By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Each week, the Big 12 coaches meet with the media on Monday of game week via the Big 12 coaches call or Monday press conference to discuss the week that was and the upcoming week. Baylor Head Coach Matt Rhule's comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP and Coaches polls.
David Beaty, Kansas - The Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1) have a bye this week: Sophomore RB Khalil Herbert could be turning into a great story for this program. While wins may be a challenge, watching Herbert was easy on the eyes in the loss to West Virginia. He rushed for 291 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That followed 137 yards and two scores against Ohio. By the way, that 291 is the third most in KU history.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma - The No. 3 Sooners (4-0, 1-0) have a bye this week: Riley was quick to point out that Baylor QB Zach Smith and the Baylor receivers made some great plays in the win in Waco Saturday. However, he also said some of what OU did was to itself. “But we had several throughout the night that our guys got in the wrong place or we came off our man trying to make a play,” Riley said. "Several that were self-inflicted where we at least would have had a much better chance to be there and a chance to make the play ourselves. So we’ve got to grow from that. We’ve got to want to make plays, but we’ve got to do it within the context of what we’ve got going schematically defensively.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - The No. 14/15 Cowboys (3-1, 0-1) are at Texas Tech Saturday: Right guard Larry Williams is apparently done for the second consecutive year after suffering a right leg injury last week. Gundy said the school will look into pursuing a medical hardship waiver for a sixth year. "He may be a little off from the standpoint that you can be up to the fourth game," Gundy said. "He was three one year and five the other. So I don't know how they'll see that. I would certainly think there would be consideration for him because he's only got to play eight games in two years."
Bill Snyder, Kansas State -The Wildcats (2-1) play host to Baylor Saturday: Earlier, Baylor head coach Matt Rhule talked about how he admires the kind of tough and hard-nosed football the Wildcats play. However, Snyder returned the words in kind. "They are an improved football team,” Snyder said. “I appreciate the fact that has been a continual thing for them game in and game out. They’re better in their second game than they were in the first, they’re better in their third game than they were in their second, and so on down the road, and it came to fruition for them Saturday with Oklahoma.”
Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - The Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0) have a bye this week: West Virginia is hoping its bye will help as it prepares for a trip to TCU on Oct. 7. The defense didn't have linebacker David Long and safety Toyous Avery out with injuries in the 56-34 win at KU. Safeties Kyzir White and Mike Gross and then corner back Mike Daniels also got hurt. That contributed to the Jayhawks making a game of it in the fourth quarter. “You can’t use that as an excuse not to be successful,” Holgorsen said. “We were in that position four years ago when we were 4-8 in the Big 12 and nobody cared. You can’t use it as an excuse. I was proud of how some of our inexperienced young guys went in there and played their tail off to a point to where we won by 22. That’s the thing that counts.”
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech - The Red Raiders (3-0) play host to Oklahoma State Saturday: Wide receiver Keke Coutee is enjoying a great start. He's already up to 28 receptions for 446 yards and four scores. He's already second in the nation in receiving yardage...one thing that might be turning in Tech's favor on defense is forcing turnovers. This group is second in the nation in turnover margin and has forced nine thus far. "That's what we've been searching for,'' Kingsbury said. "That's why I was so excited about having (defensive coordinator) David Gibbs for a third year. We're developing a culture, developing an identity."
Matt Campbell, Iowa State - The Cyclones play host to Texas Thursday: Iowa State is hoping that it can repeat its performance to Texas in Ames like it did two years ago when it pitched a shutout, 24-0. Jack Trice Stadium can be an adventure during a week night game. "One of the things that makes (Iowa State) special is this fan base is electric,'' Campbell said. QB Jacob Park is off to a tremendous start, completing 66 percent of his passes for more than 900 yards and eight TD throws.
Gary Patterson, TCU - The No. 9/11 Horned Frogs have a bye: TCU's offense is off to a very efficient start. Very efficient. The Horned Frogs are converting 63 percent of their third downs. Patterson was hoping to get through September at 3-1. However, being undefeated and in the discussions for the national college football playoff is a little better. "We understood what the first four ballgames were going to be about,'' Patterson said. "What you want to do is at least be 3-1 coming out of it. We're fortunate we're 4-0.''
Tom Herman, Texas - The Longhorns (1-2) play at Iowa State Thursday: Speaking of the shut out in Ames, "There are a lot of guys here that were there for 24-0 (in 2015). There will be zero taking of (Iowa State) lightly."...conventional wisdom still believes that sophomore Shane Buechele will be the starting quarterback...redshirt freshman defensive tackle Chris Daniels has been granted a full release from the football program. Daniels was a part of the 2016 class.
Publisher
Each week, the Big 12 coaches meet with the media on Monday of game week via the Big 12 coaches call or Monday press conference to discuss the week that was and the upcoming week. Baylor Head Coach Matt Rhule's comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP and Coaches polls.
David Beaty, Kansas - The Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1) have a bye this week: Sophomore RB Khalil Herbert could be turning into a great story for this program. While wins may be a challenge, watching Herbert was easy on the eyes in the loss to West Virginia. He rushed for 291 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That followed 137 yards and two scores against Ohio. By the way, that 291 is the third most in KU history.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma - The No. 3 Sooners (4-0, 1-0) have a bye this week: Riley was quick to point out that Baylor QB Zach Smith and the Baylor receivers made some great plays in the win in Waco Saturday. However, he also said some of what OU did was to itself. “But we had several throughout the night that our guys got in the wrong place or we came off our man trying to make a play,” Riley said. "Several that were self-inflicted where we at least would have had a much better chance to be there and a chance to make the play ourselves. So we’ve got to grow from that. We’ve got to want to make plays, but we’ve got to do it within the context of what we’ve got going schematically defensively.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - The No. 14/15 Cowboys (3-1, 0-1) are at Texas Tech Saturday: Right guard Larry Williams is apparently done for the second consecutive year after suffering a right leg injury last week. Gundy said the school will look into pursuing a medical hardship waiver for a sixth year. "He may be a little off from the standpoint that you can be up to the fourth game," Gundy said. "He was three one year and five the other. So I don't know how they'll see that. I would certainly think there would be consideration for him because he's only got to play eight games in two years."
Bill Snyder, Kansas State -The Wildcats (2-1) play host to Baylor Saturday: Earlier, Baylor head coach Matt Rhule talked about how he admires the kind of tough and hard-nosed football the Wildcats play. However, Snyder returned the words in kind. "They are an improved football team,” Snyder said. “I appreciate the fact that has been a continual thing for them game in and game out. They’re better in their second game than they were in the first, they’re better in their third game than they were in their second, and so on down the road, and it came to fruition for them Saturday with Oklahoma.”
Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - The Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0) have a bye this week: West Virginia is hoping its bye will help as it prepares for a trip to TCU on Oct. 7. The defense didn't have linebacker David Long and safety Toyous Avery out with injuries in the 56-34 win at KU. Safeties Kyzir White and Mike Gross and then corner back Mike Daniels also got hurt. That contributed to the Jayhawks making a game of it in the fourth quarter. “You can’t use that as an excuse not to be successful,” Holgorsen said. “We were in that position four years ago when we were 4-8 in the Big 12 and nobody cared. You can’t use it as an excuse. I was proud of how some of our inexperienced young guys went in there and played their tail off to a point to where we won by 22. That’s the thing that counts.”
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech - The Red Raiders (3-0) play host to Oklahoma State Saturday: Wide receiver Keke Coutee is enjoying a great start. He's already up to 28 receptions for 446 yards and four scores. He's already second in the nation in receiving yardage...one thing that might be turning in Tech's favor on defense is forcing turnovers. This group is second in the nation in turnover margin and has forced nine thus far. "That's what we've been searching for,'' Kingsbury said. "That's why I was so excited about having (defensive coordinator) David Gibbs for a third year. We're developing a culture, developing an identity."
Matt Campbell, Iowa State - The Cyclones play host to Texas Thursday: Iowa State is hoping that it can repeat its performance to Texas in Ames like it did two years ago when it pitched a shutout, 24-0. Jack Trice Stadium can be an adventure during a week night game. "One of the things that makes (Iowa State) special is this fan base is electric,'' Campbell said. QB Jacob Park is off to a tremendous start, completing 66 percent of his passes for more than 900 yards and eight TD throws.
Gary Patterson, TCU - The No. 9/11 Horned Frogs have a bye: TCU's offense is off to a very efficient start. Very efficient. The Horned Frogs are converting 63 percent of their third downs. Patterson was hoping to get through September at 3-1. However, being undefeated and in the discussions for the national college football playoff is a little better. "We understood what the first four ballgames were going to be about,'' Patterson said. "What you want to do is at least be 3-1 coming out of it. We're fortunate we're 4-0.''
Tom Herman, Texas - The Longhorns (1-2) play at Iowa State Thursday: Speaking of the shut out in Ames, "There are a lot of guys here that were there for 24-0 (in 2015). There will be zero taking of (Iowa State) lightly."...conventional wisdom still believes that sophomore Shane Buechele will be the starting quarterback...redshirt freshman defensive tackle Chris Daniels has been granted a full release from the football program. Daniels was a part of the 2016 class.
