Friday, September 21, 2007
Is the Big 12 burning? Although ESPN’s Lee Corso and Kirk Herbsteit will try to persuade you that the conference is down, it is the rise and decadence of programs that is creating the new-look Big 12.
In the past, the Big 12 has been known to produce elite running backs in systems that benefited from run-base attack offenses. But this past year teams in the Big 12 have scored more points, and the quarterbacks have been responsible.
Through the first three weeks of the season, the Big 12 has four teams in the nation’s top 11 in total points per game. Oklahoma leads the way, averaging 61.3, while Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M follow: 53.0, 51.0, 46.3 respectively. For a conference that has been knocked on as being “in superior,” the points these teams are scoring go in direct correlation with their quarterback play.
Much like the lack of respect the conference gets, the three quarterbacks in the Big 12 who rank among the top 15 in the nation in pass efficiency tend to not get the respect they deserve. This year, Colt Brennan from the University of Hawaii is getting Heisman talk because of his production and success.
Although his numbers and voters continue to climb with every victory, it is the gunslinger from Lubbock, Texas, who is being overshadowed. Starting quarterback for Texas Tech, Graham Harrell, has thrown for more yards and touchdowns than Brennan, yet his name is merely whispered to the voters.
If it is the ranking and victories that makes the Heisman, then why doesn’t Oklahoma’s freshman quarterback Sam Bradford get some love? Bradford currently ranks third in the nation in quarterback rating and led his team to a more-than-impressive win against Miami (Fla.) 51-13, in which he was 19-25 with 5 touchdowns.
Although the critics like to dwell on past successful teams like Colorado, Kansas State and Oklahoma State being down, it is the teams that are fueled by these new high-octane offenses that are being cast aside.
Kansas is putting up more points than it ever has in the Mangino era, and it is no surprise that Todd Reesing has become the 10th-best passer in the nation according to efficiency. Although analysts like to try to knock on the Jayhawks’ strength of schedule and use that to take away from their recent success, the fact still remains that the team has improved and is proving to be a force. From the school in Lawrence to its eastern brethren in Columbia, the known key ingredient to the Tigers’ success is quarterback Chase Daniel. Daniel ranks 28th nationally in passer efficiency and, similar to the Jayhawks, the Tigers are off to a 3-0 start.
So, in the coming weeks as the Big 12 continues to be tested and its field generals continue to succeed, will it ever get the respect it deserves? If stats and victories are not the component for respect, maybe it will have to come at the 50-yard line in New Orleans on January 7th for the National Championship.
— Edited by Amelia Freidline
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