Tuesday’s OSU links
* Zac Robinson talks about getting ready for the season.
* How much attention should the Cowboys give their defense?
OSU photo of the day
We’re going to showcase some of our best photos from The Oklahoman archive from time to time.
Here’s OSU tight end Brandon Pettigrew diving in for a touchdown against Texas Tech.
News and notes as game week arrives
By Scott Wright
As I prepared for game week, I came across a few fun and interesting items regarding the Oklahoma State-Washington State game.
– Washington State will play 13 regular-season games this season. Forgive my ignorance but I didn’t realize the NCAA still allowed an extra game for teams who play at Hawaii. The Cougars play at Hawaii Nov. 29.
– There are a few noteworthy changes to the OSU depth chart from a week ago, when (because of production deadlines) I put together the two-deep that appeared in the Dirty Jobs special section Sunday.
• Artrell Woods is listed as the No. 2 receiver at one wideout spot behind DeMarcus Connor, with Hubert Anyiam as the No. 3 behind Dez Bryant. Josh Cooper is ahead of Bo Bowling as the No. 2 slot receiver.
• Quencey Patrick and Chris Donaldson are backing up DT Jeray Chatham. Mike Gundy said last week that Shane Jarka is Chatham’s backup.
• Justin Gent is ahead of junior-college transfer Donald Booker as the No. 2 middle linebacker.
• Redshirt freshman James Thomas is listed as the No. 2 strongside linebacker (or STAR) behind Andre Sexton. Deron Fontenot has dealt with some minor injuries throughout camp that could be keeping him off the two-deep right now.
– There are some interesting coincidences and connections between the OSU and WSU coaching staffs:
• Both head football coaches are graduates of their school.
• Both head coaches are 41-years-old.
• Both head coaches are the father of three children.
• OSU running backs coach Curtis Luper and WSU running backs coach Steve Broussard are former running backs at their respective schools.
• Washington State co-defensive coordinator Chris Ball was on the Alabama staff that OSU faced in the 2006 Independence Bowl.
• Oklahoma State University and Washington State University were both founded in 1890.
• OSU Director of Football Operations Jimmy Gonzales was on the Army staff with Harold Etheridge, Travis Niekamp and Jody Sears of the Washington State staff.
Hofmann Eliminated
The final Cowboy left in the United States Amateur was eliminated Friday.
Oklahoma State freshman Morgan Hoffmann was ousted 4 and 3 in a quarterfinal match with New Zealand’s Danny Lee at the par 70 No. 2 Course at Pinehurst Country Club in Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
OSU senior Trent Leon, sophomores Kevin Tway and Rickie Fowler and freshman Peter Uihlein also qualified for match play. Uihlein eliminated Leon Wednesday. Tway and Fowler were both eliminated Thursday afternoon.
Hoffmann missed his first week of college because of the Amateur, and will be back in Stillwater to attend classes on Monday.
“It was kind of nice,” he said. “It’s a good excuse to miss class. But I’m ready to get back with my teammates.”
By Ray Martin
Terrel Harris reinstated
FROM THE OSU ATHLETICS OFFICE
Terrel Harris, suspended indefinitely by head coach Travis Ford back in April, has been reinstated to the team, it was announced today.
“I am very pleased to have Terrel back on our basketball team,” said Ford. “He has proven to me this summer that he is doing whatever it takes to be a part of this program. He has had a very productive summer and is making himself a better person, both on and off the court. Hopefully, he will make the most of his second opportunity.”
Harris, one of three seniors on the squad, played in all 33 games last season and started 20. He averaged 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Harris and the rest of the Cowboys began classes on Monday. Practice begins Oct. 17.
Hoffmann the last Cowboy standing
After 36 holes Thursday, only one Oklahoma State Cowboy is left standing at the U.S. Amateur.
Freshman Morgan Hoffmann won both of his matches 2 and 1 Thursday to advance to this morning’s round, which includes the final eight players at the par 70 No. 2 course at Pinehurst Country Club in Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Hoffmann tees off at 9:30 a.m. today against New Zealand’s Danny Lee.
“Now I have to represent OSU all by myself,” Hoffmann said. “It’s exciting, but I wish my teammates were still here.”
Hoffmann was one of four Cowboys still in the tournament to start the day. But freshman Peter Uihlein lost his morning match, and sophomores Kevin Tway and Rickie Fowler were eliminated in the afternoon round. Tway lost on the 22nd hole to Louisville’s Derek Fathauer.
Tway is no stranger to USGA events. He won the 2005 U.S. Junior Amateur, and qualified for this year’s U.S. Open.
Hoffmann was one down after six holes, but won the 7th, 8th and 9th holes to go 2 up. The New Jersey native is playing in his third U.S. Amateur. He was eliminated in the opening round of the previous two.
“It’s the biggest stage I’ve played on,” he said. “But I’m really comfortable with the course, and I don’t let anything around me affect the way I play.”
By Ray Martin
Cowboys at the US Amateur
By Ray Martin
Staff Writer
Four out of the five Oklahoma State golfers in the United States Amateur advanced to the second round of match play Wednesday at the par 70 Pinehurst No. 2 in Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
All five OSU players might have made it, had two of them not been playing against each other.
Freshman Peter Uihlein beat senior teammate Trent Leon 1 up to advance to today’s second round. The two were all square after 12 holes, but Uihlein won the 13th and the 15th to secure the win.
“It’s hard playing a friend like Trent,” Uihlein said. “And it’s tough beating a teammate like that. He didn’t play particularly well, and I just happened to come out on top.”
Uihlein and Leon have been friends for the better part of a decade. They both went to IMG David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida before Leon left for OSU.
Uihlein has yet to attend his first class, as classes started Monday in Stillwater.
“Missing school isn’t so bad, but you’d like to make a good impression on the teachers,” Uihlein said, laughing. “It won’t easy making up all that work.”
Uihlein will tee off against Louisville’s Derek Fathauer today at 6:40 a.m. Fathauer, who made the cut at the U.S. Open in June, won a dramatic match Wednesday over Jhonattan Vegas.
Uihlein’s roommate, fellow freshman Morgan Hoffman also advanced Wednesday, as did sophomore Kevin Tway and Rickie Fowler.
If Uihlein and Tway both win their first round match today, they’ll face each other this afternoon for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
UPDATE: Uihlein lost his match this morning in 20 holes. Fowler won 6 and 5, Tway won 3 and 2 and Hoffmann won 2 and 1. Fowler is currently 1 up through his first holes in the afternoon match. Tway is all square and Hoffmann has yet to start.
Get linked up
Here are a few OSU-related links for you to check out today.
Georgia linebacker DeDe Lattimore likes what he sees in Stillwater.
And in other Georgia high school linebacker news, height — or lack of it — is scaring recruiters away from 5-foot-7, 205-pound Jonathan Davis. But not OSU.
CollegeFootballNews.com says OSU’s offensive line is the second-best in the nation.
The Red Zone Report offers its season preview for OSU.
Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel says Mike Gundy is on the hot seat this year.
And finally, OSU picked up about 1,000 new fans in Lincoln, Neb., who are probably fans of wind energy, too.
Friday’s OSU links
* Good Zac Robinson profile, courtesy of the Houston Chronicle.
* ESPN gives some love to the talented slate of QBs in the Big 12 Conference.
* Gundy birthday wishes from Grand Island, Nebraska.
* The question facing OSU is a familiar one – how good will the defense be?
Thoughts on Cole’s injury
By Scott Wright
If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably heard by now that OSU receiver William Cole injured his knee in practice Wednesday.
We’ll find out the extent of the injury Friday evening when coach Mike Gundy addresses the media after practice, probably around 7:30 p.m.
Keep your eyes on NewsOK, because I’ll get something on the Web as soon as possible when we find out how bad the injury is.
Let me first say that I really don’t know how bad the injury is. If he’s out for the year, it’s terrible for him and will hurt the Cowboys.
But if he is done for the year, let me give you two reasons not to worry:
1. The Cowboys are deep at receiver. No, they don’t have anybody else with Cole’s elusiveness and YAC ability. But they have a lot of guys who are just as experienced as Cole who can step in. Consider me a member of the Bo Bowling fan club. He has some Wes Welker qualities.
2. Cole still has a redshirt season available after coming out of redshirt last season to catch two passes. And with the injury coming this early, he’ll have plenty of time to heal up before next season.
But like I said, we don’t even know yet if it’s a season-ending injury, or just a minor sprain. As soon as I know, you’ll know.
