By JOHN KLEIN Sr. Sports Columnist on Jul 19, 2012, at 9:58 AM Updated on 7/19 at 9:58 AM
KLEIN'S KORNER
Oklahoma State is batting .500 in keeping two high-profile freshmen athletes.
Third-team quarterback Wes Lunt announced ...
You just knew Kevin Durant would win the game for the Oklahoma City Thunder if given a chance.
He was given that chance ...
The Oklahoma City Thunder reached the 2012 NBA Finals with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, arguably three ...
Three of the top 22 picks in the NFL draft this spring were from the Big 12 Conference.
To say there might be a dropoff is expected.
However, the cupboard is not bare in the Big 12 at quarterback.
In fact, an all-Big 12 team announced this week, that did not have Oklahoma’s Landry Jones on the first team, ignited a firestorm of protest among the Oklahoma City-based media.
West Virginia’s Geno Smith was named the first team quarterback. Let us not forget that Kansas State’s Collin Klein and TCU’s Casey Pachal will be in the Big 12 this fall, too.
So, it was not stunning that Smith would be the pick. Apparently, it was an outrage in the Oklahoma City area.
The last time we saw Smith he was hanging 70 on Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
What most folks remember about Jones is that he faded badly at the end of last season when top receiver Ryan Broyles was lost to injury.
It is easy to make the case for Jones. He’s a four-year starter on a team that is favored to win the Big 12 and contend for the national title.
A year ago, many of these same folks, upset over the snub of Jones, were mad that anyone would even suggest that Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden or Baylor’s Robert Griffin III or Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill should be the preseason all-league quarterback.
Their reasoning? Jones beat Weeden and Griffin in games in 2010 so he should be the all-conference quarterback. Under that theory, Barry Sanders would have never made the all-Big Eight team.
Preason all-conference teams are often full of controversial picks.
It depends on what media folks send in their ballots. It depends largely on reputation.
However, the season sorts it out.
The preseason all-conference teams are good for one thing - fake outrage on the radio.
Only active print or digital subscribers of the Tulsa World are allowed to post comments on stories posted to Tulsaworld.com. After you fill out the form below and click submit, your comment will be published instantly online along with your screen name.
By clicking "Submit" you are agreeing to our terms and conditions.
