Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Blog Poll Round Table

Its time again for another Blog Poll Roundtable discussion. This time it is hosted by fellow Big 12 blogger Crosscyed. Here are his questions along with my answers. Feel free to add your answers in the comments section.

1. We're about halfway through the season at this point. Have you gotten a gauge on your team's chances this year to make noise in conference play, or is the team still a total freaking mystery?

Looking around the Big 12 it looks like its Oklahoma/Texas and the 10 other guys once again. It seemed that this could possibly be the year that the north would rise up but that hasn’t really happened yet. Missouri is currently playing the best football in the north and the Tigers could easily find themselves in the conference championship game. However, I’m wanting to see them play a few more conference games before I admit that they actually have a chance to win.

That said, it appears that once again the Red River Shootout between OU and Texas will once again determine the conference championship. Truth be told, Texas has a slight advantage because I think they have the better defense but this is a much better Oklahoma team than the one that was destroyed by the Longhorns last season. If OU wins Saturday at the Cotton Bowl then they have the inside track to winning the conference championship.

2. Many of the bigger conferences such as the Big 12 and the Big 10 use a rotating schedule to determine conference games each year. What are your feelings on the current system used in your conference? Does a rotating schedule work? Has your team always caught a break?

There are no breaks in the Big 12! Kansas State learned this weekend that even Baylor can be a tough place to play. After the Texas game this weekend in Dallas the Sooners are home to play Iowa State and Colorado in back-to-back weeks then they will play four of their last five games on the road.

3. In an effort to get to know more about college football, both nationally and regionally, what have you done to expand your college football horizons? Have you caught yourself watching games from other conferences, or taking an interest in games that show up on ESPNU or Fox Sports?

College football begins at my house on Saturday mornings when ESPN’s Game Day comes on and ends after the late game on TBS or Fox Sports.

With picture-in-picture on the big screen and another television I can watch three games at the same time. I usually have a Big 12 game, SEC and Big 10 game on at the same time. Unless it’s a home game for Oklahoma then I have to check scores on the cell phone.

4. What would you change about the current exposure your team gets, either on the radio, television, print, or on the internet?

Absolutely nothing! The Sooners get plenty of coverage both good and bad.

5. During last Saturday's game against I-AA Northern Iowa, Iowa State trailed 21-7 at the half. The Cyclone Marching Band played a variety of songs from animated shows, including selections from South Park titled "Blame Canada" and "What Would Brian Boitano Do?" Needless to say, the Cyclones outscored the Panthers 21-6 in the second half. If you had to pick one song for your favorite team to rally to, what would it be? Because we all know what they did for the 2005 White Sox, Journey and "Don't Stop Believing" are not to be considered.

No offense to the band nerds out there but I could care less what music the band is playing. The only band I have ever stayed and watched at half-time was the A&M band and I have to admit they were impressive.