My adventure into the realm of the Big 12 began Monday morning in Dallas at the annual Big12 Media Days event. The instant you walk in you are greeted by cheerleaders, so suffice to say, it started well. Mascots are walking around through the hotel so the scene was somewhat comical but it got my juices following for college football. And as soon as  Big12 commish Bob Bowlsby came to the podium and dropped the bomb on NCAA reform, it got real.
Here are some of the interesting things I gathered from my two-day excursion:
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- 90% of the Big12 played in the 2012 postseason. Highest % in college football history.
- “I’ve been in the building about 30 minutes and haven’t had a realignment question yet.” – Bob Bowlsby
- Texas has the most returning starters (19) of any team in the nation.
- “It’s not what I say, it’s what you hear.” – Brown, to reporter paraphrasing a question on his statement
- “I’ve played good vs good teams. Bad vs good teams, and bad vs bad teams. I’ve seen it all.” – David Ash
- “Spread offenses have been the single thing that has created parity in college football.” Mike Gundy, on criticism of uptempo style
- “Have you seen that pile of crap out there?” – Charlie Weis, about his 2012 KU team to prospective recruits
- “Taught four units of Spanish, which I know nothing about.” – Bill Snyder, on first assistant HS coaching job
- “Being a leader doesn’t mean being a cheerleader. I’ll never be a cheerleader.” – David Ash
- “Buying less diapers, not as young as last year.” – Gary Patterson
- “We are picked last. If I were you, I’d pick us in the same spot.” – Charlie Weis
- “Anytime you win seven NC’s, it’s hard to dispute (SEC) dominance. It’s cyclical in a way that Big12 maybe winning that way soon.” – Kliff Kingsbury
- “You can’t ask me that. Just like I can’t ask you where you go to church.” – Art Briles, after a question on amount of money he made as assistant
- “They kind of laid down a little bit. That’s nothing to say about their character. That’s just what they do.” – KSU’s Tre Walker on Texas
- “It’s a big one. Hopefully they are getting it right.” – Stoops, on new targeting rules
- “Suddes has been great. We’re already so far ahead with our 2015 recruits as much as we’ve ever been.” – Mack Brown
- “Everybody has the ingredients to win. It’s about catching a few breaks and wins.” – Dana Holg0rsen, on conference parity
- “There’s two shiny things up here, this helmet and my head.” – Art Briles, sitting beside a gold helmet that could be seen from space
- “That’s a sensible question, but I’m not a sensible man.” – Art  Briles, on how BU uses their WR’s
- “You better be looking over your shoulder. Somebody is around looking to take your spot if you’re not doing your job.” – Mack Brown
- “Running back isn’t always about running the ball. It’s about setting people up.” – Lache Seastrunk
- “Nobody develops high school quarterbacks like the state of Texas.” – Dana Holgerson
- “If I put some pads on right now, you’d better be careful. I might hit one of y’all.”- Jackson Jeffcoat, on itching to return to the field
- The West Virginia Mountaineer mascot has real deer jerky. From a deer HE KILLED.
- “Mack Brown is the coolest dude I’ve ever met. I ain’t even playing.” – Jacques Washington, Iowa State CB
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