Nebraska, Texas tapped to repeat

By Staff     Aug 12, 2000

Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo
Nebraska QB Eric Crouch was named preseason offensive player of the year, and the Huskers were selected to repeat as north champions in a poll of Big 12 media.

Nebraska has been chosen to win the Big 12 football title again this season in a poll of media covering the conference.

Nebraska was favored to win the north division over Kansas State, followed by Colorado, Kansas, Iowa State and Missouri. In the south division, Texas was the choice to win once again, setting up a rematch of last season’s championship game with Nebraska, which the Cornhuskers won 22-6.

Picked behind Texas in the south division were Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

This year’s championship game between the two divisional winners will be played Dec. 2 at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.

The media pollsters picked Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch as the conference’s offensive player of the year, and they expect Texas defensive tackle Casey Hampton to be the top defensive player.

Their choice as the newcomer of the year is quarterback Bobby Pesavento of Colorado, who stood out last year at Fort Scott Community College.

Crouch heads the pre-season offensive all-conference team picked by the media, joined by Nebraska teammates Tracey Wistrom at tight end and Russ Hochstein in the offenisve line and Dominic Raiola at center. Kansas State choices for the offensive unit are wide receiver Quincy Morgan, offensive lineman Randall Cummins and place kicker Jamie Rheem.

Texas placed offensive lineman Leonard Davis and running back Hodges Mitchell on the unit. Other choices were offensive lineman Josh Lind of Oklahoma State, wide receiver Javon Green of Colorado and running back Ricky Williams of Texas Tech.

Besides Hampton, the defensive unit includes his Texas teammates Shaun Rogers, a lineman. Other choices were defensive lineman and linebacker Kyle Vanden Bosch of Nebraska, lineman Justin Smith of Missouri, lineman and linebacker Rocky Calmus of Oklahoma, linebacker Carlos Polk of Nebraska, linebacker Jashon Sykes of Colorado, defensive backs Jarrod Cooper of Kansas State, Carl Nesmith of Kansas, Gary Baxter of Baylor and Kevin Curtis of Texas Tech and punter Dan Hadenfeldt of Nebraska.

Here’s an encapsulated look at the Big 12 teams:

North Division

Colorado

Location: Boulder, Colo.

Enrollment: 25,656.

Nickname: Buffaloes.

Stadium (capacity): Folsom Field (51,655).

Surface: natural.

1999 record: 7-5 (5-3 Big 12, third in north division).

Lettermen returning: 42.

Lettermen lost: 24.

Offensive starters returning: 6.

Defensive starters returning: 6.

Offensive formation: multiple.

Defensive formation: multiple/4-3 base.

Head coach: Gary Barnett (50-61-2 10 years overall, 7-5 one year at Colorado).

All-time record: 608-368-36 (.619).

Bowl appearances: 23.

Bowl record: 11-12 (.478).

Last bowl: 1999 Insight.com (CU 62, Boston College 28).

All-time Big 12 record: 19-13 (.594).

2000 schedule: Sept. 2 v. Colorado State in Denver. Sept. 9 at USC. Sept. 16 Washington. 30 Kansas State. Oct. 7 at Texas A&M. Oct. 14 Texas. Oct. 21 at Kansas. Oct. 28 Oklahoma State. Nov. 4 at Missouri. Nov. 11 Iowa State. Nov. 24 at Nebraska.

Iowa State

Location: Ames, Iowa.

Enrollment: 26,110.

Nickname: Cyclones.

Stadium (capacity): Trice Stadium (43,000).

Surface: natural.

1999 record: 4-7 (1-7 Big 12, tie for fifth in north division).

Lettermen returning: 37.

Lettermen lost: 15.

Offensive starters returning: 7.

Defensive starters returning: 11.

Offensive formation: pro set.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Head coach: Dan McCarney (13-42 five years overall and at Iowa State).

All-time record: 433-514-46 (.459).

Bowl appearances: 4.

Bowl record: 0-4 (.000).

Last bowl: 1978 Hall of Fame (Texas A&M 28, Iowa State 12).

All-time Big 12 record: 4-28 (.125).

2000 schedule: Sept. 2 Ohio. Sept. 9 UNLV. Sept. 16 at Iowa. Sept. 30 at Baylor. Oct. 7 Nebraska. Oct. 14 at Oklahoma State. Oct. 21 Texas A&M. Oct. 28 Missouri. Nov. 4 at Kansas State. Nov. 11 at Colorado. Nov. 18 Kansas.

Kansas State

Location: Manhattan.

Enrollment: 20,885.

Nickname: Wildcats.

Stadium (capacity): KSU Stadium (50,000).

Surface: artificial.

1999 record: 11-1 (7-1 Big 12, second in north division).

Lettermen returning: 47.

Lettermen lost: 13.

Offensive starters returning: 8.

Defensive starters returning: 7.

Offensive formation: pro set.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Head coach: Bill Snyder (88-40-1 11 years overall and at Kansas State).

All-time record: 388-551-41 (.417).

Bowl appearances: 8.

Bowl record: 4-4 (.500).

Last bowl: 1999 Holiday Bowl (Kansas State 24, Washington 20).

All-time Big 12 record: 28-4 (.875).

2000 schedule: Aug. 26 v. Iowa at Kansas City. Sept. 2 Louisiana Tech. Sept. 16 Ball State. Sept. 23 North Texas. Sept. 30 at Colorado. Oct. 7 at Kansas. Oct. 14 Oklahoma. Oct. 21 Texas Tech. Oct. 28 at Texas A&M. Nov. 4 Iowa State. Nov. 11 Nebraska. nov. 18 at Missouri.

Missouri

Location: Columbia, Mo.

Enrollment: 22,723.

Nickname: Tigers.

Stadium (capacity): Faurot Field (68,349).

Surface: natural grass.

1999 record: 4-7 (1-7 Big 12, sixth in north division).

Lettermen returning: 45.

Lettermen lost: 16.

Offensive starters returning: 7.

Defensive starters returning: 7.

Offensive formation: pro set.

Defensive formation: attack 4-3.

Head coach: Larry Smith (140-118-7, 23 years overall; 30-38-1, six years at Missouri).

All-time record: 526-495-52 (.514).

Bowl appearances: 21.

Bowl record: 9-12 (.429).

Last bowl: 1998 Insight.com Bowl (Missouri 34, West Virginia 31).

All-time Big 12 record: 14-18 (.438).

2000 schedule: Sept. 2 Western Illinois. Sept. 9 at Clemson. Sept. 16 Michigan State. Sept. 30 at Nebraska. Oct. 7 Oklahoma State. Oct. 14 Kansas. Oct. 21 at Texas. Oct. 28 at Iowa State. Nov. 4 Colorado. Nov. 11 at Baylor. Nov. 18 Kansas State.

Nebraska

Location: Lincoln, Neb.

Enrollment: 25,000.

Nickname: Cornhuskers.

Stadium (capacity): Memorial Stadium (74,031).

Surface: FieldTurf.

1999 record: 12-1 (7-1 Big 12, first in north division).

Lettermen returning: 61.

Lettermen lost: 24.

Offensive starters returning: 10.

Defensive starters returning: 6.

Offensive formation: I-formation.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Head coach: Frank Solich (21-5, two years overall and at Nebraska).

All-time record: 743-297-40 (.706).

Bowl appearances: 38.

Bowl record: 19-19 (.500).

Last bowl: 2000 Fiesta Bowl (Nebraska 31, Tennessee 21).

All-time Big 12 record: 28-4 (.875).

2000 schedule: Sept. 2 San Jose State. Sept. 9 at Notre Dame. Sept. 23 Iowa. Sept. 30 Missouri. Oct. 7 at Iowa State. Oct. 14 at Texas Tech. Oct. 21 Baylor. Oct. 28 at Oklahoma. Nov. 4 Kansas. Nov. 11 at Kansas State. Nov. 24 Colorado.

South Division

Baylor

Location: Waco, Texas.

Enrollment: 12,500.

Nickname: Bears.

Stadium (capacity): Casey Stadium (50,000).

Surface: natural.

1999 record: 1-10 (0-8 Big 12, sixth in south division).

Lettermen returning: 31.

Lettermen lost: 18.

Offensive starters returning: 8.

Defensive starters returning: 5.

Offensive formation: pro-multiple.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Head coach: Kevin Steele (1-10 overall, 1-10 one year at Baylor).

All-time record: 495-446-43 (.525).

Bowl appearances: 16.

Bowl record: 8-8 (.500).

Last bowl: 1994 Builders Square Alamo Bowl (Washington State 10, Baylor 3).

All-time Big 12 record: 3-29 (.094).

2000 Baylor schedule: Aug. 31 at North Texas. Sept. 16 Minnesota. Sept 23 South Florida. Sept. 30 Iowa State. Oct. 7 at Texas Tech. Oct. 14 Texas A&M. Oct. 21 at Nebraska. Oct. 28 at Texas. Nov. 4 Oklahoma. Nov. 11 Missouri. Nov. 18 at Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma

Location: Norman, Okla.

Enrollment: 25,000.

Nickname: Sooners.

Stadium (capacity): Mem-orial Stadium (72,762).

Surface: natural grass.

1999 record: 7-5 (5-3 Big 12, tied for second in south division).

Lettermen returning: 45.

Lettermen lost: 11.

Offensive starters returning: 7.

Defensive starters returning: 8.

Offensive formation: multiple/pro set.

Defensive formation: multiple.

Head coach: Bob Stoops (7-5 overall and one year at Oklahoma).

All-time record: 690-279-53 (.701).

Bowl appearances: 34.

Bowl record: 21-12-1 (.632).

Last bowl: 1999 Independence Bowl (Mississippi 27, Oklahoma 25).

All-time Big 12 record: 13-19 (.406).

2000 schedule: Sept. 2 Texas-El Paso. Sept. 9 Arkansas State. Sept. 23 Rice. Sept. 30 Kansas. Oct. 7 v. Texas and Dallas. Oct. 14 at Kansas State. Oct. 28 Nebraska. Nov. 4 at Baylor. Nov. 11 at Texas A&M. Nov. 18 Texas Tech. Nov. 25 at Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State

Location: Stillwater, Okla.

Enrollment: 20,466.

Nickname: Cowboys.

Stadium (capacity): Lewis Field (50,614).

Surface: AstroPlay.

1999 record: 5-6 (3-5 Big 12, fifth in south division).

Lettermen returning: 30.

Lettermen lost: 20.

Offensive starters returning: 5.

Defensive starters returning: 5.

Offensive formation: Pro-I.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Head coach: Bob Simmons (27-30, five years overall and at Oklahoma State).

All-time record: 441-473-48 (.483).

Bowl appearances: 13.

Bowl record: 9-4 (.692).

Last bowl: 1997 Alamo (Purdue 33, Oklahoma State 20).

All-time Big 12 record: 13-19 (.406).

2000 schedule: Sept. 9 at Tulsa. Sept. 16 Southwest Texas. Sept. 23 Southern Mississippi. Sept. 30 at Texas. Oct. 7 at Missouri. Oct. 14 Iowa State. Oct. 28 at Colorado. Nov. 4 Texas A&M. Nov. 11 at Texas Tech. Nov. 18 Baylor. Nov. 25 Oklahoma.

Texas

Location: Austin, Texas.

Enrollment: 49,034.

Nickname: Longhorns.

Stadium (capacity): Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (80,082).

Surface: natural grass.

1999 record: 9-5 (6-2 Big 12, first in south division).

Lettermen returning: 43.

Lettermen lost: 19.

Offensive starters returning: 7.

Defensive starters returning: 9.

Offensive formation: pro style.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Head coach: Mack Brown (104-82-1, 16 years overall; 18-8, two years at Texas).

All-time record: 735-299-33 (.704).

Bowl appearances: 39.

Bowl record: 18-19-2 (.487).

Last bowl: 2000 Cotton Bowl (Arkansas 27, Texas 6).

All-time Big 12 record: 20-12 (.625).

2000 schedule: Sept. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette. Sept. 16 at Stanford. Sept. 23 Houston. Sept. 30 Oklahoma State. Oct. 7 v. Oklahoma at Dallas. Oct. 14 at Colorado. Oct. 21 Missouri. Oct. 28 Baylor. Nov. 4 at Texas Tech. Nov. 11 at Kansas. Nov. 24 Texas A&M.

Texas A&M

Location: College Station, Texas.

Enrollment: 43,000.

Nickname: Aggies.

Stadium (capacity): Kyle Field (80,650).

Surface: natural grass.

1999 record: 8-4 (5-3 Big 12, tied for second in south division).

Lettermen returning: 45.

Lettermen lost: 19.

Offensive starters returning: 5.

Defensive starters returning: 8.

Offensive formation: multiple pro sets.

Defensive formation: 3-4.

Head coach: R.C. Slocum (102-32-2, 11 years overall and at Texas A&M).

All-time record: 602-381-49 (.607).

Bowl appearances: 25.

Bowl record: 12-13 (.480).

Last bowl: 1999 Alamo Bowl (Penn State 24, Texas A&M 0).

All-time Big 12 record: 22-10 (.688).

2000 schedule: Sept. 2 at Notre Dame. Sept. 9 Wyoming. Sept. 16 Texas-El Paso. Sept. 30 Texas Tech. Oct. 7 Colorado. Oct. 14 at Baylor. Oct. 21 at Iowa State. Oct. 28 Kansas State. Nov. 4 at Oklahoma State. Nov. 11 Oklahoma. Nov. 24 at Texas.

Texas Tech

Location: Lubbock, Texas.

Enrollment: 22,078.

Nickname: Red Raiders.

Stadium (capacity): Jones Stadium (50,500).

Surface: artificial.

1999 record: 6-5 (5-3 Big 12, tied for second in south division).

Lettermen returning: 50.

Lettermen lost: 22.

Offensive starters returning: 6.

Defensive starters returning: 4.

Offensive formation: multiple.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Head coach: Mike Leach (0-0).

All-time record: 426-350-32 (.547).

Bowl appearances: 23.

Bowl record: 5-17-1 (.250).

Last bowl: 1998 Independence Bowl (Mississippi 35, Texas Tech 18).

All-time Big 12 record: 19-13 (.594).

2000 schedule: Aug. 26 New Mexico. Sept. 2 Utah State. Sept. 9 North Texas. Sept. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette. Sept. 30 at Texas A&M. Oct. 7 Baylor. Oct. 14 Nebraska. Oct. 21 at Kansas State. Oct. 28 at Kansas. Nov. 4 Texas. Nov. 11 Oklahoma State. Nov. 18 at Oklahoma.

PREV POST

Ask Gary

NEXT POST

425Nebraska, Texas tapped to repeat