OSU’s Gundy: Fool me once on Zac Robinson…
Mike Gundy says Zac Robinson has been cleared to practice and play and that Robinson should start against Oklahoma on Saturday.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Gundy’s track record for truthfulness is not good when it comes to telling us who will play. Gundy last week said he expected Robinson to start against Colorado, but now we know there never was a possibility that Robinson would play.
OSU's Zac Robinson waves to fans as he leaves after the college football game between Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the University of Colorado (CU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
So maybe Robinson will start against the Sooners and maybe he won’t. But it’s a remarkable turn of events that even if Robinson sits again with that bruised shoulder, it’s not automatic disaster for OSU.
The fall of the Sooners, coupled with Brandon Weeden’s inspired performance against Colorado in second-half relief of Alex Cate, raises the possibility that the Cowboys could win without Zac Robinson.
I don’t believe that will happen. I believe that OSU needs Zac Robinson for leadership and smarts and legs to end OU’s 29-game home winning streak. Those attributes far exceed anything Weeden brings in terms of a stronger arm and a touch of magic.
Yes, I know, OSU pulled the 16-13 miracle in 2001 with a backup quarterback, Josh Fields, but lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. The Cowboys need Zac Robinson to beat the Sooners; they won’t do it with sizzle and flair. They will have to do it with toughness and savvy.
So will Robinson play? I have no idea. I think Robinson will be sore, at best, and I think he will try to play. And maybe he will be effective.
But I’m not believing Gundy. Not on this one.
Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel.
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Comments
It would be great if Zac played but Pistol Pete will win regardless of who is pulling the trigger.This years OU team is looking for ways to lose.They have no heart and no they shouldn’t go to a bowl game.
Weak, short article. Earn your keep, Tramel. Keep your opinion to yourself if you aren’t going to make it count.
Gundy owes you nothing when it comes to letting you know who will or will not play.
Get over yourself, Tramel.
What about those games where your beloved Bob Stoops was hedging about his quarterback? Did you call him a lier? I don’t know why you media guys think they have to tell you everything. If you were in their shoes, you’d be doing the same thing, trying to keep it a secret.
Good article Berry!!!
Myself I am glad Gundy is being coy w press,it serves no purpose to broadcast to the opponents who you are starting.
In fact OSU have kept their mouth shut all year long and they should.
Think point spread when it comes out will be OSU-3.
Know how Cowboys will play and that will be hard but Sooners are the question,Sooners fragile mentally right now and so it is hard to tell what they will do.
Early start also favors home team in my opinion,routine is altered when early game and may throw players of both teams off their performance,shouldn’t but it might.
Here is hoping for a good clean performance from both teams.
“but lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place” says Tramel. It doesn’t?
Some have suggested that Mike Gundy should be the Big 12j Coach of the year, because he has done so much through adversity. I’d like to nominate Coach Stoops as the Worst Coach in the Big 12. He has done so little, with so much.
If Gundy says he will play the betting line will more in Oklahoma State’s favor. If that happens, and he doesn’t play, OSU’s own coach is setting up his own fans for potentially losing a bunch of money, even if OSU does win the game.
Something people need to think about when referring to oSu winning with a backup QB in 2001 is that Josh Fields was just flat the better QB, hands down. Aso Pogi wasn’t any good, and Josh Fields was quite good. The only mystery is why Fields wasn’t starting to begin with.
Berry, I don’t know about you, but it never occurred to me that Zac would play against Colorado. I’m sure that no matter what coaches say, the OSU staff thought CU would be an easy win without Zac. It has also never occurred to me that Zac would NOT play against the Sooners. Is it just that you are HOPING he won’t play? By the way, the sports books have OU as a 9-1/2 point FAVORITE to beat OSU. I think I’ll take OSU and the points!
OU has a better chance if Zac plays, they normally destroy vetran quarterbacks. it is they guys who haven’t done much yet that give them problems
Berry, you tell us that Gundy should be able to predict that Zac will start when the doctors don’t really know from day to day? You say that he is, therefor, a liar? I think you still have a vendetta agsinst Mike for standing up against the reporters on your paper. That he is actually a man? Do you think?
Gundy will make sure Zac is the starting QB for the Bowl. And Gundy will reward Brando to start the Bedlam game. Is a game of backup vs backup.
Even if Zac does indeed start, I can’t imagine that Gundy would want Zac running with any degree of physicality on the corners in this game. Just manage the game and provide leadership in the huddle. But if he can’t throw effectively, then what would be wrong with planning on Weeden playing several series as a change of pace as the flow of the game is determined.
MJ
I wouldn’t tell you, either, Berry.
As to someone else’s comment, the day college coaches start worrying about fans losing money on a bet, well…
Does anyone remember what happened in the Holiday Bowl last year? Robinson was hurt, but tried to tough it out anyway. His passes were off and the entire offense looked lost as a result. I hope OSU has learned from that experience.
Depending on the circumstances, Weeden may be a better choice to start the game. If Robinson plays, he must be able to air it out downfield with accuracy. Otherwise, the OU defense will cover the short pass and run, and leave the Pokes with limited offensive options. This is what Colorado did in the first half last week, and it was effective. Once Weeden came in and legitimized the passing game, the running game opened up, the short pass opened up, and the offense took off.
The key is to not be one dimensional on offense.
I honestly think Zac Robinson will be ready to play Saturday night. I think he will have his heart in it and will be wanting out there no matter what.