3:50 p.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Hey guys. I’m leaving for a tour of the new Cowboys Stadium, host of the Big 12 championship game this season. Hopefully, I’ll have video to post later.

3:15 p.m. update: By Jesse Newell

A couple more videos, both on the lighter side.

Here is receiver Kerry Meier, talking about a hidden talent of Todd Reesing. The two lived together earlier in college.

And here’s Mark Mangino talking about the playing surface he prefers on his football fields.

One more quick note: If players (usually wide receivers) signal first down after getting a first down, they will be flagged for a 15-yard penalty. Evidently, that is now considered taunting.

Can’t say I like the rule, but I guess players will just have to adjust.

2:25 p.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Here’s another video, this one of quarterback Todd Reesing talking about whether he was surprised that KU was not picked by the media to win the Big 12 North.

I think the Jayhawks seem to really dig the role of underdog.

Also an interesting tidbit: Punters that kick “rugby style” will not be protected once they leave the tackle box. If a punter is hit a few seconds late, a flag will still be thrown, but if a punter is hit just after he delivers the kick, no roughing-the-kicker penalty will be called.

In other words, look out Alonso Rojas.

1:55 p.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Thanks to readers for submitting your questions in the comments section below. While I didn’t have time to get to all of them, I wanted to share a couple with you.

For biggdogg5099: Here is Darrell Stuckey talking about the difference between the mindset/expectations of this season and last season.

And, for psychoanalyst, here is how Stuckey thinks KU’s defense will surprise opponents in 2009.

More videos to come as I get them loaded.

12:45 p.m. update: By Dugan Arnett

Former Missouri quarterback and current Washington Redskin Chase Daniel has wandered into the lobby of the Westin. He’s just kind of hanging out, wearing some cargo shorts. Just living the dream.

12:24 p.m. update: By Dugan Arnett

Some newsy information came out of Mark Mangino’s meeting with the media today. In addition to the general questions about the state of — how the team is responding to its heightened expectations, how the close the program is to becoming a Big 12 contender — Mangino addressed a number of issues involving this year’s team.

On Dezmon Briscoe’s return from suspension: “I anticipate that he will (be there when practice starts in August). He has work to do (academically), and he’s not the only one. There’s several players that have work to do. And I tell them, ‘It’s pretty simple: You get your work done, you’re with us in August. You don’t get your work done, you’re not. And we don’t cry about it, and we don’t feel bad about it — we go to the next player. But I don’t anticipate any issues.”

On the status on Ben Lueken, who was hospitalized following an incident outside of Jayhawker Towers this spring, forcing him to miss the Spring Game: “His status is still up in the air. We’re still visiting with Ben and his family and medical people, our staff. We really don’t know just yet how that’s going to play out.”

On Tanner Hawkinson’s development after a switch from tight end to left tackle: “Over the years, I’ve kind of made a living taking tight ends and making them tackles. Some of them have made a lot of money. Adrian Jones and Todd Weiner. I can go on and on about that. When I think of those guys and I think about (Hawkinson), he’s the same type of guy. He’s real athletic. He weighed in the other day at 284, 285 (he was listed at 230 pounds out of high school). He’s a good kid, and he’s done everything we asked him to do to get ready for that position.”

On receiver Kerry Meier’s potential switch to full-time receiver: “I haven’t (made a decision yet), but I’m going to do that rather quickly. We’re going to get into training camp and we’re going to go about a week or 10 days and study that pretty carefully. If we feel good about Kale (Pick, projected No. 2 quarterback) and Jordan (Webb, projected No. 3 quarterback), then we’re going to go ahead and make him a full-time receiver.”

12:20 p.m. update: By Eric Sorrentino

Oklahoma junior defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, on Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing:

“He’s a really good player. We have so many good quarterbacks in the Big 12 that it just gets frustrating. He is small, and you may think because he’s so small that he can’t make plays, but that guy can play, for real. Sometimes, I feel bad for him because he is so small. It was rough because I couldn’t see him. He was hiding.”

The deception must have worked on Oct. 18, 2008, when KU traveled to Norman, Okla. KU lost, 45-31, but it certainly wasn’t because of Reesing, who passed for 342 yards and two scores. KU receiver Dezmon Briscoe went off for 12 catches, 269 yards and both scores.

Anyone remember this game being on ESPN Classic just a few weeks ago in May?

11:30 a.m. update: By Eric Sorrentino

Warning to offensive players in the Big 12: Might want to keep an eye on Missouri preseason All-Big 12 linebacker Sean Weatherspoon roaming the field.

The guy hits so hard that MU coaches reportedly kept a device in his helmet that tracked how hard he hit.

I asked Mizzou defensive lineman Jaron Baston who the hardest hitter was on the Tigers’ defense. He didn’t hesitate.

“Oh, Sean Weatherspoon,” Baston said. “By far. They put a device in his helmet so when he hits, it records how hard he’s hitting. He hits very hard. He doesn’t care who you are. I remember it was maybe a year, maybe two years ago, his best friend was on the scout team offense. His best friend, and he knocked him out and messed his hip up for like a week or so. He’s 250 pounds and runs a 4.4, so you put that behind him and he can do some damage.”

10:56 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

And another quotable one from Mangino about Todd Reesing, his quarterback:

“The quarterback is the chauffeur. If you don’t have a chauffeur, the car doesn’t move.”

10:50 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Random Mangino quotes:

“I think our defense will be better than a lot of folks outside our program think.”

And:

“I think for the first time in a long time, we will have some natural pass rushers.”

10:46 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Mark Mangino stepping to the podium now.

10:44 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Missouri senior offensive lineman Kurtis Gregory has been a bit grumpy when flipping through the channels lately.

That’s because it seems like every time he turns the TV on, he sees the replay of last year’s Kansas-Missouri game on FSN.

“You talk about just being frustrated for the last two weeks,” Gregory said, “just having to watch that over and over.”

http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2009/Jul/28/ku.jpg

Actually, when Gregory first saw it on TV, he recorded it to use it as a learning tool. Over the summer, he lived with freshman offensive lineman Jack Meiners, who was constantly asking to learn more about the MU offense.

Gregory would go over the game tape with Meiners, identifying the plays and blocking schemes.

Still, it wasn’t too much fun.

“It’s weird how certain plays stick out in your mind, like, ‘Oh, this happened next,'” Gregory said. “We’ll just be sitting there, I’ll be trying to teach him the plays and having to watch that the last two weeks — that weighs on you a little bit.”

So what plays stick out in Gregory’s mind from KU’s 40-37 victory?

“Third quarter, we lofted one out to Tommy Saunders, and he caught it and someone came in and hit him and popped it loose and he dropped it,” Gregory said. “I was like, ‘Yep, interception next play.’ Sure enough. … ”

He also was self-critical when re-watching his own performance.

“(I was) just frustrated to know if we messed up the protection, (thinking) ‘Why did we block it like that? Why did we make that mistake?'” Gregory said. “Colin (Brown) gave up a sack to (No.) 47 (Maxwell Onyegbule). … I didn’t have anyone to block, so I was supposed to help. I was like, ‘The one time I really wasn’t there to help Colin, you know that happened.’ Just like, man. Colin and I are buds, and I let him down.”

MU defensive lineman Jaron Baston has also noticed the Border War popping up on TV.

“I feel like I’m always seeing it,” the senior said. “And then I’m always seeing the Oklahoma game from when we played in Norman (in 2007), when they beat us in Norman. It’s always popping up. I’m always seeing us losing. I’m never seeing us on TV winning. But we haven’t lost that much in the last two years, either, so that’s a good thing.”

Unlike Gregory, Baston said he can’t stand to watch the game.

“I’ll watch them the day after the game and learn what I can do better and what the team can do better,” Baston said, “but after that, I’m moving on. I’m trying to get back to winning. I don’t want to focus too much on the losing.”

10:09 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel didn’t reveal too much about his team, but two things stood out to me.

One, he said that this team had worked harder in the summer than any other team he’s had.

And, two:

“This is the fastest football team we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” Pinkel said.

I know a lot of it is coach-speak, especially early in the season. But those are pretty high compliments for this team, especially considering the success of his recent teams at Mizzou.

9:23 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

So, we’re in a bit of a delay here, as the Missouri plane just landed a few minutes ago. Gary Pinkel just walked in.

Looks like our schedule will be pushed back about a half-hour or so.

8:48 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

I forgot to put up the schedule for each team today. Here it is:

Missouri — 9 a.m.
Baylor — 9:45 a.m.
Kansas — 10:30 a.m.
Oklahoma — 11:15 a.m.

8:40 a.m. update: By Jesse Newell

Though it’s still early and the coffee is still kicking in around the press conference room, I think most media members are preparing for what is considered the marquee day of this year’s Big 12 football media days.

Missouri, Baylor, Kansas and Oklahoma will take their turns today. And after somewhat of a yawner of a Monday, it looks like today will be more interesting, as each of the four team has an interesting story line.

Missouri is young and unpredictable. So how good can the Tigers be? Can they make a run for the North title?

Baylor has the best quarterback in the conference that no one has heard of in Robert Griffin III, and the Bears are looking for their first bowl game in 15 years.

Kansas has never made the Big 12 football championship game, and with no real favorite in the North, could this be the Jayhawks’ year?

Much like KU, Oklahoma returns oodles of talent at the skill positions but have questions on the offensive line. Can the Sooners overtake the Longhorns for the Big 12 South crown?

Just for fun, here’s a link to last year’s media day story involving KU. The Jayhawks were having to deal with a new pressure then: that of having expectations placed upon them.

There are also a few interesting videos on there if you get the time.

Once again, if you have any questions that you would like asked of the players today, be sure to let us know in the comments section below.