Big 12 Media Days opened Tuesday morning in Texas, and the first day delivered the kind of loose, revealing moments that usually come before the real pressure of the season arrives.
One of the more memorable exchanges came from Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers, who was asked about his favorite beer. Rogers didn’t overthink it.
"I like everything," Rogers said. "I'm not picky."
When the follow-up came - "Busch Light?" - Rogers answered, "Busch Lattes? Yeah."
The event also doubled as a stage for player promotion, and Arizona made its intentions clear with quarterback Noah Fifita. The Wildcats handed out flyers that used Fifita’s jersey No. 1 as the "I" in Heisman, kicking off a push for the quarterback after a big season.
Fifita was the conference’s preseason pick at quarterback after an impressive year. The redshirt senior threw for 3,228 yards and 29th touchdowns, both school records for a single season. He also helped lead Arizona to a 9-4 record and a trip to the Holiday Bowl.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders, better known as "Coach Prime," also gave the media a soundbite that fit the day. Sanders said he ignores outside criticism of him and the program.
"We don't care about what people say," Coach Prime said. "People are always going to have opinions.
If my kids and my coaches and our staff don't understand who they are, we have a problem. They're not going to allow you to identify who we are."
Kansas State is set to meet the media today in Frisco, Texas, giving new coach Collin Klein his first Media Day experience. Players scheduled to be there include quarterback Avery Johnson, running back Joe Jackson and Wendell Gregory.
In Other News...
This Sunflower Showdown Just Got Personal For Kansas State Fans
The Sunflower Showdown already carries enough edge on its own, but this one has an extra layer after Dylan Edwards winding path through college football brought him back into the rivalry conversation. Edwards arrived at Kansas State with plenty of buzz, then saw his second season in Manhattan disrupted by injury before the next chapter of his career took shape elsewhere. Now the former Wildcats back is part of a Kansas offense trying to sort itself out before the season, with a crowded backfield and a quarterback competition still hanging over the preseason.
For Kansas State fans, the date on the calendar is the part that matters most. The Wildcats and Jayhawks are set to meet on October 17 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and the matchup already has the feel of one that will draw extra attention because of who Edwards used to be and where he is now. Rivalry games tend to sharpen every storyline, and this one has given both sides a fresh reason to circle it early. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Finally Addressed Kansas States Controversial Bowl Snub
Avery Johnson finally put a little more detail around one of the stranger episodes of Kansas States offseason, explaining why the Wildcats passed on last years bowl invitation. The quarterback said the decision came in a messy stretch for the program, with coaching changes swirling and players trying to sort out their futures, leaving the roster in a place where not everyone was fully on the same page.
Johnsons comments also help frame why the move drew so much attention beyond Manhattan. Kansas State was hit with a hefty fine for declining the bowl bid before the penalty was later cut in half, and the explanation now points back to the uncertainty around the roster and the transfer portal during that transition period. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Jackson Just Sent A Strong Message About K-State's Backfield
The backfield picture at Kansas State got a little more crowded this offseason, and Joe Jackson does not sound bothered by it. The Wildcats added transfers Rodney Fields from Oklahoma State and Jay Harris from Oregon, giving the running backs room more depth and more competition, but Jackson welcomed the move as something that can help the team rather than complicate his own role.
Collin Klein has already identified Jackson as the leader in the room, while also making it clear the plan is to rotate backs and keep everyone fresh over the course of the season. For Jackson, that means the job is less about protecting touches and more about setting the tone in a group that could be asked to share the load in a bigger way than before. [Read more 🡒]