As I mentioned in a previous post, this is my first time in Kansas City - and it's a fine town.  We are staying downtown, so Kyle and I had a chance to scope out the area this afternoon while searching (and sweating, too) for some spots to shoot stand-ups.  We did dinner in the Power & Light District last night, and I was very impressed.  Tonight, I'm hoping to hit up one of the Kansas City BBQ spots that came so highly recommended.  But I wanted to let you know how Day 2 of Media Days went first...

Kansas took the podium first.  Quarterback Todd Reesing (Austin, TX native) told us that he had never been in the state of Kansas prior to his recruiting trip.  Now, he's the starting QB on a team that went to a BCS game last season.  No school in the lone star state can say that.

Mark Mangino was great.  He told stories about when he first took the job at KU, nobody cared about Jayhawk football.  When the bus would be making its way into the stadium on game day - people were jogging on the sidewalks, not caring (or even knowing) that a Big 12 conference football game was kicking off in a few hours.  So, needless to say, the Man-genius and his Jayhawks are not going to complain about the sky-high expectations that come after a 12-win season a year ago.

When Colorado came next, I learned that George Hypolite (285 lb. defensive tackle) has already graduated with a double major in ethnic studies and women's studies.  Wow!  I took Dr. Dawson's Women In World History course my sophomore year, and I think the letter of my grade is in my first name.  No, it wasn't an "A".

Dan Hawkins, as always, was entertaining.  He does not want his outburst (IT'S THE BIG TWELVE!!) from two years ago to be compared with Mike Gundy's (I'M A MAN.  I'M 40!!).  Hawkins says he was not ranting, that's just how he is.  Plus, he loves to remind us that there was no video for his.

Kansas State's players and head coach Ron Prince disagreed with the sentiment that KSU has more pressure than usual to win this year.  The Wildcats have started 45 different players over the last two seasons and don't have much to show for it.  And when you look at the Big 12 North, Missouri turned things around and played for a Big 12 title last year.  Kansas came out of nowhere and won the Orange Bowl.  Nebraska just hired young, successful head coach and is primed to get out of its funk.  This is Ron Prince's third year at K-State.  I think he should hope it's the charm.

Finally, when Oklahoma State arrived - I could talk to a team from the Big 12 South and one that Baylor will actually be playing this season.  QB Zac Robinson seems to enjoy flying under the radar of the other Big 12 quarterbacks (Daniel, Harrell, McCoy, etc.).  But hearing his teammates talk about him, you can tell he is not your typical college QB.

Defensive backs Ricky Price and Andre Sexton both said good things about University High's Perrish Cox.  Sexton, however, mentioned that Cox's biggest weakness right now is his tackling ability.  So he hopes that Perrish can deliver one of those "de-cleaters" early on this season, and gain some confidence.

To nobody's surprise, Mike Gundy is not big on talking about his YouTube classic from last season.  We did find out that his birthday is August 12th.  So in less than a month, he will still be a man.  Just not a man who is 40.

Media Days go out with a bang tomorrow.  Iowa State!!!  Oh yah...Oklahoma, Texas, and Baylor too.