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 College Football Poll. Here are some highlights elsewhere in the league. Quotes and notes are taken from those pressers if not specified elsewhere.
Lance Leipold, Kansas – The Jayhawks (2-9, 1-7) play host to West Virginia Saturday: While it’s been a difficult season, KU has played better in the second half. They had only one penalty for no yards against TCU. “You want discipline. You want to play the game the right way and not beat yourself and give yourself an opportunity,” Leipold said. “And though we haven’t had a lot of wins this season — and we’re talking about a fine line of winning and losing — we’ve played pretty much penalty-free, and we’ve seen how close the games have been these last two weeks. So we need to continue to do that. And it gives you a chance to be in football games.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State – The No. 9 Cowboys (10-1, 7-1) play host to Oklahoma Saturday: The Cowboys and Sooners meet in what could be the last meeting in Stillwater. Bedlam may be finished. "I don't think it will (continue)," Gundy said, per the Tulsa World. "I just don't think there's a business side of it. I don't make that decision. I guess [school president] Dr. [Kayse] Shrum and [athletic director] Chad Weiberg -- they can do whatever they wanted. Or the board. I don't know who's involved in this.
"I don't think it's a realistic thing that's going to happen based on the business side of Power 5 conference football," said Gundy. "That's just my opinion."
Chris Klieman, Kansas State – The Wildcats (7-4, 4-4) play at Texas Friday: QB Skylar Thompson left the Baylor game with a lower leg injury. That puts the QB situation in flux when KSU plays in Austin. “Well, there's an outside shot, actually, of Skylar (Thompson), so that's the positive side. I don't think he'll do anything today and Tuesday would be iffy, but the kid wants to play. We're going to see where he's at. I don't think that will be determined until later in the week. If he can't go both guys, with Will (Howard) and Jaren (Lewis), and Will would be the guy that we would start.”
Neal Brown, West Virginia – The Mountaineers (5-6, 3-5) play at Kansas Saturday: With a win, the Mountaineers can become bowl eligible. But then again the roster is in flux by which seniors are returning and which aren’t. ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregror reported QB Jarret Doege would be returning. However, Doege later said no decision had been made. "Guys haven't made their decision and it wasn't worth pushing," said Brown. "We're going to finish the regular season and hopefully a bowl game, then make some decisions after that."
Matt Campbell, Iowa State – The Cyclones (6-5, 4-4) play host to TCU Friday: A season filled with disappointment has run wild with Campbell’s name connected to the major openings at LSU, USC and Floriday. Campbell has denied all of that like he should. But given what was expected of this team and its failure to produce on the field, it might be the time for Campbell to take his show elsewhere.
Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech (Interim) – The Red Raiders (6-5, 3-5) play at Baylor Saturday: This reunion between Baylor’s Dave Aranda and Cumbie comes full circle. In the early 2000s in Lubbock, Aranda was a GA running the scout team offense. Cumbie was a scout team quarterback. But the Red Raiders have enough issues facing Baylor’s defense Saturday. When they lost to Oklahoma State, 23-0, this past Saturday it was the first time they were shut out since 1997. "Football's a humbling game. ... Highest of highs last week, lowest of lows this week," Cumbie said.
Jerry Kill, TCU (Interim) – The Horned Frogs (5-6, 3-5) play at Iowa State Friday: With reports swarming that TCU could name SMU’s Sonny Dykes by as early as next Sunday, Kill’s team earns a chance of earning bowl eligibility if it can win at Jack Trice Stadium. But Kill is handling this pretty well. “Proud of the kids,’’ Kill said. “They know and understand that we’re not going to be here. There’s a new coaching staff coming in. They’re still playing hard. The coaches are coaching hard. I couldn’t be more proud thana group of kids. Coach PAtterson being here for Senior Day for those kids in the tunnel. And we won on Senior Day. I think that’s something special those kids will never forget.”
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma – The No. 13 Sooners (10-1, 7-1) play at Oklahoma State Saturday: Between Baylor and Iowa State, freshman quarterback Caleb Williams has regressed in his play. He’s been sacked seven times and thrown three interceptions. There have been times when he’s held the ball too long. "I think he's trying to be patient and give guys chances to work in routes," OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. "That's a double-edged sword with an athletic guy like that. You want them to be aggressive at times, but sometimes you get guys like that and they can get too run-happy.”
Steve Sarkisian, Texas – The Longhorns (4-7, 2-6) play host to Kansas State Friday: The Longhorns are not going to a bowl and their six-game losing streak is the longest since 1956, Dwight Eisenhower’s first term. “The practices would be great. Would be nice. I think it’s about the psyche and the mindset,’’ Sarkisian said. “We’ve got to finish the season strong. We owe it to our seniors. We’d like nothing more than to send them out with a win at DKR. As we build this thing, as we build this culture, recognizing this has been a difficult stretch for our players and our program. We just haven’t broken through yet and that’s the frustrating part. Every time it feels like there’s a different story to tell.”
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 College Football Poll. Here are some highlights elsewhere in the league. Quotes and notes are taken from those pressers if not specified elsewhere.
Lance Leipold, Kansas – The Jayhawks (2-9, 1-7) play host to West Virginia Saturday: While it’s been a difficult season, KU has played better in the second half. They had only one penalty for no yards against TCU. “You want discipline. You want to play the game the right way and not beat yourself and give yourself an opportunity,” Leipold said. “And though we haven’t had a lot of wins this season — and we’re talking about a fine line of winning and losing — we’ve played pretty much penalty-free, and we’ve seen how close the games have been these last two weeks. So we need to continue to do that. And it gives you a chance to be in football games.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State – The No. 9 Cowboys (10-1, 7-1) play host to Oklahoma Saturday: The Cowboys and Sooners meet in what could be the last meeting in Stillwater. Bedlam may be finished. "I don't think it will (continue)," Gundy said, per the Tulsa World. "I just don't think there's a business side of it. I don't make that decision. I guess [school president] Dr. [Kayse] Shrum and [athletic director] Chad Weiberg -- they can do whatever they wanted. Or the board. I don't know who's involved in this.
"I don't think it's a realistic thing that's going to happen based on the business side of Power 5 conference football," said Gundy. "That's just my opinion."
Chris Klieman, Kansas State – The Wildcats (7-4, 4-4) play at Texas Friday: QB Skylar Thompson left the Baylor game with a lower leg injury. That puts the QB situation in flux when KSU plays in Austin. “Well, there's an outside shot, actually, of Skylar (Thompson), so that's the positive side. I don't think he'll do anything today and Tuesday would be iffy, but the kid wants to play. We're going to see where he's at. I don't think that will be determined until later in the week. If he can't go both guys, with Will (Howard) and Jaren (Lewis), and Will would be the guy that we would start.”
Neal Brown, West Virginia – The Mountaineers (5-6, 3-5) play at Kansas Saturday: With a win, the Mountaineers can become bowl eligible. But then again the roster is in flux by which seniors are returning and which aren’t. ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregror reported QB Jarret Doege would be returning. However, Doege later said no decision had been made. "Guys haven't made their decision and it wasn't worth pushing," said Brown. "We're going to finish the regular season and hopefully a bowl game, then make some decisions after that."
Matt Campbell, Iowa State – The Cyclones (6-5, 4-4) play host to TCU Friday: A season filled with disappointment has run wild with Campbell’s name connected to the major openings at LSU, USC and Floriday. Campbell has denied all of that like he should. But given what was expected of this team and its failure to produce on the field, it might be the time for Campbell to take his show elsewhere.
Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech (Interim) – The Red Raiders (6-5, 3-5) play at Baylor Saturday: This reunion between Baylor’s Dave Aranda and Cumbie comes full circle. In the early 2000s in Lubbock, Aranda was a GA running the scout team offense. Cumbie was a scout team quarterback. But the Red Raiders have enough issues facing Baylor’s defense Saturday. When they lost to Oklahoma State, 23-0, this past Saturday it was the first time they were shut out since 1997. "Football's a humbling game. ... Highest of highs last week, lowest of lows this week," Cumbie said.
Jerry Kill, TCU (Interim) – The Horned Frogs (5-6, 3-5) play at Iowa State Friday: With reports swarming that TCU could name SMU’s Sonny Dykes by as early as next Sunday, Kill’s team earns a chance of earning bowl eligibility if it can win at Jack Trice Stadium. But Kill is handling this pretty well. “Proud of the kids,’’ Kill said. “They know and understand that we’re not going to be here. There’s a new coaching staff coming in. They’re still playing hard. The coaches are coaching hard. I couldn’t be more proud thana group of kids. Coach PAtterson being here for Senior Day for those kids in the tunnel. And we won on Senior Day. I think that’s something special those kids will never forget.”
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma – The No. 13 Sooners (10-1, 7-1) play at Oklahoma State Saturday: Between Baylor and Iowa State, freshman quarterback Caleb Williams has regressed in his play. He’s been sacked seven times and thrown three interceptions. There have been times when he’s held the ball too long. "I think he's trying to be patient and give guys chances to work in routes," OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. "That's a double-edged sword with an athletic guy like that. You want them to be aggressive at times, but sometimes you get guys like that and they can get too run-happy.”
Steve Sarkisian, Texas – The Longhorns (4-7, 2-6) play host to Kansas State Friday: The Longhorns are not going to a bowl and their six-game losing streak is the longest since 1956, Dwight Eisenhower’s first term. “The practices would be great. Would be nice. I think it’s about the psyche and the mindset,’’ Sarkisian said. “We’ve got to finish the season strong. We owe it to our seniors. We’d like nothing more than to send them out with a win at DKR. As we build this thing, as we build this culture, recognizing this has been a difficult stretch for our players and our program. We just haven’t broken through yet and that’s the frustrating part. Every time it feels like there’s a different story to tell.”
