Crucial questions before football starts

Happy One Month to all (sounds kind of like an anniversary, I know). But there’s reason to rejoice, or at least there’s reason to officially start the countdown.Sorry 80’s fans, not this sort of countdown. Hilarious video, though.As of Wednesday, exactly one month remains until Big 12 Conference schools kick off the 2008 college football season (Baylor and Iowa State begin two days earlier on Thursday, Aug. 28).Exactly one month until homeowners or renters near Mississippi and 11th Streets are considered to live on the most sacred properties in Lawrence.With a month left until the season openers, I have questions. Unlike Radio Shack, however, I’m not sure I have all the answers. Here are my Top 10 pivotal questions about the Big 12 before the season starts.1.Kansas: How much is this year’s schedule going to affect the Jayhawks’ record? Certainly, this question is up for debate. It’s been debated and thrown around Lawrence for months. Here’s the facts: Adios Texas A&M, Baylor and Oklahoma State. Hello Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech. Thankfully for the Jayhawk faithful, two of those games (Texas and Texas Tech) are in Memorial Stadium, where KU hasn’t lost since Oct. 14, 2006.2.Oklahoma: How many rushing yards will OU running backs DeMarco Murray, Chris Brown and Jermie Calhoun rack up? This question was derived from an insightful comment by KGphoto (I’d cite your name if I knew it) on my column from today. The sophomore Murray (764 rushing yards 13 TD’s) will get his yards. Don’t look past Calhoun, though, a Rivals.com five-star recruit from Ben Wheeler, Texas. With the entire Sooners offensive line returning, why you would ever pass in this offense is beyond me, all due respect to Sam Bradford and his freshman-record 36 touchdown passes in 2007. The junior Brown (611 rushing yards, nine TD’s) is experienced, too. Yikes. Check out some Calhoun highlights from his time at Van High School below. Spoiler: the 30-second mark is ridiculous. And the metal heads might enjoy the background music, although if you have your speakers turned up anywhere past halfway, the music won’t exactly be in the background.3.Missouri: Is there any way the Tigers compete for a national title? Such are the expectations in Columbia, Mo. The strength of the Big 12 might prohibit this scenario, though. The Tigers would have to beat Illinois (neutral), Nebraska (road), Texas (road) and Kansas (neutral), along with all their other Big 12 games to pull it off. Oklahoma might not be on the regular-season schedule, but chances are Missouri would have to beat OU in the Big 12 title game to reach the promised land. Last year’s match-up wasn’t pretty for MU, and Oklahoma is only getting better. There’s no arguing Missouri has the talent, though.4.Texas Tech: If you have to take the over-under on the amount of touchdown passes from Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree this year, with the line set at 22, what would you take? Line is set at 22 because Crabtree destroyed the freshman touchdown record of 16 last year (with 22).5. Texas: Do the Longhorns have a big-play threat on offense to surround quarterback Colt McCoy? The Longhorns have had an NFL-caliber receiver each season for years, with Roy Williams and Limas Sweed. I’m not sure if Quan Cosby and/or Jordan Shipley can amount to the same sort of talent.6. Nebraska: Can first-year coach Bo Pelini pull off a miracle and turn around the Huskers defense in a single year? It won’t be a surprise to see quarterback Joe Ganz and tailback Marlon Lucky lead the offense to a good year. Eight wins isn’t out of the question for Nebraska, but that success will hinge upon the defense’s performance. 7. Oklahoma State: How underrated will the OSU offense be in 2008? Quarterback Zac Robinson combined for 3,671 yards and 32 touchdowns last year, but no one seemed to talk about the guy. Ouch. Well it’s time to talk about him. See below.If Bachman-Turner-Overdrive, along with this video, are indeed correct about the junior, to the point where Big 12 fans “Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet,” Mike Gundy and the Cowboys will be a sleeper team in the South.8. Kansas State: If this season goes poorly for coach Ron Prince, would he be on the hot seat? I don’t know, but signing 19 JUCO players seems like Prince wants an immediate fix. Like, lightning fast.9. Colorado: How many yards will freshman Darrell Scott rush for this season? We’ll set the over-under line at 1,000. Much of CU’s success could depend upon the real answer. 10. Baylor: Who in the world is going to start at quarterback for the Bears? Blake Szymanski (who started 10 games last year), Miami transfer Kirby Freeman or Navarro junior college transfer Jeremy Sanders? Beats me. In fact, I hear Curtis Jerrells is also in the running. OK, he’s not really in the running. But this is a quarterback mess, not a QB controversy. As always, discuss. And Happy One Month.