, I I I i j I ■port surr 12 coache nning ten door of in the Big 12 took over programs that were already successes. But what all three incoming coach es have to tackle this year is nearly the exact opposite. Over die last three sea sons, Colorado, Oklahoma and Baylor have combined for a record of39-63. Colorado won a national champi onship in 1990, and the storied tradition at Oklahoma speaks for itself. So how does a first-year coach go about rebuilding a program? New Baylor Coach Kevin Steele said the process begins early. “We’re not going to sell them on a false pretense,” Steele said. “But we are going to tell them the facts in a positive way.” Steele, Gary Barnett at Colorado and Bob Stoops at Oklahoma are poised to take die challenge. And all three are familiar names with interest ing stories. Gary Barnett returns to Folsom Field, which has changed to grass since he left CU to become die head coach at Northwestern. Barnett, who was an assistant at Colorado under Bill McCartney, led the Wildcats to an unprecedented Rose Bowl both in 1995. Amid gambling scandals and mediocre seasons, Barnett decided to come bade to die mountains. “It’s literally coining home again,” Barnett said. “This is a great chance to see lifelong friends.” The first thing Barnett tried to do when he got to Boulder, Colo., was to visit the parents of every player. McCartney is also back at Colorado, stopping in at practice to talk to the defense and to get a taste oi Buffalo football again. Barnett has also instituted changes in the offense and defense. Disciplined, aggressive football is on the table for Colorado this year. “I want smash-mouth,” Colorado senior Rashidi Barnes said. “Gary Barnett is bringing that to Colorado.” Disdpline is also the theme at both Oklahoma and Baylor. An example of what discipline can do to a team comes out of Baylor’s spring practice. In the Bears’ first scrimmage of the spring, there were 26 penalties. A few week$Jater in the final spring scrim mage, BU was called for only three infractions. “You’ve got to eliminate the prob lems you have control oyer,” Steele said. “It will help you wingames.” And Steele has his team convinced they can turn seasons. “(Steele) tives to the Jackson said, ed about That program back into the postseason. Stoops came in from Florida with that message and wanted to make an immediate impact in Norman, Okla. The players got the message. “From day one, Coach Stoops came in and brought a good vibe,” senior Rodney Rideau said. “He said, ^You can jump on the bandwagon, or With a new coaching staff, Oklahoma is once again planning changes to the offense and defense. Last season, John Blake tried to make wholesale changes on both sides of the ball. The result was a 5-6 season. The players at Oklahoma seem to think this year’s new system will work. Even though they said they don’t want to make comparisons between the coaches, senior Matt Anderson said Stoops’ success at Florida gets the play ers’ attention. you Know ne Knows now to win, Anderson said, “and that makes you Football League to coach with the Carolina Panthers. ' Jackson said Steele’s experience and attitude have caused change at Baylor. “It is amazing to§ee the difference from last year,” Jackson said. “Everyone is fired up about him being here.” Players from all three teams seem to be rallying around their new coaches. There is a sense of urgency to get these recently troubled programs back to a point of national success. All three coaches are hoping to be as successful as Solich and Brown last year, who combined for a record 18-7. To reach that level, Stoops said he hopes to be a chip off the old block in his first season as a head coach. “I’ve been very lucky to be around so many fine coaches,” Stoops said. them,” « We are not trying to remake the team. We want to start right now.” Matt Anderson OU senior —v . iz