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Head Coach: Frank Solich
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Capacity: 72.700
1997:
13-0 (8-0)
SOUGH
Big 12 Finish: Big 12 North Champs
Will win because: Nebraska runs the best option offense in
college football history.
Throw out the personnel changes. It’s the system and offensive
linemen that get the wins here.
Bobby Newcombe is the real thing at quarterback and might
have some people recalling the visage of Tommie Frazier.
Will lose because: The team plane is delayed and they
have to forfeit. That’s
the only way they
will fall in 1998.
1998 Prediction:
12-0 (8-0)
Reason:
Who’s Tom Osborne?
Solich picks up where
the great one left off.
SNYDER
Big 12 Finish:
2nd (North)
NEUHE1SEL
Big 12 Finish:
51,808
5-6 (3-5)
6th (North)
Will win because: Michael Bishop returns at quarterback,
and the do-everything junior college transfer isn’t hyped for
the Heisman for nothing in this, his senior season.
A strong linebacking corps returns with solid all-around de
fense. Watch out for junior running back Frank Murphy, the
preseason All-Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Will lose because: Nebraska has the Wildcats’ number. Also,
can you say cupcake
non-conference sched
ule? Snyder can.
1998 Prediction:
10-1 (7-1)
Reason:
Non-conference oppo
nents had an 8-26
record last year.
Will win because: Neuheisel will have things back on track
after a horribly disappointing season in 1997. Defense re
mains solid with Hannibel Navies patrolling the field.
Quarterback Mike Moschetti seems to be the real deal after
he shredded the Colorado State defense for three touchdowns
in the upset win.
Will lose because: Kansas State will be hungry when they in
vade Boulder. In a bat
tle of wills, KSU wins
by a nose.
1998 Prediction:
9-2 (6-2)
Reason:
Buffaloes bounce back
in a big way after dis
appointing season.
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Head Coach:
Stadium:
Capacity:
1997:
R.C. Slocum
Kyle Field
58,000
9-4 (6-2)
Big 12 Finish: Big 12 South Champs
Will win because: Returning senior quarterback Branndon
Stewart, senior linebacker Dat Nguyen and the running-back
factory return nearly unchanged.
There is no reason why the Aggies can’t contend for a top-10
national ranking. Beating Nebraska will be the key.
Will lose because: Questions about shaky placekicker situa
tion and untested offensive line remain unanswered. Record
against top-ranked
teams leaves much to
be desired.
1998 Prediction:
10-2 (7-1)
Reason:
A year older, a year
wiser in College
Station.
BROWN
Head Coach:
Stadium:
Capacity:
1997:
Big 12 Finish:
Mack Brown
Royal Memorial Stadium
80,216
4-7 (2-6)
T-4th (South)
Will win because: Ttoo words: Ricky Williams. The “dread
ed” foe figures to terrorize defenses and break the all-time
school scoring record, probably before Big 12 competition
even starts. Offense should be able to produce enough points
to stay with any team.
Will lose because: Two words: Richard Walton. The un
proven quarterback floundered against UCLA last season af
ter James Brown’s in
jury. Defense remains
SIMMONS
Big 12 Finish:
Lewis Field
60,614
8-4 (5-3)
T-2nd (South)
Will win because: Sophomore quarterback Tony Lindsey is a
younger version of Missouri’s Corby Jones. Combined with
backs Jamaal Fobbs and Nathan Simmons, a dangerous of
fense awaits visitors. OSU can put points on the board and
has early momentum with win over Kansas.
Will lose because: Loss of NFL draft picks R.W McQuarters,
Alonzo Mayes and Jamaal Williams weakens a team that was
overachieving to
begin with.
headed nowhere.
1998 Prediction:
7-4 (4-4)
Reason:
Cinderella season just
hit midnight — back
to reality for Cowboys.
SMITH
Head Coach:
Stadium:
Capacity:
1997:
Big 12 Finish:
Larry Smith
Memorial Stadium
62,000
7-5 (5-3)
3rd (North)
Will win because: Quarterback Corby Jones can do it all —
run the option, thread the needle or carry the team when it
falters. Smith is a master of strategy, and surely the near-win
against Nebraska left the impression this team can knock off
the heavyweights.
Will lose because: Tailback Brock Olivo graduated, leaving a
huge hole for even Jones to plug up. Murderous schedule in
cludes trips to College
Station and Lincoln.
1998 Prediction:
6-5 (2-4)
Reason:
Big 12 North is one of
the strongest divisions
in college football.
.•if
Head Coach: Terry Allen
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
50,250
5-6 (3-5)
ALLEN
Big 12 Finish:
4th (North)
Will win because: Iowa State is on the schedule. Offense
can’t be any worse than last year’s squad, which ranked last
in the nation. Non-conference schedule holds a few
walkovers so the win column isn’t totally empty.
Will lose because: Not even Roy Williams could get this of
fense to score points. As long as basketball outdraws football,
Kansas can pack it in.
1998 Prediction:
4-7 (1-7)
Reason:
Allen will be too busy
looking at want ads to
coach.
MCCARNEY
Head Coach:
Stadium:
Capacity:
1997:
Big 12 Finish:
Dan McCarney
Cyclone Stadium
43,000
1-10 (1-6)
5th (North)
Will win because: A Sept. 19 game against Ball State at
home will have the Cyclones fired up about their only chance
for a win. Running back Darren Davis and quarterback Todd
Bandhauer produce decent offensive numbers, but not good
enough to make up for the lack of defense.
Will lose because: They’re the opposite of Texas A&M — a
tradition of absolutely no defense. Tough to make it like that
in the Big 12.
1998 Prediction:
1-10 (0-8)
Reason:
Someone has to fin
ish last. Why not the
Cyclones?
DYKES
Head Coach:
Stadium:
Capacity:
1997:
Big 12 Finish:
Spike Dykes
Jones Stadium
50,500
6-5 (5-3)
T-2nd (South)
Will win because: Two words: Ricky Williams. Sound famil
iar? Folks in Lubbock call him “Ricky Williams Lite” in rever
ence to the other one in Austin. May be chasing Longhorns’
back for rushing title at end of season. Receiver Donnie Hart
might be the best in the Big 12.
Will lose because: Lack of motivation because of NCAA sanc
tions. Quarterback Rob Peters doesn’t have enough game ex
perience to adequate
ly replace departed
Zebbie Letheridge.
1998 Prediction:
6-5 (3-5)
Reason:
Players could use more
than a tutor, coach.
BLAKE
Head Coach:
Stadium:
Capacity:
1997:
Big 12 Finish:
John Blake
Memorial Stadium
75,004
4-8 (2-6)
T-4th (South)
Will win because: The option and Oklahoma were made for
each other. Remember Barry Switzer? Junior quarterback
Brandon Daniels can run with the ball and his replacement,
Patrick Fletcher, is a capable thrower. Running back De’Mond
Parker is dangerous in the open field.
Will lose because: John Blake has yet to prove he can win
in the Big 12 Conference. Until he can put together a de
cent winning streak,
his job will be in
jeopardy.
1998 Prediction:
4-7 (2-6)
Reason:
Barry, come back and
bring Jamielle Hol
loway back with you!
ROBERTS
Head Coach:
Stadium:
Capacity:
1997:
Big 12 Finish:
Dave Roberts
Floyd Casey Stadium
50,000
2-9 (1-7)
6th (South)
Will win because: Sophomore quarterback Odell James will
finally step into the role of playmaker, replacing four-year
starter Jeff Watson.
Stable of running backs includes Darrell Bush, who was
the second all-time leading 5A rusher at Jersey Village
High School.
Will lose because: It’s Baylor. They haven’t had a winning
season since 1994,
and the Big 12 Confer
ence just gets stronger
every year.
1998 Prediction:
2-9 (1-7)
Reason:
Rich get richer, Baylor
stays the same.