Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is a real Cowboy

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy always seems to turn up in video whether he wants to or not.
He's known for the 'rant' and the 'Gundy' dance. 
The latest flew off to Twitter around 9 p.m. Dec. 30 and shows the Cowboys coach riding a mechanical bull during a Friday-evening team, family outing at Saddle Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Gundy displays pretty good style in the 40-second video. He's finally flung off the mechanical bull, but his Oklahoma State baseball cap never flies off.
Here's what Gundy had to say Saturday about the video and experience.
"That's the first time I've ever been on a bull. Really at the end, I kind of let him knock me off because he was getting tired. So I figured I'd go down and give him a rest.
"That was a challenge from my own boys; that was how that all came about. I was unaware that it got out on the Internet until about noon today (Saturday). But my youngest boys wanted to go riding so I sent them over there with some money and they came back and said, 'You have to be 18.' I said, 'Well, you're a long ways from being 18; sit down and eat your dinner.'
"That's when they challenged me to ride it. I said I wasn't riding that thing. My littlest one said, 'That's because you can't stay on it.' This went on and on and so forth, and I had to go over and ride it."
"I was a little nervous when I had to sign a waiver releasing liability, but it was a good time."
Gundy said he didn't know how the bull ride had ended up on the Internet because the restaurant was practically empty.
"It was only like 6:30. I thought about that for a second (whether it would end up on You Tube) and it was like, 'There's nobody here that even cares or knows who I am.' But apparently, that's not the case."

Stanford tight end as tall as a tree

Stanford will put three tight ends on the field Monday. All three may be on the field at one time. All are tall, but only one is as tall as Stanford's unofficial mascot -- the Redwood.
Levine Toilolo stands 6-8, 255 pounds. The sophomore is one of the Cardinal's go to guys in the red zone.
Toilolo was an all-conference tight end in high school and a four-star recruit. Yes, he played basketball and lettered in that sport.
"My height brings an advantage to the red zone," Toilolo said.
His fellow tight ends -- Coby Fleener (6-6, 254) and Zach Erzt (6-6, 252) -- bring other attributes to the field.
Fleener is one of Stanford's fastest players. Erzt is known for running crisp routes.
Toilolo said all three enjoy blocking for the running game which is the Cardinal's preferred method of moving the ball.
"We like to open up holes up front," Toilolo said. "We are all good blockers and take pride in that."
Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert said he has never defended someone as tall as Toilolo or Fleener and Erzt.
"It will be a big challenge. We will have to punish them every time we get a chance," Gilbert said. Every time they come out to throw a block or go up for the ball we just have to hit them in the mouth."

Fiesta is Blackmon's OSU finale; Weeden plays golf

The Fiesta Bowl will be Justin Blackmon's last game as an Oklahoma State football player.
Blackmon indicated he would turn pro about a month ago, but had wavered some in the week leading up the the Dec. 3 Bedlam game.
Thursday, he said he would definitely go pro after Oklahoma State plays Stanford on Monday.
"I chose to come back this year to better myself and try to make myself better for the next level. I did that. I think it's time after this game to move on and see what else is out there," Blackmon said.
Blackmon and Weeden returned for the 2011 season to help Oklahoma State beat Oklahoma, win a Big 12 title and go to a BCS bowl.
Mission accomplished
"The fact that we did it and we're here playing in a BCS bowl is the icing on the cake," Blackmon said.
The opportunity to play in a BCS bowl game is one of the reasons Weeden returned to OSU.
"We wanted to go to a BCS game. That was one of the things we talked about, and we were able to accomplish it," he said.
Weeden said he and Blackmon performed well this season and helped put OSU in a position to play in the Fiesta Bowl
"Everything we were able to set aside, we were able to accomplish," Weeden said.
Weeden also was able to accomplish a little fun during his down time in Phoenix. He got in 11 holes of golf at a Phoenix-area resort.
"I hit one of the best shots I've ever hit on a par 3," Weeden said. "It was 214 yards and I hit a low 5-iron punch draw to within three feet. I made the putt for birdie. If I'd missed the putt, I would have been pretty ticked off."

Luck, Weeden happy with their choices

No surprises in Arizona.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden wouldn't want to switch offenses.
"I love the offense I'm in," Luck said. "I feel very happy. I don't daydream too much about that."
Weeden likes the spread offense. It allows him to orchestrate one of the highest output offenses in the nation.
He does wonder what it would be like to direct a huddle, though. It would allow him to show his leadership skills.
Luck has set five school records in the NFL-style offense that Stanford employs. Weeden owns 19 school records using OSU's version of the spread offense.
Opposing coaches and players respect their abilities and more importantly their own coaches wouldn't exchange them for any quarterback playing major college football.
Luck and Weeden will be drafted by the NFL.
Luck, likely, will be the first player taken in April's NFL Draft. Weeden is projected to go in the late second or third round.
Luck said he isn't overly concerned about which NFL team drafts him. He doesn't have any control over which team will have the first pick. It will either be the Indianapolis Colts or the St. Louis Rams depending on this weekend's NFL outcomes.
"Wherever I land will be great. I am not rooting for one team to win or lose or whatever. ... Wherever I end up, I'm sure it will be the best spot for me."
How do these two rate, statistically?
Luck passed for 3,170 yards and 35 touchdowns. He completed 261 of his 373 attempts with 9 interceptions. It's a 70 percent completion percentage.
Weeden passed for 4,328 yards and 34 touchdowns. He completed 279 of his 522 attempt with 12 interceptions. It's a 72.3 percent completion percentage.
Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bill Young called Luck the total package.
"He runs out of the pocket. He is a patient guy. Obviously, he is a very, very intelligent guy. That's why he is predicted to be the first guy in the draft. Great player."
Oklahoma State cornerback Brodrick Brown faces Weeden's passes in every practice.
"Our quarterback, he can make the same throws that Andrew Luck can," Brown said. "It is no different."
It's difficult to predict how college quarterbacks will make the transition to the NFL. Many Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks languish in the NFL -- think Gino Torreta, Chris Weinke, Matt Leinart.
While some lower round draft picks excel. Think Drew Brees.
Personally, Luck and Weeden have the arms, intelligence and attitude to make it big in the NFL.