Pick a word, any word.

That’s what I asked the 65 coaches from the Power Five conferences and Notre Dame to do. Describe their team in one word.

Some coaches were one-word wonders, but a few insisted they needed two words. That’s fine because the descriptions shed some insight into how coaches view their team and/or what they want the public perception of their team to be.

Of the 65 coaches, “hungry” was the most common description. Nine coaches went with it, making a “hungry” team the modern-day equivalent of the “taking it one game at a time” cliché. Four coaches used “unproven,” another four “experienced” and three said “young.” Two coaches each used “redemption,” “committed,” “improved” or “youthful."

In all, the 65 coaches used 44 different descriptions.

Well, here’s to taking it one “word” at a time. My word: Enjoy.

Big 12

Baylor’s Art Briles: Mad

Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads: Hungry

Kansas’ Charlie Weis: Quiet confidence

Kansas State’s Bill Snyder: Valued

Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops: Hard working

Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy: Youthful

TCU’s Gary Patterson: Unknown

Texas’ Charlie Strong: Hard work

Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury: Improved

West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen: Experienced