’ offense. There were some punts, however. Two by each team. But the team with the better D made one play, stopping USC on a fourth and 2, to take possession with two minutes remaining, down 38-34.

If it comes down to one defensive play, the Jayhawks are more likely to make it. But not by much.

In fact, it is likely that neither team makes a play that wins the game. Rather, one team will fail to make a play. As USC did when an easy INT was dropped for no apparent reason on what turned into the game winning drive. Missed chances to secure turnovers will be huge. Dropped passes in the end zone will be huge. Bad spots or bogus penalties called by a ref or line judge that coincidentally help Texas whine its way into a BCS bowl will be huge.

But how do you assess the probability of these things. You don’t. You can’t.

What you can do is ask which team has the better Offense overall. Answer: It’s a push.

Receivers? Mizzou.

Running backs? KU

Overall D? KU.

Defensive line? Linebackers.? Defensive backs? KU. KU. KU.

Special teams? Big edge to KU in punting. Maclin and Hereford are a push in kick returns. Place kicking is a push.

Coaching? KU. (See 3 of the last 4 year, with Mizzou favored every game.)

And, in my mind, most importantly (again saving the best for last), offensive line. It is this group, more than any other, which determines who controls a close game. KU has the edge.

Makes you wonder why KU is only a two point favorite.

Beats me. Probably because in none of the areas in which KU has the edge is it a big edge, with the exception of punting.

In sum, if the game is efficiently played, without cheap points off turnovers playing a major factor, KU has enough advantages to justify giving 2 points.

And besides, KU is 10-0 against the spread. Why in the world would you bet against that?

Lose, Tigers, lose to the Big Blue.
You’re in the big time when you play KU.
Throw the ball away and have no fear.
Tonight the Hawks will grab your tail and kick your rear.
So lose, Tigers, lose to the Big Blue.
We’ll score many points and you’ll score few,
We will stomp you ‘til you moan and groan
And you’ll wish you’d stayed at home.

–Mark

*For entertainment purposes only. No guarantees. No refunds.

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I scored tickets to last night’s Washburn demolition derby, and while the Hawks looked pretty ragged for about half the game, I was ecstatic about the in-person glimpse at Brandon Rush’s recovery.

There can be no doubt that Rush is back on track toward his status as KU’s #1 game-changer. Watching Rush log his 12 minutes from about halfway up the bleachers, I was impressed by his smoothness and finesse. True, his timing is a little off, and my impression is that his explosiveness is not yet what it was–but on the occasions when Rush made moves toward to basket, there was no hesitation. None of the herky-jerky body mechanics that sometimes accompany major surgery.

This was especially true when Rush drove the lane for a soft floater. The drive was smooth, the decision was perfect, the tear drop barely grazed the bottom of the net.

When KU plays Northern Arizona next week, the Rush Watch should be in full effect again. If all goes well, I wouldn’t be surprised to see B-Rush have a major impact on the upcoming Arizona game. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back near 100% in time for the conference season, and definitely in time for March.

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From Travis Robinett at the University Daily Kansan:

Apparently some Missouri fans think it’s OK to make T-shirts that glorify a band of murderous racists.

Their cause was slavery. Their enemies were abolitionists. They took the lives of many without regret and wanted to keep freedom away from men like Gus Rigdel, who in 1950 was Missouri’s first black student, and Norris Stevenson, who in 1957 was Missouri’s first black football player.

If Quantrill’s politics had prevailed, these two would have been in shackles instead of earning college degrees. The same goes for every black student at Missouri today, especially those who are NCAA student athletes. Can fans cheer them on by celebrating Missouri’s racist history?

Click here for full story

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