(AP) Tommy Tuberville wore a suit with a red and black striped tie and a Texas Tech lapel to Big 12 media day. That alone showed how much things have changed at Texas Tech. Mike Leach is gone and so are his casual, wacky ways on and off the field. Tuberville plans to keep a passing offense, but there’s going to be more running. More of an emphasis on defense, too. He’s also bringing together the guys from both sides of the ball more often to encourage team unity. Tuberville seemingly stole one page from Leach’s playbook by speaking out against the conference office, drawing a public reprimand. He joked Tuesday that it was a remnant from being encouraged to speak his mind as a TV analyst the last few years.
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Missouri’s streak of five consecutive winning seasons is the school’s longest in nearly 30 years, and coach Gary Pinkel has a chance for the most sustained success since the Dan Devine era in the 1960s. The Tigers slipped to 8-5 last year after winning at least 10 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. But Pinkel didn’t see that as a huge step back. He figured the young 2009 team was capable of winning nine games, which would have happened if Missouri hadn’t lost to Navy 35-13 in the Texas Bowl. A year ago, Pinkel was trying to ease the pressure on quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was replacing Columbia cult hero Chase Daniel. Gabbert held his own as a sophomore, throwing for more yards than Colt McCoy (3,593) with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Now, Gabbert’s a year older and senior running back Derrick Washington (865 yards, 10 touchdowns) brings experience as well. Missouri’s high point under Pinkel (12-2 in 2007) still fell short of a conference title, something Devine did twice during a stretch of 12 consecutive winning seasons. But Pinkel is still around, getting ready for his 10th season.
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There are many things Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden has experienced that most college football players haven’t. Like talking to late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The former pro baseball player was New York’s first pick in the 2002 draft, a pitcher taken in the second round. He said Steinbrenner called after Weeden signed out of high school for a $565,000 bonus. Weeden remembered playing rookie ball in Tampa, Steinbrenner’s hometown, and being around “The Boss” when the big league club was in the midst of a long losing streak. Weeden was later traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization before abandoning baseball in 2007 and joining the Cowboys.