Big 12 Notebook: TCU's problems worsen over stolen case of beer
TCU coach Gary Patterson probably thought he'd seen it all over his 15 seasons overseeing the Horned Frogs. But just three weeks into this season, even he must feel as though he's being pushed to his limits.
The No. 3 Horned Frogs begin Big 12 play Saturday at Texas Tech, a dangerous game under normal circumstances. But the risk factor has soared for TCU because of a defense depleted by injury to multiple starters, a stunning leave of absence by a freshman starting linebacker and now an arrest that might go down as one of the more boneheaded brushes with the law.
TCU senior defensive end Mike Tuaua, expected to be a key contributor, and redshirt freshman wide receiver Andre Petties-Wilson were arrested Monday on felony robbery charges, according to police. The police reports state the players beat up three TCU students outside of a party and stole their case of Keystone Light.
Keystone Light!
It doesn't take much imagination to picture Patterson's features scrunching into bitter-beer face. Both players saw time in TCU's season-opening win against Minnesota the night before the incident, but neither has played since.
Expectations are sky-high for a program that narrowly missed making the inaugural College Football Playoff, and is determined to fend off No. 5 Baylor for the Big 12 title and a spot in this season's playoff. That gives Patterson arguably has his toughest coaching job in front of him.
Hope floats at Texas, but defense could sink it
Texas redshirt-freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard's breakthrough performance last Saturday was so amazing that he eclipsed Vince Young's 2005 school record for total yards. Heard put up 527 with 364 coming through the air and 163 by ground.
Despite the QB heroics that has literally inflated an entire fan base that had become as flat as tortilla, the Longhorns still lost the game to Cal 45-44. Texas has allowed 111 points in three games and the defensive news only gets worse from there. The Longhorns' unit, the strength of the team last year, hasn't been able to replace key starters.
Texas is rolling triple 9s, as in ranking ninth in the conference in total defense (512.3 yards a game), ninth in rush defense (240.7) and ninth in pass defense (271.7). Remember, the Big 12 only has 10 teams.
No. 24 Oklahoma State has to be licking its chops getting ready to face this Texas defense Saturday in their Big 12 opener in Stillwater. The Cowboys are averaging 41.7 points a game and more than 500 yards of offense, including nearly 180 yards a game on the ground.
Texas freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson stated the obvious during the team's media conference when he said: "We know guys are going to try to run it down our throat now, after they've seen three games. Now the job is to stop the run."
Briles won't punish assistant coach
In one of the more bizarre stories of the week, Baylor assistant coach Jeff Lebby was spotted on the Tulsa sideline as the Golden Hurricane played at Oklahoma last Saturday.
Lebby, who happens to be a former player and student coach at Oklahoma under Sooners coach Bob Stoops, was paying a visit to first-year Tulsa head coach and former Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery.
Lebby's sideline presence is a violation of opponent scouting rules, and Stoops wasn't thrilled to find out about it. Baylor coach Art Briles said he was unaware Lebby was there during Baylor's off-week. He called the incident "embarrassing" and said he called Stoops to apologize.
Stoops wants the incident reported to the NCAA, and Briles said it will be, however Briles said he does not plan any internal punishment for Lebby. Already this season, Briles suspended his son and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and wide receivers coach Tate Wallis one game each for recruiting violations.
OU says enough with early kickoffs
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has just about had it with morning start times. When OU plays West Virginia on Oct. 3 it will be the fifth time in the last six home games that the Sooners kick off at 11 a.m. CT.
"We'll express that to the league and hopefully everyone can have a fair amount of early and late kicks," Stoops said. "Hopefully there can be some equity. I do have a problem with it. I'm sure our administration does and fans do."
OU had five early kickoffs last season and also voiced its displeasure then.
Quick hits: Texas will reportedly agree to a contract settlement with former athletic director Steve Patterson totaling $2.8 million, roughly half of what was left on his six-year contract ... Oklahoma State video coordinator and Cowboys alum Jeff Naple passed away at the age of 54 after a bout with pancreatic cancer. Naple served in the Oklahoma State athletic department for 25 years. He began his tenure under then-head football coach Jimmy Johnson ... Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury endured a tough 2014 after being billed as "Coach Cool" leading into the season. He and Texas Tech regained some swagger with a big win at Arkansas last week, which led to some mud-slinging from Kingsbury toward Hogs coach Bret Bielema, who wasn't shy about slinging back. It's too bad this two-game series ended this season ... A concern for West Virginia this season was replacing Kevin White at wide out. It looks like the Mountaineers may have found their man in Jovone Durante, who scored a touchdown the first time he touched the ball.