Reesing left off list
With 12 games down and one to go, Kansas University’s Todd Reesing has already thrown for more yardage than he did in 13 games last year.
Yet Reesing couldn’t even garner honorable mention on the All-Big 12 team after earning second-team honors last season.
In the Year of the Quarterback in the Big 12, Reesing ranks seventh on the league’s passing efficiency chart even though, for the most part, his numbers are better than they were in 2007.
As a sophomore last season, Reesing threw of 3,486 yards in 13 games. In a dozen games this year, he has thrown for 3,575. Moreover, he has a higher completion percentage — 65.7 to 61.9 in ’07.
Reesing did have a better efficiency rating last year, however, mainly because his touchdown passes have dropped from 33 to 28 and his interceptions are up from seven to 12.
Nevertheless, his efficiency rating hasn’t dropped appreciably. It was 148.8 in ’07 and is 145.8 going into the Dec. 31 Insight Bowl clash with Minnesota.
Of the six quarterbacks who rank ahead of Reesing in passing efficiency, three are seniors — Joe Ganz of Nebraska (156.7), Graham Harrell of Texas Tech (163.0) and Chase Daniel of Missouri (164.8).
Big 12 passing leader Sam Bradford of Oklahoma (186.3) is a sophomore while Texas’ Colt McCoy (179.2) and Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson (178.0) are juniors.
Trivia question
Can you name the only Big 12 school that doesn’t rank in the Bottom 30 nationally in pass defense? Answer: Colorado.
The Buffaloes are No. 74 among the 119 teams in the NCAA upper division. The next best is Nebraska at No. 90.
Here are the rest of the ugly Big 12 pass defense rankings: Texas Tech 91, Texas A&M 93, Oklahoma 99, Baylor 102, Kansas State 105, Texas 109, Oklahoma State 110, Kansas 113, Iowa State 115 and Missouri 117.
If you’re wondering, Central Michigan (118) and Nevada (119) bring up the rear, not that it really matters. Central Michigan (8-4) will be playing in the Motor City Bowl and Nevada (7-5) in the Humanitarian Bowl.
OU’s streak could have easily been six
Oklahoma’s amazing streak of scoring 60 points or more in five straight games could very nearly be six. Before the skein began with a 62-28 victory over Nebraska, the Sooners scored 58 points against Kansas State. A week earlier, OU managed “only” 45 against Kansas.
Arrowhead downer
If you’re keeping track, the Border War at Arrowhead II drew fewer fans than the inaugural Kansas-Missouri game at the Kansas City facility. Saturday’s announced attendance was 79,123. School officials called last year’s crowd 80,537.
Sooners run, too
So dominant is Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford-fueled passing attack that most people overlook the Sooners’ two-pronged running game. Tailbacks DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown rank 2-3, respectively, in Big 12 rushing. Murray has run for 1,002 yards and Brown 988.
Don’t forget Texas D
Sure Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has thrown for nearly 3,500 yards and 32 touchdowns, but how can the Longhorns be 11-1 with an almost invisible running game? Answer: Texas is the only Big 12 school that ranks in the NCAA top 50 in scoring defense. UT ranks No. 21 by allowing 18.6 points a game.
Kansas, O-State twins?
Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant and Kansas’ Dezmon Briscoe, who rank 1-2, respectively, in Big 12 reception yardage per game stats, have more in common than just the similarity of their first names. Both are sophomores and both are Texas high school products — Bryant from Lufkin and Briscoe from Cedar Hill.
Iowa State upheaval
When teams lose, heads roll. Further evidence: Iowa State coach Gene Chizik demoted his offensive and defensive coordinators, and fired two other assistants after the Cyclones won their first two games, then dropped their next 10.
Remember Dawgs?
Anybody remember which football team was ranked No. 1 in most preseason polls? It was Georgia. The Dawgs finished 9-3, losing to Alabama (41-30), Florida (49-10) and Georgia Tech (45-42). Georgia is No. 16 in this week’s BCS poll.
Points aplenty
Half of the nation’s top eight scoring teams are from the Big 12 — No. 1 Oklahoma (53.3), No. 4 Missouri (45.0), No. 5 Texas Tech (44.6), No. 6 Texas (43.9) and No. 8 Oklahoma State (41.6).
Parrish resurfaces
Anybody remember Stan Parrish? From 1986-88, Parrish was Kansas State’s head football coach. Today he’s offensive coordinator at Ball State and one of five finalists for the Broyles Award that goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.
You, me and McGee
Hard to believe that Texas A&M, struggling mightily this fall, owns back-to-back victories over high flying Texas. Quarterback Stephen McGee, who has missed most of this season with shoulder woes, ran for 95 yards in the Aggies’ 12-7 win over the Longhorns in 2006 and he threw for a career-high 362 yards in A&M’s 38-30 victory last year.
Take KU’s slate, please
Sometimes it’s not a case of how you play as much as who you play. Kansas, for example, did not meet Texas, Oklahoma or Texas Tech last season and finished 12-1. This year, the Jayhawks are 6-5 and they went 0-3 against UT, OU and TTU, teams with a combined record of 30-3. Meanwhile, the three teams KU didn’t face — Baylor, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State — are a combined 17-16.
Long not long for SDSU
Chuck Long, a member of the Oklahoma coaching staff when KU’s Mark Mangino was working for Bob Stoops, stumbled in his first head coaching job. San Diego State fired Long on Saturday. A former Iowa quarterback, Long went 9-27 in three seasons with the Aztecs. He’ll receive a $1.4 million buyout, or $100,000 more than Ron Prince will pick up after his three-year stint at Kansas State.
Sooners’ sack fest
In Texas Tech’s first 10 games, quarterback Graham Harrell was sacked five times. In Saturday’s loss at Oklahoma, Harrell was sacked four times.
Next three-and-out?
If three years is the new benchmark for building a college football program, then Iowa State’s Gene Chizik may be in trouble next season. ISU ended its season with a 10-game losing steak. The Cyclones are 5-19 in Chizik’s two seasons.
Turnover conundrum
How important is turnover margin in college football? Oklahoma leads the nation with a plus-16 in takeaways over giveaways and boasts at 10-1 record. On the flip side, Baylor is ranked No. 3 in the same category at plus-15 and the Bears’ record is 4-7.
Cowboys eye Gilmore
Nebraska receivers coach Ted Gilmore, who played football at Wyoming, is considered a leading candidate for the vacancy created Saturday when Cowboys’ coach Joe Glenn was fired. Gilmore, a Wichita South High product, was tight ends coach at Kansas in 1999.
