The Big 12 Conference is dead; it just doesn’t know it yet.
There is no question that the Big 10 Conference intends to grow. The only question is how many they add, and who they take.
On the first question, they want to add at least one team, which will give them twelve (they actually have eleven teams right now). This allows them to have a conference championship, increase their revenue, and still be part of the conversation on the …
Texas Bowl
Navy Midshipmen versus Missouri Tigers
December 31, 2009, 2:30pm Central
Houston, Texas
Network: ESPN
Even after losing Chase Daniel and a number of other key players, many thought 2009 would be a great year for Missouri. They seemed to be living up to expectations, going 4-0 against the patsies at the beginning of their schedule. Then they saw three straight loses to ranked teams. They pulled it back together and won four of their last five, for a 8-4 season.
The Big Twelve Conference had a solid showing in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft, with seven players taken in the initial thirty-two picks.
The St. Louis Rams took Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith with the second pick. A 6' 5", 309 pound converted tight end, Smith was the first non-special teams All American for Baylor since 1995.
Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree was picked tenth by the San Francisco 49ers. Crabtree is easily the most talented receiver in this years draft, but dropped quite a few spots due to concerns over his attitude and resilience.
Northwestern head coach head coach Pat Fitzgerald had his boys ready to play. They were aggressive, disciplined and didn't know how to quit. If they can convince more athletes to sign with them, the Mildcats may surprise some Big 10 teams in the next few years.
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, on the other hand, apparently took his team down to the River Walk for tequila slammers right before the game. They didn't sober up until the second half. [...]
The Chase Daniel era comes to a close tonight in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamo Bowl. Missouri's season is a mixed bag, having won the Big 12 North for the second year in a row, but failing to to win the conference championship game or make a BCS game. In fact, in rankings they're lower than four teams from the Big 12 South.
In addition to the Big 12 Championship Game, they lost to Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma State. They're best win of the season was against Nebraska.
For Northwestern, this season exceeded expectations, with head coach Pat Fitzgerald molding the Wildcats into a viable contender, albeit not a major football power by any stretch of the imagination. Northwestern has not won a bowl game in 59 years.
I am beginning to make a habit of underestimating this year’s Texas Longhorns, having predicted a two touchdown win over the Missouri Tigers yesterday. Instead, Texas dominated Missouri, running up a 35-3 lead in the first half. Texas lost focus in the second half, letting Missouri score a few times, and finished the game winning 56-31. In reality, the game was not even as close as the nearly four touchdown lead at the end suggested.
The atmosphere and crowd at …
Undefeated Texas plays one-loss Missouri this evening at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Those of us who have been watching the Longhorns for a few years know that Texas is certainly capable of a down game. And the distraction of number one rankings, Sports Illustrated covers, trips to New York for Colt McCoy, head coaching positions for defensive coordinators, and possible trips to Miami, Florida in the second week of January could get into any team’s head.
But with a …
Midway through the Longhorns’ tough six game stretch, Texas has beaten Arkansas, Colorado, and top ranked Oklahoma, to go 6-0 for the season.
The convincing 45-35 win over the Sooners vaulted Texas to its first mid-season #1 ranking since 1984. Given the target that #1’s have had on their back the last couple of seasons, it may not be a comfortable place to be. Fortunately, Texas has a 12-1 record the week after being ranked #1, if you believe …
