KSU's Thomas snaps to himself and other Big 12 bits and pieces

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A little over a week away from the start to the 2009 college football season, here are some bits and pieces from a couple of Big 12 schools as each program sets its sights on their season opener:

From Kansas State:  Lots of things were wrong the past two years at K-State, but special teams wasn’t one of them.  The Wildcats led the nation in blocked kicks a year ago, and according to KSU Sports Information Director Kenny Lannou, K-State has the fifth-most blocks in the nation since 2002 with 33 and has amassed 49 total blocked kicks since 1996, a figure that ranks second among Big 12 schools in the 13-plus year history of the league.

Senior Brandon Banks, the 2008 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, is slated to return kicks, and head coach Bill Snyder believes newcomers Daniel Thomas (who is also expected to be an offensive weapon, see below*) and Tramaine Thompson, along with freshman John Hubert, could all have an impact in the return game.

*A source said the Wildcats are so enthralled with Thomas’ abilities that they are working on a play that would have Thomas line up at center, snap the ball to himself in shotgun formation, look for himself on a go route and hit himself in stride between two defenders.  He’s that good.

From Missouri:  Senior safety Hardy Ricks was limited in the Tigers Friday practice session with a tight hamstring.  Coach Gary Pinkel said Ricks was held out of competitive drills because he wouldn’t be able to protect himself in that situation. 

Pinkel wouldn’t disclose his choice in the kicking game, saying an official decision would most likely come at the end of this week, but he did name junior defensive back Carl Gettis as punt returner and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College transfer Jasper Simmons, a junior safety, as the leader for kickoff return duties.

From Nebraska:  Bo Pelini, far removed from his “younger” days when as an assistant he wasn’t afraid to rail on someone like K-State's Bill Snyder, took the political route when speaking of Quentin Castille, a junior running back who was dismissed from the team.

“It’s pretty black and white my expectations and what we lay out as a staff, and if someone doesn’t follow those policies and guidelines, they’re no longer going to be with the program, and that’s the case with Quentin,” Pelini said.  “We wish him luck. He’s a good kid, he’s just not going to be with our program anymore. I wish him luck in the future.”

Castille was expected to be the backup to starter Roy Helu, but that spot, according to Pelini, will now be filled by Rex Burkhead.   Listed at 6-1, 245, Castille rushed for 125 yards on 18 carries against Clemson in the 2009 Gator Bowl, which the Cornhuskers won.

From Baylor:  Is Baylor going to be the latest offensive juggernaut in the Big 12?  Probably not, but one should still take notice of Robert Griffin’s 16-of-20, 157 yard, and one touchdown performance in a weekend scrimmage.  Backup QB Blake Szymanski also went 12-of-17 for 89 yards.

“From an offensive standpoint, we tried to spread the ball around, get it in some people’s hands to see how they would respond in this atmosphere,” Baylor coach Art Briles said.  “We have to be a machine, a methodical football team.

“We got good work. We had good intensity and we stayed healthy. Those were the main things we were trying to accomplish.”

And a little basketball news as well
From Oklahoma State
A very tiny piece of John Calipari’s effects at Kentucky has turned into some good news for Oklahoma State’s basketball team.  The Cowboys announced late Friday that Matt Pilgrim, a 6-foot-8, 230-lb. forward, has been granted a waiver from the NCAA that will allow him to begin competing immediately after transferring from Kentucky.

Pilgrim played two years at Hampton, averaging 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, before transferring to Kentucky prior to the 2008-09 season, where he sat out as a redshirt due to NCAA Division I transfer rules.


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