1. Familiar Faces For TCU
We all know that Gary Patterson has been the head coach at TCU for what feels like forever, but they have plenty of returning star power as well. Running back Kyle Hicks, linebacker Ty Summers, quarterback Kenny Hill, and linebacker Travin Howard are all incredibly experienced, and will be taking the podium to give their thoughts on a new season for TCU.
2. Kliff Kingsbury On The Hot Seat
It’s inarguable now – Kliff’s chair is definitely warm, if not outright ablaze. In his four seasons at Texas Tech, Kingsbury has made a bowl game 50% of the time, and is 13-23 in conference play. Now, without all-world quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is the heir apparent for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kingsbury is facing a win or go home season without the football equivalent of a cheat code that he had for the past two years.
3. New Head Coaches In The Spotlight
Two Texas colleges have brand new head coaches – Tom Herman at Texas and Matt Rhule at Baylor. Herman will face some tough questions about winning at a place where losing gets you fired almost immediately, and Rhule will face tougher questions about leading Baylor past its recent history of sexual assault cover-up scandals. Both will be under the microscope almost immediately, and for good reason. Beyond the scandal, Rhule also has the task of rebuilding a Baylor team that’s risen to national relevance on the field as well as off it. Time will tell if his defensive mindset pays off for the Bears, but it’s certainly got the folks in Waco excited again.
Also making his debut appearance will be Lincoln Riley, who takes over Oklahoma after the abrupt retirement of Bob Stoops. Riley played at Texas Tech with Kliff Kingsbury, and grew up in Muleshoe, Texas.
4. The Texas Native Who Might Be The Best Player In The Big 12
James Washington, of Oklahoma State, is devastatingly fast. He runs crisp routes as well, almost cruising by defenders effortlessly. The Stamford, Texas native is the explosive part of what could be the best offense in the Big 12 next year, along with strong-armed quarterback Mason Rudolph and shifty Justice Hill, a young running back who can break linebackers off with ease. With all that firepower returning, there’s no reason to think that Washington couldn’t be one of the most statistically explosive wideouts in the entire nation.
5. Mike Gundy’s Mullet
The “Arkansas Waterfall” just got a trim, so it’s not as magnificent. Even so, I’ll take it completely.
Mike Gundy hair update: Full-blown American Glory. #okstate 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/9fxZSrItFU
— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) July 5, 2017
Note the date on the above tweet. Here’s the trimmed version.
BREAKING IMPORTANT NEWS: @CoachGundy has trimmed the mullet by several inches, but says he is stepping up his curling game. #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/1XLC5J9pQ7
— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) July 11, 2017
Still looks great, coach.
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