Proving Time
By John Helsley
Quick question: Has OSU football ever been more popular?
My guess is no, not even when Barry Sanders was running wild to the Heisman. Barry mostly performed his magic out of sight, with little TV time and far less media coverage than exists today.
The Cowboys are everywhere this preseason, as we creep up on what could be a tipping point moment in program history.
With today’s edition of Sporting News Today(available free to your inbox and highly recommended!), Dez Bryant runs off the page in the play story of the day: “Neighborhood Watch: Four outsiders in our top 10 must prove they deserve to stay.”
The story, written by Matt Hayes, takes a look at four outsiders — OSU, LSU, Virginia Tech and Ole Miss — who were not in the final polls a year ago, but make SN’s top 10 and threaten to join the national title race.
Of course, all have something to prove.
“It has been a long time since people have talked about Oklahoma State in the top 10,” Bryant told Hayes. “Now we’ve got to go out and earn it.”
Hayes’ take on OSU:
Why they’ll finish in the top 10:Three legitimate All-Americans — Bryant, QB Zac Robinson and RB Kendall Hunter — on a loaded offense and a re-energized defense with new coordinator Bill Young.
Why they won’t:We’ll know plenty after Week 1, when physical SEC heavyweight Georgia comes to Stillwater. A must win.
Now, Hayes forgot another legit All-American in left tackle Russell Okung, but you get the drift on his appreciation for OSU.
There’s more OSU in this edition of SN Today, too. Okung is featured on Page 19 in a Q&A. And the Kansas City Star’s Blair Kerkhoff takes a broader look at the Cowboys as part of the top 100 countdown.
Hayes is already on record as saying Dez is the “most exciting player” in the country.
And there’s been similar love spread from other angles and outlets, all ready to jump on the Cowboys bandwagon.
Georgia will determine how many hitch up.
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Comments
Alright, we have to beat Georgia. Being ranked #7 preseason means nothing, it’s empty. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an OSU graduate, but for some reason our cowboys have a history of getting the big head. If I was Gundy I wouldn’t let them talk to the media or even watch ESPN. College football teams are nothing until they finish a season with double digits in the victory column!
Nice blog. Hype does seem at an all time high. OSU is on ESPN nearly every time they talk college football, daily articles about the team or players on yahoo/rivals. Beat Georgia and let’s see what happens.