Daily Archives: July 24, 2012

Meet West Virginia senior Joe Madsen: The best quote at Big 12 Media Days

July 24, 20125:36 p.m.

When I saw his beard and mohawk, I figured West Virginia offensive lineman Joe Madsen had the potential to be a good quote.

Then I started talking to him and quickly learned he was much more than that. In my mind, he was the best quote at Big 12 Media Days this week.

When asked what Big 12 fans can expect during their first visits to Morgantown, here is how he replied: “Bigger mohawks and just more energy than ever.”

If Madsen is representative of all the West Virginians we will encounter during their stint in the Big 12, we are in for one entertaining ride. He is more fired up for the upcoming season than the Mountaineers’ mascot, who he hangs out with from time to time.

“He has let me shoot the musket a couple times,” Madsen said.

They look alike, too. Although he says everyone looks like he does in West Virginia.

“They maybe have bigger beards, though,” Madsen said. “I can’t grow a mustache. If I could, I would have a bigger beard, too. But I just can’t. It doesn’t look good, so I cut it off.”

He is thrilled about taking that look into Big 12 stadiums for the first time.

“Every game is going to be like a bowl game for me,” Madsen said. “It’s all brand new. It’s going to be filled with great experiences.”

He can’t wait for opposing fans to experience West Virginia home games, either.

“Our fans are ruthless and they are awesome all at the same time,” Madsen said. “They are ready for the big games to start.”

By Kellis Robinett | Filed under Football | Comments Off

‘Belldozer’ origins trace back to Collin Klein

July 24, 201210:26 a.m.

Some of the most interesting moments of Monday’s Big 12 Media Days session came near the end when Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops bumped into Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein in between interviews.

The two talked for a few minutes about all sorts of different topics. Football, marriage, honeymoons, country music, Blake Bell … They all came up.

For this blog post, we will focus on that last topic. Klein said Bell was in attendance for his wedding over the weekend, and then Stoops said something revealing. He told Klein that he got the idea to sub Bell (Oklahoma’s sophomore backup quarterback who once starred at Bishop Carroll) for Landry Jones as a short-yard specialist last year after watching Klein dive into the end zone week after week.

“I saw you running all these great plays,” Stoops said, “and I said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a guy with the same body over here. I need to borrow that.’ That’s where it all started.”

So the “Belldozer” origins trace back to Klein. Who knew?

A quick Google search reveals that Stoops has hinted at the connection before. And Bell’s breakthrough success as a power-running, touchdown-scoring quarterback certainly correlate with Klein. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder scored his first collegiate touchdown against the Wildcats. Stoops must have watched lots of Klein film that week.

Bell impressed Stoops so much that he played in the remainder of Oklahoma’s games and finished the season with 171 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Following a big spring game, Sooners fans have already begun clamoring for him to see more playing time.

Stoops said that is unlikely to happen yesterday. He doesn’t want to alternate quarterbacks, and likes the big-play capabilities Jones brings to the field with his arm. But Bell will definitely continue to be a threat near the goal line.

If not for Klein first rushing for 1,141 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior, that might not be the case.

By Kellis Robinett | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Big 12 | Comments Off