Big 12 Football Mailbag: What is the Biggest Surprise in the Early Season?
Welcome to the HCS Big 12 mailbag. This mailbag is for all you football junkies out there who root for a Big 12 school who not only have questions about your team, but other teams in the conference as well. So, join me, grab a cold brew or your favorite drink and relax as I answer all your Big 12 questions in my mailbag. For those interested, I will send out a tweet (@Derekduke25) every Monday at noon until last call (No, not 2 AM) at 8 PM CT for you to send in your questions to be answered every Tuesday right here at Heartland College Sports.
I want to thank each one of you who submitted a question this week and for those reading, I am glad you could join me. I am doing this on Monday evening and of course this mailbag wouldn’t be nearly as fun without a cold beverage right next to me. Tonight’s drink of choice? An old fashioned to help get the creative juices flowing. Cheers!
@robtrev22 asks: The Texas Tech hype seemed to be quelled after their loss to ‘Zona. What’s the expectation like now for Matt Wells & Co. in regards to Big 12 play?
Duke: Well, before the season I had this team making a bowl game and of course that hinged on the health of quarterback Alan Bowman who is now injured and from reports he will be out anywhere from four to eight weeks. If Bowman was healthy I would say that those bowl hopes would maybe be still intact but without him, I don’t like this team a whole bunch. The defense still looks suspect and we saw what happened when this team didn’t have Alan Bowman last season. So with that said, if Bowman is out for five or more games, I have a hard time seeing the Red Raiders get to six wins. Heck, just look at their schedule for the next five weeks. They have a much needed bye week next week but then they have to travel to Oklahoma and Baylor while hosting Oklahoma State and Iowa State. All I can say for head coach Matt Wells is good luck without Alan Bowman.
@TedFlintKansas asks: Cheer me up and…..go.
Duke: Well for those who don’t know Ted, he is an Iowa State fan and a friend of mine. I can remember calling into your “We’re not that drunk” podcast on the way home from Lubbock at like one in the morning while I was driving. That still makes me laugh to this day when I think about it. Now, I know you are down in the dumps after the Iowa loss but this team still is undefeated in Big 12 play well because everyone in the Big 12 is still undefeated in conference play as of right now. Of course that all will change but just remember years ago when Iowa State when to a bowl game every now and then and now under Matt Campbell, making a bowl game is no longer the standard. You guys are on to bigger and better things.
This team still has their goals ahead of them and they will get one more game in before they travel down to Waco to take on Baylor (Which I will be at). Remember, Iowa State is just two games in of this LONG season. Besides, Iowa State lost to Iowa last season and they ended up doing just fine. I know it is a different team but let’s wait a little bit more before we throw in the towel just yet. Also, I still plan on going to Ames in November so maybe you can look forward to having a few drinks with a below average blogger like myself.
@KBehr68 asks: I’m hurting here, I need some sunshine and rainbows please. What alcohol, beer or mixed drink are each Big 12 team most like?
Duke: Relax KBehr, relax. This mailbag is the place for you to throw away your troubles. Unless of course, I think your team is in trouble and in that case, you should be worried. However, I know you are an Iowa State guy and like I mentioned to Ted earlier, there is still plenty of season left for the Cyclones to pick things up. Now as for your question, here is my list of answers.
Texas: A Martini. I’ll be honest with you. Texas has had a more traditional wine and cheese golf clap kind of atmosphere the last few years and I do believe that is starting to finally change thanks to AD Chris Del Conte.
Baylor: I never could quite get a feel for the scene at Baylor. I know our good friends over at Sic’Em 365 throw one hell of a party there but if I had to say I would go with something from the Balcones Distillery. They make a Texas style bourbon and it is quite tasty. In fact, when I go to Houston Astros games, I enjoy that with a splash of coke.
TCU: I have always associated TCU with either a mimosa or a personal morning favorite of mine, a screwdriver. I still am not sure why though. Maybe some TCU fans can help me out here.
Texas Tech: I enjoy going to west Texas and every time I go out there, people are always friendly and inviting. When it comes to drinks, I always see a ton of Bud Light in the parking lot and while I am not a “Bud Light guy” this seemed like the beer to pair up with Tech. It’s simple, easy and inviting just like the good folks out in West Texas.
Oklahoma: An old fashioned. It looks nice, it tastes great and it is a classic.
Oklahoma State: A margarita. You can add good tequila or cheap tequila depending on Mike Gundy’s mood.
Kansas: I have said this before but I would always compare Kansas football to a cheap vodka. Like something you would get a half gallon for like eight bucks and it comes in a plastic bottle. It’s ugly to look at and it burns like hell on the way down. I hope Les Miles will change that.
Kansas State: Whiskey and Coke. It’s simple, dependable and it gets the job done in any situation.
Iowa State: Busch Light. Well, you knew this one.
West Virginia: I mean, it has to be moonshine right?
@Ten12Podcast asks: What is the biggest surprise of the season so far; Kansas State being good, Iowa State being not nearly as good as we thought, Kansas beating a Power 5 team on the road, or Oklahoma with a third straight Heisman contending quarterback?
Duke: I am looking right at the sunflower state. Let’s start with the Jayhawks because what they did on Friday night against Boston College was amazing. I had plans to attend a local high school game and I ended up staying at home to watch the Jayhawks and I am glad I did. Snapping a 48 game road losing streak against power five opponents that dated all the way back to 2008? That’s miracle work Les Miles did on that night of Friday the 13th. If you would have asked me before the game which would be more likely: That on Friday the 13th Jason Voorhees busts down my door with a machete or that Kansas beats Boston College by 24 on the road? I would have said Jason Vorhees by a longshot.
Now Kansas State really impressed me as well. What they did in the first two weeks in the season was impressive against cupcakes but to make that many mistakes on the road at Mississippi State on the road and still find a way to win? That was impressive. I totally underrated this team heading into the season and right now, they look like a top four team in the Big 12. No matter who plays Kansas State this season, it is going to be tough.
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