Who should be the all conference quarterback."

It’s just crazy that one league has four guys who are as prolific as Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Missouri’s Chase Daniel and Texas’ Colt McCoy. All are among the top 10 nationally in passing yards.

Comparably thought-provoking — who is the Big 12 coach of the year."

If votes were cast today, Texas Tech’s Mike Leach would be your winner. But the No. 2 Red Raiders likely will lose this week at fifth ranked Oklahoma (because everybody loses at Oklahoma), and then Leach’s candidacy would have a slight blemish (especially if the Sooners win big).

Leach has worked wonders in Lubbock, Texas. OU’s Bob Stoops and Texas’Mack Brown have had exceptional seasons.

If there’s a viable fourth candidate, it would be Mike Gundy.

Only three years after Oklahoma State finished 1- 7 in Big 12 play — and only one year after the infamous “rant” that for a while was the defining moment of his head-coaching career — Gundy has been the point man in one of the better seasons in Cowboy football history.

Because of a difficult schedule, the Cowboys were expected to be only slightly better than .500. Having prevailed 30-17 at Colorado, OSU is 9-2.

If it can defeat OU in Stillwater (Nov. 29) and win in a bowl, OSU would savor the first 11-win season in school history.

In each of the last

OSU is among national leaders in total offense, scoring and rushing.

This week, a newspaper columnist was somewhat critical because Gundy is so exclusively focused on the Cowboy offense. When his defense is on the field, Gundy usually is removed from the immediate sideline while huddled with QB Zac Robinson and offensive personnel. Gundy calls the plays. As the defense plays, he is scripting the next offensive possession.

It’s not conventional, but so what."

Gundy is responsible for the bottom line — winning — and OSU has exceeded expectations. For that, he should at least be in the coach-of-the-year discussion.