John Kurtz and Mason Voth are in Arlington, Texas for Big 12 Media Days with The Game being conducted from 4:00-6:00 on KMAN Monday and Tuesday. Below are notable quotes and moments from the day.
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby
Big 12 Media Days about to start with Bob Bowlsby pic.twitter.com/0g2pqymRiZ
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“Contrary to popular belief, there are some kids that tackle in the Big 12” -Bob Bowlsby
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Bowlsby says that when it comes to sexual assault and domestic violence suspensions the conference defers to the schools, but that the coaching staff doesn’t make the call, it is the upper tier decision makers at the university.
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“we are evaluating the current environment…we have had some conversations and we will have some more…in the interim we aren’t going to spend time talking about what our discussions are about” Bowlsby on CFP expansion from four teams.
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
The Big 12 will have a channel on ESPN+ called Big 12 Now.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Bowlsby says the Big 12 has had no discussion of adding new members to the conference right now. He doesn't expect that to be a topic for the league in the foreseeable future. Adds that it's seven years in a row the first question to him at media days has been about realignment.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Bowlsby says the transfer portal sends a bad message to kids that they can have a bad practice and bail without talking to coaches, but coaches placing arbitrary restrictions on where kids could transfer is the reason that they're in this predicament.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
“The data could not be any clearer, the transfer sitting a year is better academically” Bowlsby on immediate eligibility for transfers.
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Bowlsby on Pooka Williams suspension: “I don’t presume to know all the details on that…the Kansas process followed what our misconduct policy describes…the decision is made outside of the athletic department"
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
KU Head Coach Les Miles
Les goes right into the Pooka situation unprompted. Says seven and a half months away from the team and a one game situation sends a strong message to the team. (He's reading a statement about this from a small notebook and just lost his place).
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
“Action was taken immediately…a strong point was made” Les Miles on Pooka Williams
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“I did not make this decision, but I stand by it and see it as a right one” Les Miles on the 1 game suspension for Williams
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“I don’t think I have ever felt better, in my life, than when I took a team to the field” Les Miles
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Les Miles says he has "a better talent base" at Kansas than what he inherited at Oklahoma State.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson
Gary Patterson pic.twitter.com/KJOVcleeLy
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Sounds like the TCU QB competition is pretty wide open right now. Patterson says he likes that Alex Delton was a team captain at K-State and that he has handled himself very well.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Patterson says Alex Delton sought TCU out, not the other way around. Delton gravitated towards TCU because he felt like K-State and TCU were similar programs. Delton helped TCU in a desperate spot because they were lacking healthy QBs for spring ball.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Line of the day so far comes from Gary Patterson. Says he has some cockroach in him because he can outlast people…that includes his wife where he says he started in fifth place.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy
Mike Gundy and his mullet pic.twitter.com/QJIoyQ5TcL
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“The win at all cost theory has not crossed my mind…I know some coaches may say that, but we back that up at Oklahoma State”
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“I had tried to hire Charlie a few times before, got close, he had good loyalty to Coach Snyder at Kansas State. The timing worked out great, both for us and Charlie…it’s been great for coach and great for Oklahoma State.”
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Mike Gundy says he tried to hire Charlie Dickey away multiple times from K-State, but Dickey remained loyal to Snyder. Then when Snyder retired, it was a simple as one quick phone call to get him to Stillwater.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Perfect deadpan delivery from Mike Gundy when asked about OU always winning the league:
"They've had average quarterback play the last few years and obviously overcome it."
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Gundy says his kids have said ‘if we did what you let him do, we wouldn’t have made it through the night’, Gundy continued to say that he let some things slide in his 14th year that he probably shouldn’t have. “being more focused and disciplined head coach should make us better"
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“I thought about actually getting a haircut yesterday, but it was Sunday and they were closed…just hang out and go with it…if somebody says it makes you look old, I’ll probably cut it” on his mullet
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Texas Tech Head Coach Matt Wells
Guns Up for Matt Wells pic.twitter.com/7GIHnbFJRa
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“I don’t think their success puts anymore pressure on me than what was there on December 1st when I took the job…I think if anything more it has inspired me” Matt Wells on the quick success of other Texas Tech coaches and putting pressure on him
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Matt Wells says that Alan Bowman is completely cleared and healthy for the upcoming season
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“Tightend is a big part of our offense…our guy is a hybrid…they have to be extremely smart and be graceful, catch balls”
The tightend is going to make a comeback in the Big 12 this year
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Matt Wells expects grad transfer RB Armand Shyne from Utah to come in and be in competition for starting job immediately at Texas Tech. Shyne almost ended up in Manhattan with Kansas State.
— Derek Young (@DerekYoungKSO) July 15, 2019
Matt Wells says the first thing on his list of things needed to win at Texas Tech is playing championship level defense. Speaking of things that feel different to hear from a Tech head coach…
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Matt Wells emphasizing being able to run the ball in November to be a successful team feels new for a Tech head coach.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) July 15, 2019
Oklahoma Head Coach Lincoln Riley
Lincoln Riley is the last to reach the center stage pic.twitter.com/ZotuvIwaSk
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Kennedy Brooks had a Title IX complaint brought to the school, but they cleared him. https://t.co/5BR5bLU5Ve
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“It has certainly been different, he brings a lot of great game experience that Baker and Kyler didn’t have…there have been things we do that he has been able to trace back to things he has done at Alabama” Riley on Jalen Hurts transferring to OU
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Lincoln Riley says he doesn’t see his offense slipping, even after losing 4/5 OL to NFL and the Heisman winner. Also says that he expects the defense to be better.
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“I am excited to see some of the new rule changes we have…if we can find the balance between making it safer for players but also not being reckless with tossing players out of games…it would be nice to find some common ground"
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
“I don’t think that is healthy for the league [that being immediately eligible inside of the conference after the transfer” Lincoln also said he was always going to let Austin Kendall transfer to West Virginia.
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
On if with the coaching changes will shift away from Big 12 being known as an offensive league, “I think it will evolve…it is really healthy for the league…the future for this league is as bright as any league in the country"
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) July 15, 2019
Day 2 Schedule (Center Stage)
10:05-10:25: Matt Campbell (Iowa State)
10:40-11:00: Neal Brown (West Virginia)
11:15-11:35: Matt Rhule (Baylor)
11:50-12:10: Chris Klieman (K-State)
12:25-12:45: Tom Herman (Texas)
