Spring football round-up
By Scott Wright
I’m sleep-deprived and downing Red Bull faster than Mike Gundy as I enter my third week as a father, but forging ahead — and with a break from diaper duty — I bring you this OSU football blog with a few quick-hitters from spring football and other things.
* First, here are a couple great stories on former OSU defensive back Martel Van Zant, who you may remember, is deaf. He’s getting ready to begin the arenafootball2 season with the Manchester (N.H.) Wolves, and don’t be surprised if he gets a shot at the NFL someday. I know the Tennessee Titans still really like his ability. Anyway, here’s a story from the af2 Web site, and another from CBS Sportsline’s Lesley Visser.
* No updates yet on Donte Foster of Guthrie, though it seems very likely he’ll be a Cowboy eventually. One detail that can’t be forgotten: OSU could have a scholarship come open, either by dismissal of a player (Bo Bowling is on trial for misdemeanor and felony drug charges) or non-qualification of a signee in the 2009 class. So don’t rule out the possibility of Foster getting offered a scholarship before next season begins.
* The buzz of spring camp has been splilt between receiver Justin Blackmon and the defensive line.
Blackmon was gaining attention last season on the scout team and continues to impress. He could very likely find his way onto the field opposite Dez Bryant this fall.
New defensive coordinator Bill Young has been very impressed with his new defensive line, particularly Derek Burton, who has moved from end to tackle. And Young isn’t too worried about the end spot without Burton. He feels the depth is there with Ugo Chinasa, Jeremiah Price and Jamie Blatnick. Richetti Jones and Darius Hart will also compete for playing time.
At tackle, Swanson Miller is slotted as the starter at nose guard alongside Burton. Young is still trying to find a home for Nigel Nicholas, the redshirt freshman who continues to improve. And Chris Donaldson’s name keeps coming up in post-practice interviews. Young loves his speed off the ball.
Horace Hubbard is phenomenally athletic for his size, but the junior-college transfer has a long way to be ready for Big 12 football on the interior of the defensive line.
* On the offensive line, Anthony Morgan is physically impressive and talented, but he’s battling the learning curve that most junior-college transfers deal with. He still could earn playing time, either as a starter or reserve, which Joe Wickline did not have to use last year. But with better depth, he may choose to rest some of his starters this season.
Jonathan Rush seems to be the frontrunner to start at left guard right now — Gundy seems to really like him — with Noah Franklin slotted in the right guard spot, ahead of Morgan.
Casey LaBrue is a name to know. A sophomore Enid native and transfer from Missouri State, LaBrue is backing up Russell Okung at left tackle. And considering Gundy is giving his stars like Okung some time off to keep them healthy during spring, LaBrue is getting some looks with the first team.
* Running back news: Beau Johnson has trimmed down for his senior season and could be in line for more playing time. Kye Staley is in better shape, too. And Dexter Pratt’s footwork for a 230-pounder has impressed the coaches early on. He and Staley are the type of big backs OSU hasn’t really had in a while. Julius Crosslin was big, but not shifty like these guys.
Gillispie out at Kentucky? Travis Ford on deck?
A sign supporting University of Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie was put up in front of Memorial Coliseum on the UK campus. PHOTO COURTESY OF LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER
Friday morning, the Lexington Herald Banner reported one of Gillispie’s assistant coaches was seen cleaning out his office on Thursday. He wouldn’t say why.
The Herald also reported a press confrence was expected Friday concerning Gillispie’s future.
So, what does all this mean for Oklahoma State fans? Nothing yet, but it wouldn’t hurt to brace yourself.
Before Gillispie was hired two years ago, Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart got shot down several times when he contacted coaches about the job. Florida’s Billy Donovan? Nope. Villanova’s Jay Wright? Nope. Texas’ Rick Barnes? Nope.
Some say Barnhart was aiming too high, going for elite coaches.
So, was there a lesson learned? Could he go right after a guy like Travis Ford — a guy that would jump at the chance to coach his alma mater — instead of shooting for coaching stars?
Here’s a couple other links to items on Gillispie and Ford:
* ESPN’s Pat Forde says there’s plenty of blame to go around in this deal.
* Here’s a look at Gillispie’s “Memorandum of Understanding” at Kentucky. He never signed his contract. Oh, check out the part about his buyout. $1.5 million per years left on his seven-year contract. By my math that’s a cool $6 million Billy Clyde could be taking home.
* The USA Today had a quick item on Bill Self defending Gillispie.
– Ryan Sharp, Asst. Sports Editor
Foster considering walking on at OSU
By Scott Wright
The door isn’t completely closed on the possibility of Guthrie star athlete Donte’ Foster playing football at Oklahoma State.
I traded text messages with the 6-foot-2, 180-pound football and basketball standout Thursday afternoon and he said he is being pursued as an invited walk-on for the Cowboys.
Guthrie coach Rafe Watkins told multiple Web sites that Foster-to-OSU was a done deal, but Foster says it’s not 100 percent just yet.
“It’s a possibility,” he said. “I’ve talked it over with them and they said it would be a great idea, so there’s a chance I may do that. It’s not written in stone quite yet though.”
Foster got some interest from OSU just before signing day, but never received a scholarship offer. At that time, the Cowboys needed more help in the secondary and were considering Foster as a safety prospect.
But with some attrition at receiver, OSU has come back around to Foster on the offensive side of the ball.
The Cowboys may have balked at offering Foster a scholarship because they had not hosted him in camp, and thus, did not get the chance to see his ability up-close.
If Foster walks on, it’s the best possible scenario for the Pokes. They don’t have to use a scholarship, but still bring in a receiver with big-time play-making ability — just check his YouTube clips — who has NCAA Division I scholarship offers in football and basketball. And Foster gets to play at the school he has long wanted to attend.
Guthrie football player Donte Foster. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Travis Ford and Kentucky
Well, Cowboy fans, this is what happens when you’ve got a successful basketball team.
Just about every story coming out about Billy Gillespie and Kentucky names Travis Ford as a possible replacement.
I’m curious what Cowboy fans’ thoughts are. Happy to have a desired coach? Get away from him, he’s ours?
I would assume the answers would have been A LOT different three months ago.
Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that have come out in the last couple of days.
* The Bleacher Report thinks Gillespie should get another year.
* Another Bleacher Report blog that doesn’t name Ford, but does name others.
* ESPN’s Andy Katz says a decision could come Friday, and that Ford’s name will come up.
* SI’s Andy staples has Gillespie’s job security on life support.
Check back later for more links.
– Ryan Sharp, Asst. Sports Editor
NCAA Tournament live blog: OSU-Pitt
Byron and the midrange jumper
Something I don’t think we mentioned in all our extensive coverage of the Tennessee game:
A major key was Byron Eaton’s pullup jumper from 8-12 feet. That’s a shot he was struggling with the last couple weeks — if you recall, he missed about five of those in the second Bedlam game in Norman. He hit that shot at two critical points against the Vols.
That’s going to be a key shot today against Pitt, because the Panthers obviously protect the rim extremely well. Not saying Eaton shouldn’t try to get all the way to the rim, but in some situations he’s going to need that jumper and it’s good he gained a little confidence in it the other day.
by andrea cohen
an hour until tip …
Just had a quick chat with some OSU staff members and here’s the rub:
-The Cowboys will mix things up defensively on Pitt point guard Levance Fields. Terrel Harris will start on him, and Byron Eaton will guard him later.
-Unlike some teams that try to back off and contain Fields, OSU’s tactic is going to be to go after him hard right away.
-No stunner here, but the key is keeping Byron out of foul trouble. That’s part of the reason Terrel will start on Fields.
-Double team on DeJuan Blair. All very similar to the things OSU did against Griffin, with one guy fronting a lot and then another guy coming over to help (and hopefully take charges).
-The Cowboys are in the black unis.
by andrea cohen
musings from dayton
Greetings from Dayton, where we’re about 17 hours from OSU tipping off with Pitt. I’m sitting in my hotel room half watching Gonzaga-Western Kentucky and wishing I could watch the Texas-Duke game as well. Why is it that all the good games have been on so late?
Anyway, the only action from Dayton today was press conference action, and there wasn’t much terribly interesting or exciting said, to be honest. This is what happens when guys are meeting with the media for the third time in about 48 hours. I was actually working on a story for Sunday about Travis Ford’s family, so I was glad not to be relying on what was said in the interview rooms.
OSU’s press conference was a lot of questions from visiting/national media about Ford and how his players have adapted to him and vice versa. Basically, the stories all of us in the local media have been writing since last April. It’s always strange when you know exactly how a guy is going to answer a question because you’ve already asked it before. And of course Pitt big man DeJuan Blair was a hot topic, and the Blake Griffin comparisons were flying around. Ford’s general message was that OSU is going to have to play a near-perfect game to beat the No. 1 seeded Panthers.
On the Pitt side, it was interesting to see Levance Fields a little irritated by questions about his injured groin. The point guard declared that “I told you yesterday I’m 100 percent, so I’m 100 percent today.” His performances in the Big East Tournament and Pitt’s first round game tell different stories as the senior pg had more turnovers than usual in those games.
OK, gotta catch the last three minutes of this Texas game.
by andrea cohen
NCAA Tournament live blog: OSU vs. Tennessee
What kind of date spot is Dayton for The Big Dance?
Despite working in nearby Indianapolis for almost two years, I’ve never been to Dayton Arena. It seems I’ve been missing out. This is the eighth year in a row that Dayton Arena will be hosting the opening rounds of the Tournament, and it’s even hosting the play-in game, which says something interesting. That something interesting, it seems to me, is that people around Dayton will come to watch any/all basketball being played.
On Sunday evening, after it was announced that the Cowboys would play Tennessee in Dayton on Friday, Travis Ford went on and on about what a cool atmosphere it is, and he should know — he beat Dayton at Dayton twice while at UMass. The second time Dayton was ranked No. 18 and on a 13 game winning streak.
Arena aside, Dayton will be an awfully hard ticket to get ahold of mainly because of the proximity of the teams playing. ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil called it “The hottest place to be.”
“If you’re not real attached to your kidney, you might be able to score a ticket to the sub-regional in Dayton. Otherwise, good luck.
It could be the toughest ticket to find of all of the eight first-round cities.
Fans from Louisville, Pittsburgh and Ohio State (given, it must be noted, an awfully sweet site preference for an 8-seed in a year when the Buckeyes’ athletic director, Gene Smith, serves on the committee) will all converge on the University of Dayton Arena, none having to tax themselves for more than a four-hour drive.
An hour after the bracket was announced, upper-level seats already were going for $250 and up on stubhub.com.”
by andrea cohen
