Mike Gundy breezed into the Big 12 Media Days Monday looking like a lawyer out of a Sydney Pollack movie or something. Light grey suit, purple tie, a little pocket blush to match.

Let his 15 minutes begin.

It’s Gundy’s Oklahoma State crew who goes on the clock in 2009 as the hot upstart team in the Big 12, and it was OSU that got the most attention – just slightly more than Nebraska and Texas A&M - on day one.

The Cowboys have arguably their biggest non-conference game in history on opening weekend, hosting Georgia. Gundy, whose spiky hair can sometimes match his demeanor, was all smiles and business on Monday.

“Oklahoma State is better off now as a football than we’ve ever been,” Gundy said. “Because of where we’re at, the continuity we have and the new facility we have and the direction we’re going. But we’ve got to earn it.”

Gundy fielded questions of all kinds, but two subjects came up the most: Zac Robinson and that last richly-paid assistant that’s supposed to put OSU over the top, defensive coordinator Bill Young.

“He’s mature, confident,” Gundy said. “He’s been great for us in the staff room. He’s a great hire for us. The players like him. They’ll adapt to the system.”

Gundy added Young’s defense will fit his talented trio of linebackers “to a T.”

***

Best story of the day had to go to A&M Coach Mike Sherman, who was watching football games on Thanksgiving weekend – depressed, since his Aggies had just finished a losing season by getting hammered by Colt McCoy and Texas – when his 9-year-old daughter plopped down in his lap, sensing her daddy’s sadness.

Sherman expected to hear those three magic words.

He heard three words, all right.

“She said ‘Daddy, get over it,’” Sherman said to a media room of laughter.

And so Sherman has tried. Sounding a great deal like former Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, Sherman, an offensive line guru and former NFL coach, too, said the Aggies struggled in 2008 in large part because of…wait for it…the transition to a West Coast Style offense.

“You have to put it on me, the transition part of it,” Sherman said. “It didn’t go as well as we had hoped.”

But the adversity of a 4-8 season, Sherman said, “brought the team closer together.” In the spring, A&M finally started acting like a “a team that competed in practice every day.”

As if this didn’t happen under Dennis Franchione, apparently. Isn’t that always the way?

In a Callahanesque manner, Sherman pointed to his most recent recruiting class “as a stimulus package of our own, so to speak,” especially along the offensive line, where the Aggies played hurt and hobbled throughout 2008.

***

Iowa State Coach Paul Rhoads was practically jumping out of his skin with passion at his first Media Days as head coach. Rhoads, a native Iowan whose “mom and dad live 20 minutes” from Jack Trice Stadium, is trying to resurrect, once again, an ISU program from the ashes of an awful season. In 2008, it was an ugly 2-10 campaign that saw the Cyclones lose their last ten games of the year.

Rhoads previously worked under Dan McCarney at ISU in the late 1990s, so he’s seen one coach do it. And Iowa State, in terms of facilities and player development, is well ahead of where it was back then.

“We used have every practice outside in some awful weather,” Rhoads said, and he’s probably not complaining. Trice is set up like a wind tunnel, and, past October, the practice conditions are somewhere close to frigid.

As far as expectations, Rhoads won’t put a win total on it. Good idea. He may want to forego that next year, too, when Oklahoma and Texas move onto the schedule.

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In preparation for Big 12 Media Days, Husker Locker will be counting down and breaking down each of the teams in the conference. We hope you view this series as more interesting, comprehensive and definitive than what you may find elsewhere. Where we can make strong takes – we will.

We rank the teams 12 to 1 in overall strength. Then we’ll provide for you the North/South breakdown – and the preseason All Big 12 team, as well.

Enjoy!

Today: Iowa State

Coach: Paul Rhoads
2008 Record: 2-10 (0-8)

What’s Changed Since 2008: The old coach, Gene Chizik, quit and left for Auburn. The AD shed tears over it. In an effort to define irony, ISU hired Auburn’s defensive coordinator, Paul Rhoads to become the new head coach. The defense, awful last year (453 yards and 36 points per game), lost five of those players who made it so awful.

2009 Non-Conference Schedule: Aside from the annual tilt with Iowa, an embarrassment. But Iowa State will struggle to win three games out of four. Home-opener vs. North Dakota State screams trap, and Craig Bohl’s boys have done it before. Next the Cys host Iowa, then travel to Kent State, then host Army. The Knights will run the triple option. ISU will struggle to stop it, we’re sure.

2009 Conference Schedule: A pail full of kittens, comparatively. Toughest road game is at Nebraska. Other road games are A&M, KU, and Zou Zou. Hosts Okie State, Buffs, Baylor. Kansas State will be held in the Chiefs’ revamped Arrowhead palace to give ISU fans a change of scenery.

Offense: Spread/Pass, No-Huddle
Coordinator: Tom Herman, a 33-year-old wunderkind – the guy’s a Mensa! - who studied under Art Briles for a cup of coffee before calling plays at Texas State for a deuce and ditto at Rice. The Owls set records under his tutelage, and finished 10-3 last year. That said, Rice went 0-5 vs. major conference foes in his two years and lost by average of 33 points. As we’ve said: Not the scheme, but the team.

Strength: Austen Arnaud is smart-but-cautious QB; he racked up scads of meaningless yards among his 2,792 in garbage time of games already lost. He rushed for 401, too, but ISU punted an average a four times per game, tied for most in the Big 12, so the offense wasn’t particularly efficient. He averaged just 5.9 adjusted yards per pass attempt when you figure in interceptions. Still, he has a decent arm, a good pocket presence, and can get on hot streaks. He needs more playmakers and needs to get a touch faster as a runner. The offensive line has four returning starters, but who knows what’s that’s really worth.

Weakness:This just isn’t a team of playmakers. The receiving corps is experienced, but not dynamic. Save one big run vs. Nebraska last year, Alexander Robinson mostly plodded for few yards in between tackles. Mostly, though, Iowa State was out of so many conference games after a heartbreaking 35-33 loss to Kansas that it simply never had to produce against a properly motivated defense. The one time it did, vs. Nebraska, the Cys looked like kids.

Defense: 4-3/Cover 2
Coordinator: Rhoads/Wally Burnham, who previously coordinated South Florida’s defense, where the head coach Jim Leavitt, did most of the playcalling. That’s why nobody wanted the job after Burnham left.

Strength: Iowa State isn’t going to try and outsmart itself, which we like. Linebacker Jesse Smith is a bit slow afoot in pass defense, but he’s a capable run stuffer. Safety James Smith doesn’t fall from that apple tree, either. As a true freshman, cornerback Leonard Johnson (47 tackles, 2 INT) was one of the best players on an awful, maligned defense. Short/squat Nate Frere has his days at nose tackle, we suppose.

Weakness: You can’t give up 176 rushing yards per game and expect to be any good. ISU probably had one of the slower, and certainly the smallest, defenses in the league. When you don’t have one lineman over 290 pounds or one defensive back taller than 5-10, you’re simply stacking the deck against yourself. Bigger, stronger, faster offenses simply overwhelmed the Cys over the last half of last year.

Special Teams Johnson led the Big 12 in kickoff return yard average, but he notched one-third of that total (1089)in one game vs. Oklahoma State (319 yards). Grant Mahoney cost ISU a win over Iowa, but he was generally a pretty good placekicker (17-25, 5-8 from 40+) otherwise. Mike Brandtner was a fair punter, which is common in the wind tunnel that is Jack Trice Stadium.

Intangibles: Iowa State has no real tradition to speak of, it ran off the one mildly successful coach it did have in Dan McCarney, and it’s putting its chips on a lifetime defensive coordinator with ISU ties in Rhoads. Yep. Not a lot a karma in Ames these days. Oh well – the grass turf at Jack Trice is really nice. Wish Nebraska would get it.

Best-Case Scenario: 5-7, with wins over Kansas State, Colorado or possibly Baylor.

Worst-Case Scenario: 0-12 with the easiest schedule in the league.

Our Take: The schedule plays into ISU’s favor. The Cys will have some chances to steal a win or two at home. But, fundamentally, installing a no-huddle in Ames, in that potentially bad weather, with that lack of speed, size and talent, is courting disaster. Iowa State could play itself right out of games in the first quarter. Previous coach Gene Chizik spent most of his energy recruiting fourth-tier types from California and Florida, guys only the MAC and Sun Belt Conferences were after, in an effort to jolt the overall speed profile. But Florida and California generally spawn more pro-style, rush-oriented offenses. So ISU has redirected its focus now to the cutting edge Texas high school market.

All that to say this: The rebuilding process two years ago at Iowa State seemed manageable. It now seems daunting. Here is, officially, the first MAC school to enter the Big 12. It’s gonna be that way for the next three years. At least.

See other Big 12 Breakdowns: No. 12 ISU, No. 11 A&M, No. 10 CU, No. 9 BU, No. 8 KU, No. 7 KSU, No. 6 Texas Tech

Agree? Disagree?Tell us about it.

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Today we continue with part two of our Big 12 coaches “toughest jobs” list. We’ve already covered what we consider to be the easier jobs. Now we flip the switch and come at from the more difficult end.

Again, the criteria:

Recruiting Base/Interest
Administrative/Booster Support
Media/Fan Expectation
Chance of “Success,” defined in part by the school’s tradition
An “X” factor unique to each program, which may be positive or negative.

On with the list!

No. 6 OKLAHOMA STATE

Head Coach: Mike Gundy Compensation: $2.2 Million

Recruiting Base: Oklahoma State combs over much of the same turf as Oklahoma and Texas, but can’t land many of the best players in the area. OSU tends to locate some of their best players, like running back Kendall Hunter, where OU and UT weren’t looking. Still, a ton of rough diamonds in the Pokes’ neck of the woods. And OSU is gaining momentum.

Administrative/Booster Support: Gundy has the money and watchful eye of T. Boone Pickens, who has flooded OSU with enough donor dollars to attract a top-flight coaching staff and vastly improve facilities. With that money comes expectations, though, and if OSU can’t get over the hump vs. Oklahoma soon, times may be a-changin in Stillwater.

Media/Fan Expectation: OU casts a large shadow over OSU, but the expectations, given the money and the coaching staff, are higher than they’ve ever been. The Cowboys are akin to Jay Gatsby – nouveau riche. Now they have to move into East Egg, if you will.

Chance of “Success”: It’s not easy to play Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech every year. That said, all the money, support and momentum is there. Nine wins is a reasonable, achievable standard each year. So is a win over Georgia to open the 2009 season.

“X” Factor: Gundy draws attention to himself, whether it’s with his “I’m a Man!” speech, his hair, or his penchant for completely ignoring his team while the defense is on the field so he can draw up plays. Right now, it’s working for him. One day, it might not.

No. 5 MISSOURI

Head coach: Gary Pinkel Compensation: $2.5 million

Recruiting Base: Better than any team in the Big 12 North, frankly. Mizzou can draw from the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas. The rest of the Show-Me state isn’t bad, either. The Tigers also have good ties with one of the best programs in Texas, Southlake Carroll, because they took a chance on Chase Daniel when others wouldn’t.

Booster/Administrative Support: Since Pinkel underwent a conversion, of sorts, after the death of a player four years ago - and Mizzou gutted its administration in the wake of a real mess with the basketball program – life in Columbia has been a lot better. But the fans remain a little tepid and, after losing his offensive coordinator, Daniel, Chase Coffman and Jeremy Maclin, people want to see just how much magic Pinkel has.

Fan/Media Expectation: Pinkel is on better terms with the media in the last three years, but, again, there is a sense that 2009 is a litmus test. We’ll see how he handles it. Four/five years ago, the atmosphere around Mizzou was fairly toxic and Pinkel was rumored on his way out. These days, Missouri is expected to win nine and beat Kansas. Might be a tall order.

Chance of “Success”: This remains a tough job. Missouri didn’t quite take advantage of its opportunities over the last two years, and it may affect how fans view Pinkel if things turn south in 2009.

“X” Factor: Mizzou’s spread, no-huddle offense takes just the right quarterback.

No. 4 NEBRASKA

Head Coach: Bo Pelini Compensation: $1.851 million

Recruiting Base: We can wax poetic all we want about the NU walk-on program, but the fact is, Nebraska often gets two-thirds of its starters from other states. In some years, it’s more than that. And while NU used to own the surrounding states, particularly Missouri, that’s just not the case anymore. Pelini and Co. have to work much harder and smarter than just about every other staff in the Big 12. Even Iowa State and Colorado are closer to population centers with football talent.

Booster/Administrative Support: Nebraska arguably has the best facilities in the Big 12, and Pelini has a mentor and friend in athletic director Tom Osborne. The NU fan base is so grateful to be rid of Bill Callahan that Pelini will be given the time and latitude he thinks he needs to build a consistent 10-game winner.

Fan/Media Expectation: At least nine wins yearly, and preferably ten. Conference titles, BCS games, and the occasional national title. The Big Red Nation has been a little spoiled by Osborne. And Pelini won’t diminish those expectations for a second. Still – he has to live up to them.

Chance of “Success”: It’s still good, mind you, but, as Pelini will learn, recruiting is such a crucial part of keeping up with OU and Texas and staying ahead of KU and Mizzou. Nebraska has all the amenities, great fans, and other perks. But you’ve still got to convince kids to leave home, family and friends. Not always easy.

“X” Factor: The longer Osborne stays, the better this job is for Pelini. He’s the ultimate coach’s ally.

No. 3 COLORADO

Head Coach: Dan Hawkins Compensation: $1.1 million

Recruiting base: Denver and Colorado Springs usually have their share of players, and Utah tends to produce quite a few for its small population but, like Nebraska, CU is spending a lot of its time in other states. Particularly California.

Booster/Administrative Support: Average at best. CU football is more of a pastime in Boulder, not a passion. Gary Barnett’s been gone for nearly four years, but what happened under his watch won’t ever be forgotten. Hawkins struggles to rile up a fan base that mostly cares about beating Nebraska and Colorado State every year.

Fan/Media Expectation: Let’s put it this way: They think Hawkins is a little nutty for suggesting 10 wins in possible. It’s an apathetic place, Boulder, to traditional sports. The basketball team couldn’t buy a fanbase.

Chance of “Success”: Getting slimmer. CU may always hang around that 6/7 win mark, but becoming a consistent contender? It may never happen again. The Buffs had to take too many risks on California kids just to get to that point, and you wonder whether the administration or campus would ever allow that again.

“X” Factor: Boulder is really appealing to some. Just strange to others.

No. 2 IOWA STATE

Head Coach: Paul Rhoads Compensation: $1.15 million

Recruiting Base: Worse than Nebraska’s in a lot of ways, because most of the best players in Iowa head out of state or play for the Hawkeyes.

Administrative/Booster Support: ISU has a small, loyal, and wounded base of fans who clearly felt betrayed by the departure of Gene Chizik. Athletic director Jamie Pollard has a vision, and it isn’t working out too well for football or men’s basketball. Some people rightly question whether firing Dan McCarney was a useful, smart thing to do.

Fan/Media Expectation: What McCarney was doing clearly wasn’t enough, and Iowa State has no real tradition upon which to fall back. The expectations are too high given the history. They just are. It’ll take several years, and maybe another uniform/helmet change, for the ship to right itself. May we suggest the yellow helmets again?

Chance of “Success”: Not real high. ISU has the odds and momentum stacked against it. We wish Rhoads well.

“X” Factor: Ames is a tough place to recruit to.

No. 1 BAYLOR

Head Coach: Art Briles Compensation: $1.8 million

Recruiting Base: Baylor’s base is made smaller by its academic standards and by its location in Waco. The Bears are situated in Texas but usually have to pick after Texas, A&M, OU, OSU, Tech, TCU, Houston, LSU, NU, Kansas and a few other schools.

Booster/Administrative Support: Have you seen the stands at a Baylor home game lately? The money is there. The passion is not.

Fan/Media Expectation: The expectation is that Baylor, a small private school, will somehow legitimately compete against the giants of the Big 12 South. That happens in basketball. Rarely does it occur in football.

Chance of “Success”: Art Briles really did a terrific job in 2008, and his team still couldn’t muster a winning record. His job, right now, is about as tough as Bill Snyder’s job was in the 1989. Since Big 12 inception, BU has never beaten Texas or Oklahoma. It’s not about to happen, either.

“X” Factor: Briles is a darn good coach who wants to turn Baylor around, and has some high school connections he can rely upon for recruiting.

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