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ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit: Can OSU’s ‘defense hold up and slow some people down?’

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit talked to The Oklahoman‘s Mel Bracht on Thursday about the Cowboys’ 2011 season:

The Cowboys are going to score a ton of points. With Justin Blackmon having a chance to come back and see what he can do with (Brandon) Weeden, I think Oklahoma State is going to be a team that is going to score a ton. The big question with them, is can their defense hold up and slow some people down? I think Bill Young is an outstanding defensive coordinator. I think in the last year or two you could see that Mike (Gundy) has made more of an effort to get more athletic ability on defense. There is a lot of youth over there. It’s hard to really know how good they can be. But for them to become a team that will challenge Oklahoma and Texas A&M and have a chance to get to a BCS bowl game, it obviously is going to be up to their defense.

What do you think?


Poll: What do you think of OSU’s new uniforms?

Check out photos of Oklahoma State’s new jerseys here and vote in our poll below. Send your thoughts on the uniform combinations to Anthony Slater at aslater@opubco.com .



OSU-A&M Already On The Radar

Brandon Weeden says last year's A&M win "catapulted" the Cowboys.

By John Helsley
jhelsley@opubco.com
follow on twitter @jjhelsley


OSU’s time in Dallas at the Big 12 Media Days went well, with all three representatives – Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon and Markelle Martin – presenting themselves well, to no surprise.
They are solid ambassadors for the program and each delivered in every way as an interested media gathered to gauge the Cowboys for the season ahead.
And it’s a season that brings an early major matchup: OSU’s trip to Texas A&M for the Big 12 opener in the opening month on Sept. 24.
The Cowboys will be coming off a beginning stretch of games that includes home dates with Louisiana-Lafayette and Arizona, followed by a road test at Tulsa.
The Aggies start against SMU, Idaho, with an open week between those two.
Then, for two teams hoping to breakthrough for a Big 12 title, it’s on.
And despite the early date, it smells of an elimination game.
“Truthfully,” said Aggies coach Mike Sherman, “I prefer playing them a little later. We have Arkansas in there as well (the week after OSU), which is another big game for us.
“Certainly, Oklahoma State, a team that we have not found a way to win against since I’ve been at A&M. We’ve lost to them three games in a row.
“That’s going to be a key game on our schedule. Put a lot of effort into that in the offseason to see exactly what they’re doing, how we can play better and coach better.”
The Cowboys would surely like to ease into Big 12 play as well, if that’s possible.
But a win in College Station could also propel them, much the way beating the Aggies in Stillwater a year ago did.
“A&M catapulted us through the middle part of the season,” Weeden said.
The Cowboys can’t get ahead of themselves, not with Arizona seeking revenge for an Alamo Bowl beating and dangerous Tulsa circling OSU’s visit on its schedule.
But it is a fun game to look forward to – perhaps the key game in either team’s schedule.


List: OSU undrafted free agents in the NFL

We’re tracking where Oklahoma State’s undrafted players have signed in the NFL:

- DE Ugo Chinasa to the Carolina Panthers (Source: DMN)

- K Dan Bailey to the Dallas Cowboys (Source: @NFLDraftInsider)

- LB Orie Lemon to the Dallas Cowboys (Source: @Orie41)

- DT Chris Donaldson to the Green Bay Packers (Source: @glang1)


Video: OSU Cowboys talk about 2011 season at Big 12 Media Days


Video: OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden from Big 12 Media Days


Video: OSU safety Markelle Martin from Big 12 Media Days


Video: OSU coach Mike Gundy from Big 12 Media Days


Video: Markelle Martin interviews Justin Blackmon at Big 12 Media Day


OSU picked by media to finish 3rd in Big 12 in 2011

The Oklahoma State football team was selected to finish third in the conference in the Big 12 preseason poll. Here’s the full list:

Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll

Rank. Team (First-place votes), total points

1. Oklahoma (41), 428

2. Texas A&M (1), 362

3. Oklahoma State (1), 360

4. Missouri, 281

5. Texas, 265

6. Baylor, 194

7. Texas Tech, 191

8. Kansas State, 140

9. Iowa State, 93

10. Kansas, 51