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Iowa fans need to root for their guy Bob Stoops.
Most bowl projections have the Hawkeyes going to the Fiesta Bowl — unless Oklahoma State takes the Bedlam game this week in Norman. If the Pokes beat Oklahoma, general wisdom, bowl sources and the guy down the street say OSU is going to the Fiesta Bowl (a move that would likely send Nebraska to the Jan. 2 Cotton Bowl, barring an upset over Texas in the Big 12 title game).
If the Pokes end up in the Fiesta Bowl, it would be because the bowl is showing loyalty to its “partner,'' the Big 12 — sort of like the Rose Bowl has an unspoken agreement to accommodate the Big Ten or Pac-10 whenever possible. It would not be because Oklahoma State deserves the BCS bid over Iowa. It doesn't. Or sends more fans than Iowa. It wouldn't.
People in the Big 12 like to talk about the overrated Big Ten. But what about the Big 12 South? (The Big 12 North is not even rated.) Who did Oklahoma State beat this year? A Georgia team that would be 6-6 with a loss to Georgia Tech. If OSU does win this week, and assuming Texas A&M loses to Texas, Oklahoma State will have beaten only two Big 12 teams (Missouri and Texas Tech) with winning records.
I like Iowa's win at Penn State better than anything on Oklahoma State's résumé. But that probably won't matter.
If OSU wins, Iowa would still have a shot at the Orange Bowl if the Fiesta takes TCU and Okie State. Then the Orange would choose from among Iowa, Penn State and Boise State. I like the Big Ten there. And even though Iowa beat Penn State, you wonder if the Orange would jump at a chance to get Joe Paterno one more time. Good luck, Hawkeyes.
• NU's bowl prospects look like this: Holiday if OSU loses, Cotton if OSU wins, and Fiesta if Nebraska beats Texas.
• A lot of national experts have the Cincinnati-Pitt winner going to the Sugar to play the SEC runner-up and TCU going to the Orange against the ACC. What about Boise State? You'd think the Fiesta would be tempted to pit TCU and Boise in an “alternate universe'' national title game. And you'd be wrong. The TV ratings might be OK. But that looks too much like a national title semifinal game. Bowls don't want to give anyone any ideas.
• There's not a job opening at Kansas. But if there were, Turner Gill would be a terrific fit. Kansas is a button-down, image-conscious place and Gill would fill the bill (say that fast 10 times). The Fort Worth native should know his way around Texas recruits. And judging by what he's done at Buffalo, he should be able to win there enough to keep the hoops school happy. Then there's this from the Buffalo News last week: “Gill has a relationship with Jayhawks A.D. Lew Perkins ... and Gill's daughter, Jordan, is a student at KU.''
• From the way the Mark Mangino saga has been played out in public, it sure looks like Perkins is using the five-game losing streak as his opening to get rid of Mangino. (You think?) Here's my question: Where were all these complaints from players and parents the last two, three or four years? Why now? Here's an answer: Mangino isn't the only coach to berate players, but the smart coaches know how to hug a kid, too, and make some friends. The lack of folks stepping up to defend Mangino tells me he hasn't made a lot of friends along the way.
• It looks like another long rebuilding year for Husker Hoops. Here's something to keep an eye on: the progress of Jorge Brian Diaz. The 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman from Puerto Rico is all elbows and knees. But he's got a nice touch around the basket. He made 9 of 10 field goals against TCU on Saturday and the majority were close shots he banked in. Diaz is sure to get roughed up in the Big 12 season, but he's skilled and has potential to be a player. Can Doc Sadler get him to rebound and play defense? With more “foreign legion'' players on the way, Diaz's progress may be very telling to show if Sadler can transform them into Big 12 basketball players. Here's a good place to start: Show them the weight room.
• Charlie Weis, offensive coordinator for the Kansas City/New England Chiefs? It makes sense, on many levels. For one thing, the Chiefs don't play USC.
Contact the writer:
444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com
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