By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Each week, Big 12 coaches have their weekly meetings with the media at their press conferences during the college football season. Baylor head coach Dave Aranda’s comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP & Coaches Polls. Here are some highlights elsewhere in the league. Quotes and notes are taken from those pressers if not specified elsewhere. All games are Saturday unless otherwise noted.
Jerry Kill, TCU (Interim) – The Horned Frogs (3-5, 1-4) play host to Baylor: A day after mutually agreeing to part ways, former head coach Gary Patterson arrived at TCU on Monday to help in the transition. TCU Athletic director Jeremiah Donati said at a Tuesday presser that the previous several days leading up to the change have been tough but said brighter days are to come. Donait called Patterson an icon. When Jerry Kill met the media, he said, “This is the house Gary built.’’
Kill was an offensive assistant that was brought down in 2020. He and Patterson are close friends.
Lance Leipold, Kansas – The Jayhawks (1-7, 0-5) play host to Kansas State: A long night at Stillwater, OK where KU was drilled by Oklahoma State, 55-3 and had 143 yards in total offense. “We have a long way to go,” Leipold said. “We’ll find out if it’s a blip on how we play the rest of the season. Again, go back to last week and where you’re talking about a young football team and everything that we’ve gone through and everything we still have to battle. That hasn’t changed.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State – The No. 11/11 Cowboys (7-1, 4-1) play at West Virginia: The Cowboys are in the mix for an appearance in the Big 12 title game. Every game for the remainder of the season is significant. “If you've had a good season up to this point, and you've had success, it's a little bit easier to get players to continue to work hard and have fun in practice, do the things that's necessary, focus and play well on Saturdays,’’ Gundy said. “And I told them you're now in a good position, there's a lot of teams in the country that would like to be where you are. It does two things, one, it doesn't guarantee you anything moving forward, but two, it allows you to understand the importance of continuing on to give yourself the best chance to play on Saturday at a high level. And so that's kind of what I told the team.’’
Chris Klieman, Kansas State – The Wildcats (5-3, 2-3) play at Kansas: The Wildcats can become bowl eligible with a win Saturday. “Belief and confidence are a tough combination to beat,’’ Klieman said. “When you believe your brother's gonna get the job done and you have confidence in the gameplan and you have confidence in what you've watched. And belief and confidence go hand-in-hand and I know when you win a football game like we did last week, late, that really helps have that belief and confidence. But throughout the last two weeks, just the way we've practiced..We've got great leadership out there (on) both sides of the ball and I hope it's contagious because our kids are having fun. You have a locker room like we've had the last two weeks, that's a lot of fun."
Neal Brown, West Virginia – The Mountaineers (4-4, 2-3) play host to Oklahoma State: Brown saw the QB in Jarret Doege that he thought he’d see in the 38-31 upset of Iowa State. He was 30-46-2 for 370 yards and three touchdowns. "I thought Jarret Doege was huge," said Brown. ".... I just thought he played well. I thought he played extremely well. And he knew he had to play well coming into the game, which sometimes makes it harder.
“"He really just had one mistake," said Brown. "He missed some throws. When you throw the ball fifty times, you're gonna have some high, some low..... what a performance. I think we need to make sure we're talking about it. That kid is a great kid and he's been put through it a little bit. I thought he was huge today. He answered the bell. "You're talking about a guy that gets beat up here, maybe unjustly.... that guy battled."
Matt Campbell, Iowa State – The Cyclones (5-3, 3-2) play host to Texas: A tough loss to West Virginia hurt along with missing linebacker Matt Rose who saw his streak of playing in 45 consecutive games snapped. “That’s the beauty of a college football season, is it’s a season,” Campbell said. “It’s not defined by one game. It’s defined by who you are at the end of the season and there’s still a lot of definition left for this team and this program. Boy, I’m really excited. Like I told our kids, there’s no group I’d rather continue to fight with and continue to lead with than this group. So what an honor and we’ll be back.”
Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech (Interim) – The Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4) have a bye: Add Donovan Smith to the QB mix. He threw for 192 yards after Henri Colombi got knocked out midway through the second quarter in the 52-21 loss at Oklahoma. Cumbie will use this bye to assess his QB situation moving forward. "I think the thing you saw today and you saw at the end of the game against Kansas is Donovan's a quarterback," Cumbie said. "He's not a one-trick pony where he can just go in there and run the ball. He can throw the football. He hasn't had as much experience in the game as Henry, as Tyler (Shough), but he went out there and did a nice job today."
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma – The No. 4/4 Sooners (9-0, 6-0) have a bye: Rattler came in and finished the 52-21 victory over Texas Tech. He completed all five of his attempts for 67 yards and a score. There has been much speculation that Rattler had checked out after being benched in favor of Caleb Williams – who will remain the starter - and transfer portal rumors had been circulating. "That narrative is over, and I hope every one of you (reporters) will write it," OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. "He's been a great team guy, he's gotten better and he's taking advantage of the reps... I have no doubt that when he gets his next opportunity he's going to go out and play well."
Steve Sarkisian, Texas – The Longhorns (4-4, 2-3) play at Iowa State: Texas is on a 3-game losing streak, it’s first since 2016. “Win this week. Our emphasis every week is the most important game is the next one. This is no different,’’ Sarkisian said. “ We recognize the big picture where we’re at but we’re focused on this week’s ball game. There’s never been a great triumph without a struggle. Clearly we’re in the midst of the struggle and the only way to get over that hump and get through it is to have grit and determination and perseverance. I believe that we will. We’ve got to stay to the grind, keeping working at it…and ultimately we’ll break through.”
Publisher
Each week, Big 12 coaches have their weekly meetings with the media at their press conferences during the college football season. Baylor head coach Dave Aranda’s comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP & Coaches Polls. Here are some highlights elsewhere in the league. Quotes and notes are taken from those pressers if not specified elsewhere. All games are Saturday unless otherwise noted.
Jerry Kill, TCU (Interim) – The Horned Frogs (3-5, 1-4) play host to Baylor: A day after mutually agreeing to part ways, former head coach Gary Patterson arrived at TCU on Monday to help in the transition. TCU Athletic director Jeremiah Donati said at a Tuesday presser that the previous several days leading up to the change have been tough but said brighter days are to come. Donait called Patterson an icon. When Jerry Kill met the media, he said, “This is the house Gary built.’’
Kill was an offensive assistant that was brought down in 2020. He and Patterson are close friends.
Lance Leipold, Kansas – The Jayhawks (1-7, 0-5) play host to Kansas State: A long night at Stillwater, OK where KU was drilled by Oklahoma State, 55-3 and had 143 yards in total offense. “We have a long way to go,” Leipold said. “We’ll find out if it’s a blip on how we play the rest of the season. Again, go back to last week and where you’re talking about a young football team and everything that we’ve gone through and everything we still have to battle. That hasn’t changed.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State – The No. 11/11 Cowboys (7-1, 4-1) play at West Virginia: The Cowboys are in the mix for an appearance in the Big 12 title game. Every game for the remainder of the season is significant. “If you've had a good season up to this point, and you've had success, it's a little bit easier to get players to continue to work hard and have fun in practice, do the things that's necessary, focus and play well on Saturdays,’’ Gundy said. “And I told them you're now in a good position, there's a lot of teams in the country that would like to be where you are. It does two things, one, it doesn't guarantee you anything moving forward, but two, it allows you to understand the importance of continuing on to give yourself the best chance to play on Saturday at a high level. And so that's kind of what I told the team.’’
Chris Klieman, Kansas State – The Wildcats (5-3, 2-3) play at Kansas: The Wildcats can become bowl eligible with a win Saturday. “Belief and confidence are a tough combination to beat,’’ Klieman said. “When you believe your brother's gonna get the job done and you have confidence in the gameplan and you have confidence in what you've watched. And belief and confidence go hand-in-hand and I know when you win a football game like we did last week, late, that really helps have that belief and confidence. But throughout the last two weeks, just the way we've practiced..We've got great leadership out there (on) both sides of the ball and I hope it's contagious because our kids are having fun. You have a locker room like we've had the last two weeks, that's a lot of fun."
Neal Brown, West Virginia – The Mountaineers (4-4, 2-3) play host to Oklahoma State: Brown saw the QB in Jarret Doege that he thought he’d see in the 38-31 upset of Iowa State. He was 30-46-2 for 370 yards and three touchdowns. "I thought Jarret Doege was huge," said Brown. ".... I just thought he played well. I thought he played extremely well. And he knew he had to play well coming into the game, which sometimes makes it harder.
“"He really just had one mistake," said Brown. "He missed some throws. When you throw the ball fifty times, you're gonna have some high, some low..... what a performance. I think we need to make sure we're talking about it. That kid is a great kid and he's been put through it a little bit. I thought he was huge today. He answered the bell. "You're talking about a guy that gets beat up here, maybe unjustly.... that guy battled."
Matt Campbell, Iowa State – The Cyclones (5-3, 3-2) play host to Texas: A tough loss to West Virginia hurt along with missing linebacker Matt Rose who saw his streak of playing in 45 consecutive games snapped. “That’s the beauty of a college football season, is it’s a season,” Campbell said. “It’s not defined by one game. It’s defined by who you are at the end of the season and there’s still a lot of definition left for this team and this program. Boy, I’m really excited. Like I told our kids, there’s no group I’d rather continue to fight with and continue to lead with than this group. So what an honor and we’ll be back.”
Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech (Interim) – The Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4) have a bye: Add Donovan Smith to the QB mix. He threw for 192 yards after Henri Colombi got knocked out midway through the second quarter in the 52-21 loss at Oklahoma. Cumbie will use this bye to assess his QB situation moving forward. "I think the thing you saw today and you saw at the end of the game against Kansas is Donovan's a quarterback," Cumbie said. "He's not a one-trick pony where he can just go in there and run the ball. He can throw the football. He hasn't had as much experience in the game as Henry, as Tyler (Shough), but he went out there and did a nice job today."
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma – The No. 4/4 Sooners (9-0, 6-0) have a bye: Rattler came in and finished the 52-21 victory over Texas Tech. He completed all five of his attempts for 67 yards and a score. There has been much speculation that Rattler had checked out after being benched in favor of Caleb Williams – who will remain the starter - and transfer portal rumors had been circulating. "That narrative is over, and I hope every one of you (reporters) will write it," OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. "He's been a great team guy, he's gotten better and he's taking advantage of the reps... I have no doubt that when he gets his next opportunity he's going to go out and play well."
Steve Sarkisian, Texas – The Longhorns (4-4, 2-3) play at Iowa State: Texas is on a 3-game losing streak, it’s first since 2016. “Win this week. Our emphasis every week is the most important game is the next one. This is no different,’’ Sarkisian said. “ We recognize the big picture where we’re at but we’re focused on this week’s ball game. There’s never been a great triumph without a struggle. Clearly we’re in the midst of the struggle and the only way to get over that hump and get through it is to have grit and determination and perseverance. I believe that we will. We’ve got to stay to the grind, keeping working at it…and ultimately we’ll break through.”
