Web posted
Monday, July 18, 2005
Some new faces atop Big 12 media poll
From TRAVELER REPORTS
MANHATTAN -- For the first time in three seasons, two teams other than Kansas State and Oklahoma have been predicted to win the Big 12's north and south divisions, according to a poll conducted by the conference office of media who regularly cover the league.
According to the poll, voters are anticipating a rematch of the 2001 title game, which pitted Colorado and Texas.
Colorado returns 18 starters off of last year's Big 12 North championship team that went 8-5 and won the EV1.net Houston Bowl. The Buffs received 25 first-place votes out of a possible 50 media ballots.
Texas has 17 starters back from last season's 11-1 squad that won the Rose Bowl and finished as the runner-up to Oklahoma in the Big 12 South. The Longhorns tallied 40 first-place votes in the poll.
K-State, the media's preseason choice in 2003 and 2004, was predicted to finish fifth in this year's race and received one first-place vote. OU, the defending league champ, was tapped second in the south.
The north and south divisions will square off for the 2005 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Dec. 3, at Houston's Reliant Stadium. The game will be telecast nationally by ABC at 12 p.m.
Big 12 teams will be in Houston on Tuesday through Thursday for the annual Big 12 Football Media Day. The regular season gets underway with a full slate of non-conference games on Sept. 3, including Florida International vs. Kansas State at 1:10 p.m. at KSU Stadium.
Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, who highlighted the all-Big 12 preseason football team as the 2004 Heisman finalist, was selected offensive player of the year in a Big 12 media poll.
Two Kansas players, linebacker Nick Reid and defensive back Charles Gordon, made the team. Kansas State and Oklahoma State were the only two schools not represented on the team.
Gordon, a junior, tied for the national lead in 2004 with seven interceptions after his first full season on the defensive side of the ball. He set numerous freshman receiving records for KU in 2003 as a wide receiver. Reid, a senior, led KU's defense with 109 tackles, including a team-best 15 tackles for loss last year. He is the leading returning tackler in the conference.
Texas defensive lineman Rodrique Wright was tabbed as preseason defensive player of the year, while Nebraska's Zac Taylor was chosen preseason newcomer of the year.
2005 Big 12 Media Football Preseason Team (Media Vote)
Defense
Pos--Name, School
DL--Nick Leaders, Iowa State
DL--Larry Birdine, Oklahoma
DL--Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma
DL--Rodrique Wright, Texas
LB--Nick Reid, Kansas
LB--Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
LB--Aaron Harris, Texas
DB--Charles Gordon, Kansas
DB--Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska
DB--Michael Huff, Texas
DB--Jaxson Appel, Texas A&M
P--Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
PR--Danny Amendola, Texas Tech
Offense
Pos--Name, School
WR--Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech
TE--David Thomas, Texas
OL--Tony Palmer, Missouri
OL--Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
C--Kurt Mann, Nebraska
OL--Justin Blalock, Texas
OL--Jonathan Scott, Texas
WR--Todd Blythe, Iowa State
QB--Vince Young, Texas
RB--Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
RB--Taurean Henderson, Texas Tech
PK--Mason Crosby, Colorado
KR--Willie Andrews, Baylor
2005 Big 12 Media Preseason Football Poll (Media Vote)
North Division
1. Colorado (25) 257
2. Iowa State (14) 231
3. Nebraska (5) 204
4. Missouri (5) 170
5. Kansas State (1) 111
6. Kansas 78
South Division
1. Texas (40) 287
2. Oklahoma (9) 248
3. Texas A&M (1) 195
4. Texas Tech 162
5. Oklahoma State 104
6. Baylor 51
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