The Official Big 12 Media Day Thread

[bbdude]

Gundy: We have recruited depth and speed on defense. I feel better about our defense now than I ever have as head coach.

 

[bbdude]

Besides facilities, what has allowed you to win a championship like you did last year?

Our facilities are great. With our coaching staff we were able to recruit great young players that fit well within our systems. Quality people in our organization that care about the players is key. Oklahoma State has come a long way.

 

[bbdude]

Have you followed Dez Bryant’s career? Specifically some of the off the field incidents. How do you think he will handle these things?

Dez is an unbelievable talent and he is making strides to do the right thing. It saddens me to hear negative things come out about Dez. When he was at OSU we were with him all the time, every step of the way. Hopefully he can get back to that trend in the NFL.

 

[bbdude]

Gundy was asked about the PSU issue and whether OSU would be interested in talking to players/recruits from PSU...

He mentioned OSU has not had a lot of success with transfers but this (PSU) is a unique situation. State College is a long ways away and not like it is a 4 hour car drive. Gundy said, however, if there was interest they would potentially be interested in talking.

Lot of discussion abouit the receivers and the loss of receivers Dez Bryant and Justin Blackmon. Gundy says OSU will need a handful of guys to work together to get the numbers these players put up while at OSU. There are talented receivers on the current OSU team and there are a lot of talented young guys comin gon board this summer.

 

[bbdude]

Kansas Head Coach Charlie Weis up next...

 

[bbdude]

When asked if he had taken a look at the PSU roster: YES.

He mentioned that first you have to be respectful of PSU. All programs have done homework on this before the decision came out.

 

[bbdude]

Weis: I have been friends with Mack for quite some time. I have known Coach Tuberville for a number of year... we spent time tgether with the troops... One guy I respect tremendously is Coach Bill Snyder. I have a lot of respect for a lot of coaches but I don't want to become their buddy --- I want to beat them.

 

[bbdude]

Dan Crist and I have known one another since he was in High School. We have a great relationship. This was not about the relationship it was about whether or not he could come in here and help us win.

 

[bbdude]

Weiss when asked about his time with the KC Chiefs:

This is actually one of the big reasons I took the job. I enjoyed my time in Kansas City and my familiarity with the area made the decision much easier.

 

[bbdude]

When it comes to turning around the Kansas program: I look at teams in the immediate area that are doing quite well. Why can't we have a 3rd team doing well?

 

[bbdude]

On Dave Campo: Dave Campo (Kansas DC) and I have known each other for a number of years. He is a great teacher and is well respected by the players. "He is an energetic, infectious person."

 

[bbdude]

Kansas is a basketball school. How do you get folks fired up about Kansas football?

Weis: I love hoops and I have great seats. We use the basketball program as a model for what we want the football team to be. We use the basketball program as a recruiting tool. It is a positive, not a second-hand negative.

 

[bbdude]

On Notre Dame vs. Kansas:

Notre Dame is a national university. Any time you said anything it made the national news. Both schools want the same team: to win football games. The expectations are not there for KU like they are at ND. Our goal is to win games.

 

[bbdude]

Were you desperate to become a head coach?

I was offered a lot of other jobs that paid a lot more money. I took this job because of the challenge and because as a KU family we can make it pay dividends.

 

[bbdude]

Baylor Bears Head Coach Art Briles up next and will end the 2012 Big 12 Media Days.

 

[bbdude]

Briles - "It has been a phenomenal year for Baylor Athletics. The Baylor brand on a national level is in full force. I am just proud to be a part of it."

 

[bbdude]

How important is the new stadium at Baylor to sustaining some of the success you have had?

This is a big time deal now at Baylor. It will change the image of Baylor and those that would not have considered Baylor before. This will be one of the most beautiful stadiums in the nation. I am not smart enough to articulate how much this will benefit our university. This is not a want this is a need.

 

[bbdude]

On losing Terrance Ganaway:

We had 5 guys drafter off the offensive side of the ball. This hasn't happened in the last 30 years on any team. We have some holes to fill. Ganaway was a relatively unknown. We have some guys on campus that we are confident they can carry on that role.

 

[bbdude]

Now that RG3 is gone, what kind of things will you have to do to replace the physical ability he brought and the attention he brought to BU football?

The football thing is taken care of. We are going to get that done. The attention he brought the university and as a current qb of the Washington Redskins... we are going to ride that.

 

[bbdude]

On TCU and if it presents a challenge to recruiting the DFW area?

It doesn't present too much of a challenge. When I was at UH the toughest thing was to keep folks at home. Student athletes want to get away from home and play elsewhere.