O-line was outstanding in Austin
By Scott Wright
I anticipated Oklahoma State would be able to run the ball successfully against Texas. But I never expected 217 yards — 191 from the tailback spot — against one of the top defensive lines in the country.
Brian Orakpo and Roy Miller have been dominating any offensive lineman that steps in front of them this season.
Mike Gundy said earlier this week that it was the O-line’s best performance of the season.
Running backs coach Curtis Luper went even farther.
“They may have played the best game since we’ve been here,” he said. “We thought that the Texas defense, from what we had seen, was playing as well as Oklahoma’s defense, which is traditionally the best defense in the Big 12. Going in, we thought that defense was as good as those defenses we’ve seen in the past. Coming out of it, we played well. Well enough to win.”
Gundy has been slow to praise the big boys up front, even when OSU was running all over everyone earlier in the season. But he was very pleased with Saturday’s effort.
“They played good in this game,” he said. “Texas’ defensive front is very good, very athletic, and our guys handled the circumstances and their athleticism very well in my opinion.”
OSU’s blocking ability is boosted by tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who in my mind — and many others who study the NFL Draft closer than I do — is a sure-fire first-round draft choice. I’m writing about Pettigrew for Wednesday’s paper, so be sure to check that out.
OSU vs. Texas Live Blog, 2:30 p.m. kickoff
OSU-Texas a hot ticket
By Scott Wright
Tickets for Saturday’s OSU-Texas showdown are among the hottest tickets of the week, according to TicketsNow.com.
Earlier in the week, prime seats for the game were selling for more than $550, with the cheapest available at $96.
As of today, average ticket price was $231.
Taking on No. 1
By Scott Wright
OSU hasn’t fared well against AP No. 1 teams, going 0-7 all-time. The closest the Cowboys have come to knocking off a No. 1 was a 14-10 loss to Nebraska in Stillwater in 1983.
But this is also the first time OSU has played a No. 1 when it was also ranked in the top 10. For that reason, this game has generated lots of talk nationally.
ESPN.com’s Tim Griffin likes the Longhorns to win, but OSU to beat the 13-point spread. He also thinks OSU’s Dez Bryant is emerging as the Big 12’s best receiver.
Someone at an Austin television station (no byline on the piece) doesn’t think the Cowboys have a chance Saturday.
Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers his view of what the order of the BCS rankings should actually be. And Tim Stephens of the Orlando Sentinel provides his odds for the BCS national champion.
ESPN.com’s Pat Forde makes a pitch for every BCS top 10 team… in a way you only find on The Dash.
And two Sporting News college football writers delve into what it will take for the Cowboys to win Saturday’s shootout.
OSU vs. Texas: Columnist Chat, 11 a.m. today
Recruiting news, Stewart Mandel and other stuff
By Scott Wright
Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel was asked this week about comments he made regarding Mike Gundy earlier this season, when he called OSU’s coach “certifiably nuts” and asked why a team coached by Gundy “should ever be taken seriously?” In case you missed the original, here it is.
And here’s his response when a reader from Illinois reminds him of those words.
Checking in on the recruiting world, it appears Jenks cornerback Gabe Lynn will visit the OSU campus this weekend. Lynn is the best prospect in Oklahoma and he’s getting lots of attention nationally as one of the top cornerbacks in the 2009 class. He has narrowed his choices to OSU, OU, Nebraska (where his brother, Phillip Dillard, plays), Arkansas and North Carolina.
Rivals.com recently spoke with Wichita, Kan., prospect Alex Schooler, who so far doesn’t have an offer from OSU. But the 6-foot-5, 245-pound offensive lineman considers the Cowboys among his top choices. He says he expects an offer after he can send the OSU coaches some more game tape later this season.
“Not in any order but it is OSU, KU, Texas A&M, OU, and probably after that I’d have to go with Iowa State,” he told Rivals. “(OSU) has always really been up there a ways because I started contact with them early in my junior year. They’re still really far up there, I’ve always liked the school, it’s really close to home, the coaches are great and I’ve been in contact with them for a long time so they’re still a top school for me.”
ESPN.com’s Tim Griffin checks in with his Big 12 picks for the week, his mid-season view of the Cowboys and a story on OSU receiver Damian Davis.
Lastly, Jeffrey Martin of FoxSports.com takes a look at what should be a wild final six weeks in the Big 12.
That’s gonna leave (more than) a mark
Watched some OSU basketball practice while writing about Damian Davis this afternoon. The most notable thing of the afternoon was Terrel Harris taking an Obi Muonelo elbow to the forehead. Let’s just say there was a lot of blood, and I imagine quite a few stitches.
Not sure if he will be OK to play in the scrimmage portion of Homecoming and Hoops on Friday night or not.
-andrea cohen
An interesting point …
from Dan Shanoff (danshanoff.com)
I will say this: Oklahoma State is getting screwed, and here’s why: They didn’t generate a single vote in the preseason poll, so they have had to overcome THAT all season long, which is why they are where they are — rather than at No. 4, which is where I have them.
They beat Mizzou at Mizzou for god’s sake; as far as resumes go, that is arguably the best win of the year by any Top 25 team (Texas beating Oklahoma, while impressive, came on a neutral field and by a fellow Top 5 team).
-andrea cohen
Football news and notes
By Scott Wright
One of my favorite sights from the trip to Columbia, Mo., over the weekend came as we were waiting for players and coaches to emerge from the locker room for postgame interviews.
One of the first coaches to come out was offensive line coach Joe Wickline, who kept on walking past all the reporters. He was too busy to stop for an interview.
Wickline exited the locker room with a portable DVD player in his hand. As he passed, I looked to see what he was watching, expecting it to be the latest episode of ‘The Hills’ or something.
But no, he was watching game tape. What game? The one his Cowboys had just won.
Other items of interest today… OSU has been declared Heavyweight Champion of college football and will defend its title Saturday against Baylor.
And ESPN seems to think the Cowboys will go bowling in San Antonio in their latest bowl projections.
