Where are the Big 12 stars?

Texas Tech didn’t bring Graham Harrell or Michael Crabtree. OU isn’t bringing Sam Bradford and isn’t even bringing Juaquin Iglesias (Manny Johnson instead). Texas A&M didn’t bring Stephen McGee, who came to this event after his freshman year.

The Big 12 football media days could be known as much for who didn’t come as for who did.

The year of the quarterback in the Big 12? Can’t tell it in Kansas City. Only six of the league quarterbacks are here. In a league that is supposed to go nine deep, in already-proven star quarterbacks, that’s not much of a promotional move.

Some teams get it. Missouri’s Chase Daniel was in California on Sunday for the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp. He played golf Sunday with QBs including Georgia star Matthew Stafford. Then Daniel caught an early flight to Kansas City, made it to the Marriott Hotel for Missouri’s media session and was back off to California to resume the camp.

I don’t know if July omissions affect things like Heisman voting or All-American selections. But I know the Big 12, including the Sooners, missed some major public-relations points.

It’s possible the coaches don’t understand what this even is about. This isn’t some kind of spa, some kind of reward for good behavior and solid citizenship. This is where national and regional media can interview Big 12 players and get a jump on the season.

The Oklahoma media doesn’t need to talk to Bradford. We get to do that in a week or so, and then quite often. But the Kansas City Star and Houston Chronicle and ESPN.com and Fox Sports Net would like to spend some time with Bradford, and Harrell, and Crabtree.

That opportunity is gone. Everybody loses.