Observations from the floor at Media Days

[Matt Cotcher]

I reviewed my notes from the past few days and there were several things that stood out. Some of them were in our Recaps, but most of this is personal opinion....

• Reading between the lines, Stoops & Patterson have good teams. Gundy has a bad team.

• Each team had their 2014 uniform on a mannequin over their interview area. Texas represented #46. If you look at the roster, that number belongs to a walk-on. Several of us noted that 46 is Malik Jefferson's number. That's not a coincidence, IMO - that's a nice touch.

           

• Kingsbury was talking about his plans for more vertical routes this year with a twinkle in his eye. Actually, it was the only thing that seemed to interest him at all.

• During a breakout session interview, KSU quarterback Jake Waters cut loose this gem: "I grew up wanting to play at ISU."   Afterwards, he quickly looked over both shoulders to make sure nobody from KSU heard him.

• Baylor isn’t going to miss Tevin Reese. His replacement, Antwan Goodley, is jacked. 220’ish pounds on his 5’10” frame means he is built more like a hybrid safety than a wideout.

• Presenting the WVU punter-stache  

• Best dressed coach was Charlie Strong in an impeccable charcoal suit and a tie that was the perfect shade of burnt orange.

• Best dressed player was Kansas State's Jake Waters, who rocked a bowtie.

• Tech’s Bradley Marquez is tasked with sliding into Jace Amaro’s position, but he isn't worried about trying to be/replace Amaro. Instead he's focusing on his own strengths. Marquez was the friendliest player I talked to.

• Shawn Oakman (Baylor DE) was the most unfiltered interview of either day. An easy-going nature that doesn’t match his size, Oakman laughed about everybody coming up with their own ending to #Oakmanissobig

• One adjective to describe every coach…

Stoops = relaxed
Patterson = confident
Gundy = meek
Weis = smart
Rhoads = realistic
Kingsbury = uninterested
Briles = cocksure
Snyder = pensive
Holgorson = affable

Strong = intense

• Some of the best from Twitter:

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

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[Lord Vader]

Bowlsby was supposed to be this big windfall for the conference. Have yet to see that. 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Bowlsby was supposed to be this big windfall for the conference. Have yet to see that. 

No argument from me, either.

He's obviously a polished, well-spoken administrator, but where is the "WOW" with his marketing and PR results thus far? Chuck Neinas negotiated the Big12's last TV contracts.  All we've got so far is a new logo. #IBP

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Bowlsby was supposed to be this big windfall for the conference. Have yet to see that. 

With the pending suits and all of the expected change, Bowlsby is about to earn his paycheck.

Until now, it's been fairly smooth sailing.

 

[Kylie Hopkins]

• Each team had their 2014 uniform on a mannequin over their interview area. Texas represented #46. If you look at the roster, that number belongs to a walk-on. Several of us noted that 46 is Malik Jefferson's number. That's not a coincidence, IMO - that's a nice touch.

Fingers crossed on this!

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Explain more about Kingsbury being uninterested. How was his media session?

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Explain more about Kingsbury being uninterested. How was his media session?

All the other coaches gave a 60-second opening before turning it over to questions. Kingsbury sat down, leaned over to the mic and said, "Let's just get to the questions."

That was his mood throughout the whole day - a mix of: I don't care about this + this is beneath me + I'm here only because I have to be

'Coach Bro' needs all the positive pub he can get heading into Year 2. He had an opportunity to receive some, but missed it.

 

[BudreauReye]

Thanks, Matt!  Nice report.  Sometimes the "day after" reports are as good or better than the "day of" stuff.  You know, a little cogitation does a report good!

 

[Matt Cotcher]

 

[streettopeschel]

All the other coaches gave a 60-second opening before turning it over to questions. Kingsbury sat down, leaned over to the mic and said, "Let's just get to the questions."

That was his mood throughout the whole day - a mix of: I don't care about this + this is beneath me + I'm here only because I have to be

'Coach Bro' needs all the positive pub he can get heading into Year 2. He had an opportunity to receive some, but missed it.

interesting. i heard him on a radio interview not long ago, and i thought he definitely projected an 'I'm cool and i know it' vibe.