Notebook: Day One of Big 12 Media Days

The first conversations about college football are always a welcome thing, even if it’s the sterile, dull conversations such as Big 12 Media Days. But it’s still less than seven weeks until the college football season begins, so the festivities in Dallas are a sign the season is slowly getting closer.

Here are some highlights from the first day of Big 12 Media Days.

Expansion Chatter

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby reiterated the conference’s stance that it is not looking to expand at this time. Oklahoma president David Boren opened that can of worms a few weeks ago when he made it clear he felt the Big 12 should be looking to move back to 12 teams at some point.

“It is my understanding at the present time that the majority of our presidents and chancellors believe 10 is the right number for us,” Bowlsby said. “There are those that believe we should get larger, and they feel strongly about it. There are those who believe we should stay at 10, and they feel strongly about it. And there are probably four or five in the middle who are persuadable one way or the other.

“At the present time, I don't think there's critical mass for expansion. It will continue to be a topic about which we spend at least a little time at every meeting talking about it, but until that majority shifts, it's a purely academic conversation.”

Less Hitting, Coming to a Big 12 Campus Near You

Bowlsby announced a new rule in the Big 12 that limits contact to just twice per week, including games and scrimmages.

“We believe it's the right step, and we hope it will become the national rule,” Bowlsby said. “Even if it doesn't, we think that that's the right way to conduct our practices. It's another way in which we're a little different, but our ADs have felt strongly about it and our coaches have supported.”

The Big 12 did not support the national rule regarding concussions put into place at last year’s NCAA convention because the conference did not feel the rule went far enough. The current rule limits programs to three contact periods per week including game days.

Bowlsby said the coaches in the league didn’t feel this would put the league at a disadvantage in game prep, nor in recruiting.

“What we determined was our guys weren't using them anyway,” Bowlsby said. “I think some of it is also style, and some of our guys don't even hit two days a week. The other thing is there's lots of opportunity to be in helmets and shoulder pads without full contact. The NFL has a rule that they only have 11 days of contact after the completion of their preseason camp. So if that's if they can get by on 11 days, we can certainly get by on twice that.”

TCU coach Gary Patterson said the Horned Frogs already practice just once per week with contact, so the new rule won’t really have an impact on his squad.

“Our whole thing is about being physical in the spring, being physical in two-a-days, and then when you get in the season—in this league, you've got to be able to pull up because of the bodies, and you've got to be able to get guys through to the end of the season,” Patterson said.

Other Notes:

-Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said he is in favor of expanding the Big 12, but noted he was good at simply identifying the issues rather than solving the issues.

“I favor a 12 team conference, I favor two divisions, and I favor a championship game,” Snyder said. “You might remember that, when we had that format, we were one of only two teams that played a game in December, and that was one of only two conferences. That was the Big 12 conference and the SEC.  Now we're the only conference that does not do that and have that particular format.”

-Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said he hadn’t thought much about Baker Mayfield’s transfer to Oklahoma since it happened last summer. Too bad Mayfield won’t be starting in Lubbock this season, as the Sooners and Red Raiders play in Norman.