Texas won the national title a little more than three months ago, but aside from pats on the back, messages from well-wishers and rings to remind the Longhorns of the occasion, they have turned the page.
“Our guys did not come out of the national championship game complacent,” Texas coach Mack Brown said on a conference call last week with reporters. “We had our toughest spring again and our most physical spring. I’m really, really pleased that our coaches, our staff and our players have all gone back to work.”
Tops on the Longhorns’ list is settling on a starting quarterback, as was the case in half the Big 12 spring camps. Texas has to replace NFL-bound Vince Young. To that end, Brown is pretty well set on splitting time between redshirt freshman Colt McCoy and true freshman Jevan Snead come fall practice.
“Right now we would plan on playing them both,” Brown said. “We have to prepare both to play.”
A look around the rest of the league:
NORTH DIVISION
Colorado
An unproductive offense might have given coach Dan Hawkins some sleepless nights, but the work ethic of the players didn’t.
“The buy-in was great,” Hawkins said. “The kids worked hard at it.”
Colorado needs to solve position battles at quarterback, wide receiver and in the secondary.
Iowa State
Coach Dan McCarney reported good progress from the spring while trying to remake a defense that lost eight starters to graduation or dismissal.
“The defense was very positive and something to build on,” he said.
Kansas
The emergence of redshirt freshman quarterback Kerry Meier was perhaps the most pleasant surprise of spring ball. He played so well coach Mark Mangino already has named him the starter for the fall. He will replace Jason Swanson (graduated) and Adam Barmann, who might be moved to tight end.
“Because (Meier’s) so intelligent, he’s picking up things very quickly,” Mangino said. “He just has a lot of natural ability. He’s going to be a heck of a player.”
Kansas State
New Wildcats coach Ron Prince has attacked his task in much the same manner as Hawkins has at CU. No depth charts. Just competition.
“We’ve really tried to start from scratch,” Prince said.
Perhaps the most intriguing battle is at quarterback, where freshman Josh Freeman enrolled in school early and now finds himself in the mix to start. He’s battling with Allan Evridge and a healthy Dylan Meier, brother of Kansas quarterback Kerry.
Missouri
After leaving the door ajar after the spring game, coach Gary Pinkel said quarterback Chase Daniel was “clearly No. 1” on the depth chart. The sophomore shined in the Mizzou spring game, though Pinkel has insisted Daniel has been “pushed” by Brandon Coleman, a converted wide receiver.
Nebraska
While coach Bill Callahan again was impressed with the attendance at the spring game – 57,000 – for the first time in recent years the fans were impressed by what they saw.
Nebraska has an established quarterback (Zac Taylor) and competition at running back (Marlon Lucky, Cody Glenn), which is good because one of the main focuses of the spring was on improving the running game.
“We’re becoming a more physical team, but we still need a lot of work,” Callahan said.
SOUTH DIVISION
Baylor
Baylor spent the spring implementing a new “run-and-gun” offense, one coach Guy Morriss figures will help the Bears in two ways: In becoming a more potent, and consistent, scoring team; and with recruiting.
Morriss said he has already experienced increased interest from talented quarterbacks, wide receivers and even offensive linemen since he has committed to the offense, which is similar to Texas Tech’s. Even better, the current players seemed to have taken to the new scheme.
“It’s good to see them come to practice with a smile on their faces,” Morriss said.
Oklahoma
Coach Bob Stoops wanted to see more physical play from his offensive line. Mission almost accomplished.
Injuries limited progress but those who were present “gained great experience,” Stoops said.
Stoops crowed that OU’s defense has the potential to be one of his best units ever. The punting game is still a concern.
Oklahoma State
The hard part is over for the Cowboys. The offense is in. The defense is in. And now, after a first season in the Mike Gundy system filled with growing pains, the Cowboys concentrated on refining and filling a few holes (offensive line, linebacker, secondary).
“We’re a better football team right now than we were at the end of the year,” Gundy said. “We have more skill players that can make a play.”
Texas A&M
At Colorado, the numbers 4-2-5 inspire jokes, snickers, frustration and rolled eyes. At Texas A&M, it is the defensive formation the Aggies will use this fall. Coach Dennis Franchione said the switch, spearheaded by new defensive coordinator Gary Darnell, gives the team more flexibility in how the Aggies cover.
As for replacing do-everything quarterback Reggie McNeal, Franchione has settled on sophomore Stephen McGee.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech tackled the pressing issue of replacing quarterback Cody Hodges with surprisingly good results. Sophomore Graham Harrell and redshirt freshman Chris Todd are in a tight battle. In one scrimmage, the two combined to go 44-of-50 for 390 yards, with Harrell 26-of-28.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
