In one hair-pulling, nail-biting weekend, the novelty in the Big 12 Conference was pushed either to the edge or over it.
Baylor’s new, supposedly explosive offense was grounded by TCU. Oklahoma debuted a quarterback, to good reviews from coach Bob Stoops, and the newest version of the “best defense he has ever had,” to lukewarm reviews. Kansas State started a new era with a new quarterback and a near-loss (24-23) to Division I-AA Illinois State.
But what the Wildcats almost did, Colorado pulled off. The Buffs proved they are what everyone else should avoid becoming in a 19-10 loss to I-AA Montana State. It was their fifth consecutive loss dating to last season, the school’s longest losing streak in 22 years.
The first game is treacherous territory. It’s something everyone knows subconsciously, but learns all over again each season while gasping, wishing for their team to hold on.
“In reality, all you have are a couple of scrimmages (in the preseason),” Stoops said. “Game action and speed is always a little bit different.”
Said Kansas coach Mark Mangino, “You’re playing a team you’re not familiar with.”
And those facts lead to thin ice. But with so much to get used to for so many teams in the conference, the first month, if not the entire season, will be a roller- coaster ride. Baylor coach Guy Morriss said he used CU’s loss as a warning to his team.
“No doubt,” he said. “I don’t see any reason why (my team) would take anyone for granted at this point.”
It was not all wiped brows and sighs of relief. Texas’ new quarterback, Colt McCoy, was solid with three touchdown passes and a scoring run in the Ohio State tuneup, also known as a 56-7 victory over North Texas. The Oklahoma State Cowboys’ new feeling of knowing what they are doing was validated in a 52-10 win over Missouri State.
“I think our team had a feel and better control of a game than at any point last year,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said.
Kansas State will get back to work on an offense that needs jump-starting, but, coach Ron Prince said: “We don’t make any apologies at all for winning. We want to keep that the central issue, but we know that there is improvement to be made.”
And anyway, Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione reiterated that the result in Week 1 doesn’t mean a team is what it appears. “I certainly don’t think one game gives you a handle on that,” he said.
Experienced sophomore
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel took a fair amount of flak in 2005 for his handling of Chase Daniel, then a freshman phenom quarterback who was the future of the program. Instead of redshirting Daniel, Pinkel played him, though the Tigers had one of the nation’s best quarterbacks in senior Brad Smith.
In Daniel’s first start Saturday, it appeared that a year of experience helped.
Daniel, a sophomore poised to be one the Big 12’s top quarterbacks, completed 23-of-32 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns in a 47-7 victory against Murray State. And that was with a lull in the third quarter in which he didn’t get much done.
“He’s always been a very poised guy,” Pinkel said. “From the day he got here, he was like that. So I thought, for the most part, he really handled himself well in the game.”
Too much shortening
After one week of playing with the new NCAA rules designed to shorten games, the Big 12 coaches, who generally hated the idea in the first place, really hate it now.
Gundy said Oklahoma State ran eight fewer plays (68) than normal. At least he has a no-huddle offense that can get the team its plays back. Others aren’t so fortunate.
“I think it’s funny,” Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. “We talk football, football, football, and we do all we can to have less football.”
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
