Chris Day

Sixth man needed for OSU men's basketball team

2012-01-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

It is the biggest win this season for Oklahoma State's men's basketball team.
Nobody, and I mean nobody outside the OSU men's basketball team, believed Oklahoma State had a chance of beating No. 2 ranked Missouri on Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
But Oklahoma State's senior point guard Keiton Page kept telling the Cowboys' younger players about the Pokes upset of Kansas a few years back.
Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford kept the Pokes offense under control. He slowed the tempo and his players looked and worked for open shots on set plays. The deliberate offense frustrated the Tigers and threw them off their game.
The Pokes took it to the Tigers, winning 79-72 and evening their overall record at 10-10.
Freshman Le'Bryan Nash scored 27 and redshirt freshman Brian Williams chipped in 22. Both are career numbers for Nash and Williams.
The only fly in this ointment is fans. Gallagher-Iba Arena wasn't packed and it should have been just to see the No. 2 team in the nation. The official attendance was 9,476 and it may have crept up to close to that by halftime. I estimate that only 6,000 fans were at the game for the opening tipoff at 6:30 p.m.
Either number is much too small.
Gallagher-Iba Arena seats 13,611. If you accept OSU's attendance figure, there were 4,135 unfilled seats. That is empty. It is fortunate the fans that were there were vocal.
The win over Missouri was a huge victory for Oklahoma State's men's basketball team. It's a young team averaging just a little over 19-years old. The Pokes will be inconsistent at times, but the players practice hard, play hard and are getting better.
They need OSU fans to support them and become their sixth man.

Weeden is THE quarterback at Senior Bowl practices

2012-01-25T20:44:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden is proving he is the best quarterback at the Senior Bowl as the north and south teams prepare for Saturday's game in Mobile, Ala.
One of three South QB's, Weeden is drawing praise from commentators and coaches alike. They like his arm strength, command in the huddle, drop-back passing, ability to roll out and accuracy.
If he can keep this up, which I think he will, he is definitely going to improve his draft position.
The commentators are even starting to say his age 28 — 29 when he is a NFL rookie — should be a positive because of his maturity.
Weeden said he is a young 28 in football terms because he rarely got sacked or hit in his two seasons as OSU's full-time quarterback.
Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin also is getting noticed for his pass-coverage ability. Right now, he is slated as the fourth safety to be taken in the NFL Draft. His draft stock will improve if he continues to have good practices.
Weeden and Martin will need a solid game on Saturday to solidify their draft positions.
Weeden could go in the second round if he has a good game. Martin probably is a third-round pick.

Class of 2012 reaches 20 for OSU football

2012-01-23T19:14:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma State's football team has 20 verbal commitments for the 2012 recruiting class.
The Pokes added four verbal commitments last weekend.
Here are the latest to say they are coming to OSU in 2012.
Chance Allen, wide receiver, Elkins High, Missouri City Texas, 6-3, 191
Kevin Peterson, defensive back, Wagoner, Okla., High School, 5-11, 170
Jhajuan Seals, wide receiver, Port Arthur, Texas, Memorial High School, 6-1, 185.
Michael Wilson, offensive line, Aliedo, Texas High School, 6-6, 265.
The additions of Allen and Seals gives OSU five wide receivers in this recruiting class.
The Pokes have three offensive linemen commitments and four defensive ends.
National Signing Day is Feb. 1.

Oklahoma State Cowgirls basketball team learning to soar

2012-01-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

The moments didn't last long, but both were special.
The Oklahoma State women's basketball team roared back in the final 10 minutes of Bedlam to beat the Oklahoma Sooners 66-63 Saturday in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
After the final horn, the Cowgirls and their coaches celebrated on court and gathered to sing the alma mater.
As the school song ended, Cowgirls basketball coach Jim Littell raised his arms upward with his index fingers outstretched in a No. 1 salute. He turned his face toward heaven to honor and remember his longtime friend Kurt Budke, OSU women's basketball coach who died in a plane crash during a recruiting trip in November.
A few minutes later, tears flowed as Littell presented the game ball to Budke's widow, Shelley.
It has become a tradition for the Cowgirls players to walk into the stands behind their bench and hug the Budke family after each game. Littell was last in line with the game ball tucked under his right arm. He hugged Budke's widow, talked with her and gave her the ball.
Yes, Saturday was extra special.
The Cowgirls' victory snapped an eight-game losing streak to their in-state rivals that dated to Jan. 12, 2008.
It was special in another way as well.
More than 5,500 fans — mostly OSU supporters — attended the game. Their cheers spurred the Cowgirls on. OU lead for 19:32 of the second half. The Cowgirls would surge close, but couldn't take the lead until sophomore guard Jenni Bryan nailed a 3-pointer with 28.1 seconds left.
The Cowgirls held the Sooners at bay and ran their record to 10-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12.
"This is my 34th year of coaching, and I have never been more proud of a team than I am today," Littell said.
I'm sure all Oklahoma State fans echo that sentiment.

New to the Big 12

2012-01-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

Former Dallas Cowboys coach and defensive coordinator Dave Campo has joined Charlie Weis' staff at the University of Kansas. He will be Weis' defensive coordinator.
Campo spent the first 18 years of his career in the collegiate ranks, and was the secondary coach on Jimmy Johnson's University of Miami teams in 1987 and 1988. Johnson coached at Oklahoma State before taking the Miami job.
He was the Dallas Cowboys' head coach from 2000 to 2002.
Other members of Weis' staff are Rob Ianello (recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach), Buddy Wyatt (defensive line coach) and Scott Holsopple (director of strength and conditioning).
Training in the desert
Oklahoma State University quarterback Brandon Weeden is preparing for the NFL Combine at the Athletes Performance Training Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The center has specialized in NFL Combine training since 2001.
Blackmon hires agent
CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell reports OSU wide receiver Justin Blackmon has signed with agent Todd France. France runs AllPro Athlete Management in Atlanta, Ga. France also represents Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis.
Leading the nation
Oklahoma State University women's basketball point guard Tiffany Bias is averaging 8.4 assists per game. She is the nation's assist leader. Kansas guard Angel Goodrich is second with 8.2 assists per game.

Former Oklahoma State coach Jim Stanley brought toughness to Cowboys

2012-01-12T22:11:00.000-08:00

Jim Stanley was Oklahoma State's football coach during my first three years at OSU.
My main memory of Stanley's teams is just how physical they were on offense and defense.
The Cowboys punished their opponents.
Of course, I attended every home game as a fan, sitting in the stands and cheering for the Cowboys. The cheers came often in 1976 as the Pokes rolled to a 9-3 overall record and went 5-2 in the Big Eight. Unfortunately for OSU fans, the Bedlam game was in Norman instead of Lewis Field in Stillwater. We listened to the game on the radio. We were almost as stunned as OU when Poke running back Terry Miller ran wild and brought a 31-24 victory back to Stillwater.
Those Cowboys defeated BYU 49-21 in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and finished with a No. 14 ranking in the AP Top 20 poll.
The wins didn't come as often or as easy in the next two seasons, but OSU always played hard and hit harder.
Stanley produced a lot of great players on offense, defense and special teams during his tenure at OSU.
Miller was the standout skill player on offense. Derrel Gofourth made OSU's offensive line go as its center. Daria Butler and Phillip Dokes anchored the defensive line at tackle and end. Kicker Abby Daigle and punter Cliff Parsley started OSU's long line of outstanding punters and kickers.
I never met or interviewed Stanley. I didn't try my hand at sports reporting for the Daily O'Collegian until Jimmy Johnson arrived as OSU's coach, but I'll never forget Stanley's teams as I watched them from the student section at Lewis Stadium.

Wes Lunt to enroll this spring

2012-01-06T07:23:00.000-08:00

You can add Wes Lunt's name to Oklahoma State's pool of quarterbacks vying to replace senior Brandon Weeden.
Lunt says he will enroll for the spring semester and participate in OSU's spring drills. The spring semester starts Jan. 9.
Lunt, 6-5, 210, played in a pro-style offense in Rochester, Ill.

Oklahoma State pre-game thoughts

2012-01-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

It's game day in Phoenix.
Some bowl games have already started. The Fiesta Bowl will be the night cap. It should be the best bowl game of the day.
Here are a few final thoughts before tonight's kickoff.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is 6-1 against PAC-12 teams.
The Cowboys No. 3 ranking is their highest-ranking ever for an OSU bowl appearance.
Oklahoma State gave up just 229 points in Big 12 Conference play. The 229 points leads the league in fewest points allowed in conference play.
The Poke defense has given up just 36 points in the first quarter all season. Stanford's defense has allowed just 28 first-quarter points.
Oklahoma State's offense has scored 342 points in the first half. Stanford's offense has scored 230 in the first half.
Stanford's defense has limited 15 of its last 18 opponents to 21 points or fewer. The Cardinal offense likes to score first. It has come away with first-drive points in 16 of its last 26 games.
Stanford coach David Shaw said the Cardinal must contain Justin Blackmon, but Stanford likes to play man-to-man coverage in the secondary. A single defensive back cannot cover Blackmon, and Stanford will have to use double coverage. If they double Blackmon, OSU's Josh Cooper and the rest of the receiving corp will have great days.
If the Cardinal focus on the pass, Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith should have a repeat performance of the Oklahoma game with each back rushing for more than 100 yards.

The devil is in the details

2012-01-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

It was review day on Sunday for the Oklahoma State and Stanford football teams.
Practice is over for the Cowboys and Cardinals. Sunday, the teams held meetings to review game plans and work out anyfinal kinks.
Monday, the teams will go through their game-day routines in preparation for the 7:30 p.m. Monday Fiesta Bowl kickoff at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
It's OSU's first trip to a BCS bowl, and Stanford's second straight.
Stanford coach David Shaw said Oklahoma State has played in big games and the Cowboys lack of BCS-bowl experience shouldn't give Stanford an advantage.
"They have got some big-time players that are not going to shy away from the spotlight tomorrow night. So I think it is still pretty even."
The quarterback match-up between Stanford's Andrew Luck and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden has been hyped since the game between No. 3 OSU and No. 4 Stanford was announced. They will play important roles, but both teams are too talented to rely solely on their quarterbacks to pick up a win.
"Both quarterbacks are very important to their offense and to their teams," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "I don't think there is any question that these two quarterbacks were certainly the most valuable players to their teams."
Stanford runs first and Oklahoma State throws first.
So Cardinal running back Stepfan Taylor will be critical. OSU will rely on receivers Justin Blackmon, Josh Cooper and others as well as running backs Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith.
The Cardinal must try to contain the pass and run, Shaw said.
Oklahoma State will have to control Taylor, Luck and prevent big plays.
"We know that Oklahoma State has great weapons. We know they have an opportunistic defense. It is going to be a big challenge tommorrow night," Shaw said.
Oklahoma State will need to be physical against Stanford on offense and defense, Gundy said.
"They players have started to pay attention to the importance of getting prepared for the game. We have practiced well. The players tarted getting in game mode yesterday (Saturday)."

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is a real Cowboy

2011-12-31T16:09:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-29T10:04:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-28T15:40:00.000-08:00

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.

Orie Lemon visits Oklahoma State practice

2011-09-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

Former Oklahoma State linebacker Orie Lemon visited the Cowboys practice Sunday night.
Lemon made the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
"I walked down to go to the team meeting and he was standing there," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. Lemon was excited because he was on the Dallas Cowboys' roster.
"He came in with us to the team meeting. The players saw him and we introduced him. They congratulated him. Those things are really fun," Gundy said.
Gundy said he doesn't watch much NFL, but gets updates on former OSU players. "We have a full-time web guy now and he takes all that information and puts in on coachgundy.com," Gundy said.
Former Oklahoma State kicker Dan Bailey is the backup kicker at Dallas and former Poke receiver Dez Bryant is a starting wideout.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy discusses Big 12 realignment

2011-09-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma State University football coach Mike Gundy said he hopes the Big 12 will survive because he likes the conference's regional recruiting and rivalries. He said the conference's survival is unlikely.
Here's what he said.
Have you talked about Big 12 realignment with OSU's student-athletes?
"I haven't. I get very little information on that. Coach (Mike) Holder will come by and give me updates if he feels like he has something that is somewhat concrete and it's worth discussion. We haven't had any talks with our team because I think they understand like me – I'm not sure they can actually do anything about it one way or the other. Fortunately, they try not to concern themselves with things they can't control. If you told me something new happened today, I wouldn't know it until you told me."

Do you want the Big 12 to stay together?
"I would hope that our league could somehow stay together and survive. I guess it doesn't look like that is going to happen. Maybe somebody could come in. I like the Big 12. I like this part of the country. I like the recruiting aspect of it. I'm not afraid to say that. I like the rivalries we have in this league going north and south. I think it's good for college football. I think it's good for the geography of television and everything that is involved."

Do you think conference realignment talk distracts the players?
"I really don't. My personal opinion is that it could be a distraction to the young men being recruited. At some point, I would only hope ... that the gentlemen or ladies – whoever is making the decisions in this – take into account the current team members in this league that are playing in the Big 12 that came to a school to play in the Big 12, and the ones that are being recruited that think they are going to play in the Big 12, and not just a way to make more money. And take into account the kids cause ultimately this is who we are supposed to be supporting. For whatever that's worth, that's my opinion."

Big 12 and Missouri

2011-07-25T10:56:00.001-07:00

Big 12 and Texas

2011-07-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Swagger.
Texas lost its confidence last season. This season is about getting the swagger back, Texas coach Mack Brown said.
Turnovers will be a key this year. The Longhorns need to eliminate them on offense and force more on defense, Brown said.
Texas also has new faces on the coaching staff and will be running new offensive and defensive schemes, Brown said.

Big 12 and Oklahoma State

2011-07-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma State will have to improve on defense and special teams in order to compete for the Big 12 title, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said.
Oklahoma State's defensive line and linebackers will have to "grow up quickly," Gundy said.
The OSU coach said Nigel Nicholas, Christian Littlehead, Caleb Levy and Joe Mitchell will need to step up their play this season. He isn't as concerned about defensive ends Richetti Jones and Jamie Blatnick who started at times last season.
Oklahoma State's offensive coordinator Todd Monken hasn't done a lot of play calling, but Gundy said Monken has enough experience to be effective.
Gundy said he prefers to let the Big 12 and Oklahoma State's athletic director Mike Holder worry about The Longhorn Network while he concentrates on getting the Cowboys ready for the upcoming season.

Big 12 and Baylor

2011-07-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

Playing in a bowl last season helped Baylor's confidence and recruiting, Baylor coach Art Briles said.
"It was a big battle," he said. "Now we have to keep growing the program."
The Longhorn Network doesn't bother Briles – "not a bit."
The University of Texas has been good for a long time. The Longhorns are averaging 1o wins a season under coach Mack Brown.
Briles said it's always hard to recruit against Texas but feels the Longhorn Network will be good for the Big 12.

Big 12 and Texas A&M

2011-07-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

It's football time in the Big 12 and I'm in Dallas at the football media days.
Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman just finished a 10-minute session with the media.
His highlights.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill always has had a lot of confidence. Even when he was the third-string quarterback Tannehill thought he should be starting.
Sherman expects running backs Michael Christian and Cyrus Gray to get plenty of snaps this fall because their running styles complement each other.
Sherman would like to play Oklahoma State later in the season, but you play them when they are scheduled.

Big 10 beating the Big 12

2010-12-29T17:14:00.001-08:00

The Big 10 seems to have the Big 12's number this bowl season. Iowa beat Missouri on Tuesday night, and Illinois is ahead of Baylor, 24-7, midway through the third quarter. Several of OSU's 2010 season foes have completed their bowl games with victories. Troy and Tulsa won their bowls in blowouts.

Keys to selling out Boone Pickens Stadium

2010-12-29T16:56:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma didn't sell out Boone Pickens Stadium this year -- never really came close. Ticket prices are part of the problem. OSU reduced some ticket prices to help put fans in the stadium. Now, the coaches and players must step up with a great performance in tonight's Alamo Bowl game. A victory would do a lot to bring more fans to the stadium. Three key off-season decisions also will could bring more OSU fans to the stadium. OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden and wide receiver Justin Blackmon have NFL decisions to make. OSU head coach Mike Gundy must select a replacement for offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Gundy will stick with the Air Raid offense because it fits OSU's players. If Weeden or Blackmon stay or if both stay and Gundy picks a well-known Mike Leach/Holgorsen disciple, The Cowboys should play to packed houses in 2011.

More on East Carolina

2010-12-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

Miscues hurt East Carolina's offense in the first half, and ECU's defense is tired in the second half as Maryland jumps out to a 29-10 lead. East Carolina's offense resembles Oklahoma State's offense, but the Pirates look much slower than OSU's athletes. Also, East Carolina doesn't have a running back like Kendall Hunter, but few teams do. East Carolina runs a lot of passes over the middle, screens and some passes downfield.
East Carolina's offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley is 27-years old. He's younger than OSU's starting quarterback Brandon Weeden.

East Carolina coordinator mentioned as Holgorsen replacement

2010-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

East Carolina plays Maryland at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN in the EagleBank Bowl. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Lincoln Riley has been mentioned as a possible replacement for OSU offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who is leaving the Cowboys after the Alamo Bowl game to be offensive coordinator and head coach in waiting at West Virginia.
West Virginia's offense looked terrible in Tuesday night's 23-7 loss to North Carolina State in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fl. I can see why WVU went after Holgorsen and his inventiveness on offense.
OSU fans may want to tune into East Carolina's bowl game to see Riley's offense and how it might work at OSU.

Who should punt for Oklahoma State?

2010-12-24T19:11:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma State's kickoff specialist/punter Quinn Sharp is academically ineligible for Wednesday's Alamo Bowl.
That's bad news for the Cowboys.
Sharp kicked off 98 times this season and touchbacks were the result of 53 of those boots.
Touchbacks are great for the defense. Automatically, the opposition must travel 80 yards for a score. An 80-yard drive is pretty hard to manufacture consistently.
Oklahoma State's Lou Groza Award winning kicker Dan Bailey can handle the kickoff duties in the Alamo Bowl. He handled OSU's kickoff chores prior to the 2009 season.
Earlier this season, Bailey told me he would really like a shot at kicking off, but realized Sharp could consistently put the bowl into the end zone for touchbacks.
Bailey may not put every kickoff into the end zone, but OSU's kick coverage has improved greatly as the season progressed and shouldn't be a problem against Arizona.
Punting is the larger problem.
Sharp handled every punting opportunity this season. He had a 46.2 yard average and placed 15 punts inside the 20. He had a 78-yard punt against Nebraska.
Gundy has options.
Bailey, a senior, punted in high school but hasn't punted in college. OSU could turn to redshirt freshman Michael Reichenstein from Dallas.
Reichenstein didn't return to playing football until his junior year at Dallas Jesuit College Prep school. He played football in the fifth, sixth and eighth grades.
Reichenstein didn't have many opportunities in his senior year. He played behind Notre Dame signee Nick Tausch. In the National Combine Dallas semi-final, his punting average was 48 yards with a hang time of 4.17 seconds.
He has a lot of potential but, like Bailey, hasn't punted in a college game.
What does a head coach do?
• Go with your senior and hope he doesn't wear the leg out and miss a key field goal.
• Pick the redshirt freshman, putting him into a bowl-game pressure cooker.
• Hope the Cowboys' offense is so prolific that it doesn't have to punt or has to punt rarely in the Alamo Bowl. OSU punted just once in a 55-28 win over Baylor and didn't punt at all when it beat Kansas, 48-14.
You have got to believe Gundy will put the ball in the hands of a trusted senior for the punting chores as well and hope for the best.
Chris Day is sports editor for the NewsPress. He can be reached at 405-372-5000 ext. 220 or at cday@stwnewspress.com

OSU missing two players at Alamo Bowl

2010-12-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Oklahoma State's kickoff specialist and punter Quinn Sharp and a long snapper Marc Yerry will not play in the Alamo Bowl, Cowboy head coach Mike Gundy said.
"Everybody made it except we're short two players who didn't pass the six hours," Gundy said. "It was just the two guys who didn't pass the six hours, Marc Yerry and Quinn Sharp."
According to NCAA rules, a student must successfully complete six semester hours of academic credit during the preceding term to be eligible to participate in post-season competition, including bowl games.
Field goal/extra point specialist Dan Bailey will handle kickoff duties for the Alamo Bowl. Either Bailey or Michael Reichenstein will punt.
"We worked on that a little bit Thursday," Gundy said. "Andrew Suter has done the snapping all year, so we should be in the flow there."
Oklahoma State's wide receiver coach Gunter Brewer learned his mother had died shortly after the team arrived in San Antonio. Brewer and his family left for Mississippi to be with their family, Gundy said.
"We got here and he was getting settled (when he received the call)," Gundy said.

Cowboys 11-1 going into break

2010-12-21T21:42:00.000-08:00

The winter break concerns Oklahoma State's men's basketball coach Travis Ford.

Tuesday night, the Cowboys ran their record to 11-1 with a 79-68 victory over Stanford.

"I wish we were 12-0," Ford said. Oklahoma State's lone loss was a 56-51 loss on Nov. 26 to Virginia Tech in the 76 Classic.

The players should be proud and humble about the 11-1 record. The Pokes have won 11 games, and haven't played a complete game, yet, Ford said.

The coach hopes his charges won't go away for the holidays, get out of playing shape and forget everything they have learned and accomplished en route to the 11-1 record.

"We need to continue the climb up the ladder," Ford said. "I'm a little concerned about the break."

The Cowboys will travel to Spokane, Wash., to face Gonzaga on Dec. 31 before hosting University of Texas San Antonio on Jan. 3 in the final tuneup before Big 12 play starts Jan. 8 against Kansas State at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

"It was a big win before Gonzaga. ... We needed this win before we go to Gonzaga. Gonzaga is one of the toughest places to play," Ford said.

The Bulldogs (6-5) before Wednesday's game against Xavier posted their signature win of the season so far on Dec. 18 with a 68-64 win over the previously unbeaten and then-9th ranked Baylor Bears.

Gonzaga may be tough but the Big 12 schedule should be much tougher.

No. 3 Kansas is 10-0. Four teams – OSU, No. 25 Texas A&M, No. 9 Missouri and No. 15 Baylor – have one loss. Three teams – Iowa State, Nebraska and No. 18 Texas – have two losses and two teams – Colorado and No. 11 Kansas State – have three.

Oklahoma is at .500 with a 6-6 record and Texas Tech is 5-6.

The Big 12 has six teams in the AP Poll and USA Today/ESPN poll released Dec. 20. Oklahoma State isn't ranked but is receiving some poll votes.

A win over Gonzaga may put the Cowboys into the Top 25.

2010-10-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma State's girls soccer team has been playing lights out since late August.

The Cowgirls could tie the program's longest unbeaten streak with a win Saturday against Nebraska.

Oklahoma State has not lost in 12 games. Thursday night, the team beat Colorado, 3-2.

Oklahoma State is ranked fifth in the nation and leads the Big 12 conference.

Nebraska is second in conference with a 4-2 record and are 11-4-1 overall.

Oklahoma State head coach Colin Carmichael expects a physical game from the Cornhuskers.

About when the soccer match ends, Oklahoma State's football team will start playing Texas Tech in Lubbock.

Oklahoma State hasn't won in Lubbock in 66 years. That's a long dry spell.

The Cowboys could end that drought Saturday afternoon. Texas Tech's offense looked good against Baylor, but the defense has stopped improving.

Oklahoma State should be able to come away from Lubbock with a "W," and bring a 6-0, 2-0 record into its homecoming game against Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers and Texas Longhorns also tangle at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Awards and athletes

2010-10-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

You don't play football to win individual honors. The Heisman Trophy, Bilitnikoff Award, the Groza Award and Walker Award are by-products of success on the playing field.
After five games, three Oklahoma State football players are solid candidates for major post-season awards.
The Doak Walker Award honors the nation's top running back. OSU's Kendall Hunter is in the hunt. Through five games, Hunter has:
• a 140 yard per game rushing average (Fifth nationally)
• a 10.8 points per game scoring average. (No. 11 in the country, third on the team)
• an average of 164.6 all-purpose yards per game. (No. 13 nationally).
• a healthy 6.4 yards per carry rushing average this season.
Impressive numbers for Hunter, who has put the running game into the Air Raid offense.
Speaking of Air Raid offense, receiver Justin Blackmon say hello to the Fred Bilitnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation's top receiver.
"Big play" Blackmon has:
• 47 catches in five games.
• 11 touchdown catches so far this season. (No. 1 in the nation)
• at least 100 receiving yards in all five games this season.
• at least one 29-yard catch or longer in all five game this season.
• at least two touchdown catches in four of five games this season. He only had one TD catch in the Texas A&M game.
He leads the nation in TD receptions, scoring (14.4 points per game), receptions per game (9.4) and receiving yards per game (149.6).
Kicker Dan Bailey is phenomenal. He has kicked 163 consecutive extra-point attempts, an OSU record. He has kicked 11 of 11 field goals, including two career best 52-yarders against Louisiana-Lafayette last week.
Bailey has:
• scored 65 points this season
• averaged 2.2 field goals per game (No. 2 in the nation)
• not missed a field goal in 2010, one of 14 perfect kickers. His 11 tries are second most among perfect kickers
• kicked a game winner at the gun against Texas A&M. It was OSU's first walk-off field goal since 1981.
So far, Oklahoma State players aren't mentioned as Heisman contenders. The next two weeks could change that situation. If Blackmon or Hunter have huge games against Texas Tech and Nebraska, one or both might make the leap onto the Heisman list.

Familiar faces new places

2010-08-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

What do you want in a Chamber of Commerce president?

The answer is business know-how, integrity and a love for the city the chamber serves.

And that describes Jace Dawson, Stillwater's new Chamber president and chief executive officer.

Dawson's mother graduated from Oklahoma State University with an education degree. The family would return often to OSU and Stillwater during Dawson's childhood. When it came time for Dawson to pick a university, OSU was at the top of a short list.

He graduated in 1999, went to work in Tulsa, and longed to return to Stillwater. He returned in 2002 working for an engineering firm and then Stillwater National Bank.

Monday, he started his new job at the Chamber.

Dawson is a familiar Stillwater face in a new place.

New and familiar faces will be returning to Stillwater this week. Oklahoma State University cranks up on the Aug. 23, and students already are filtering into the city.

Local retailers are loving it, as students flood the stores to get everything from groceries to residence hall or apartment decorations.

Brings back fond memories of my years at Oklahoma State in the late 70s. Yes, I remember when Eskimo Joe's was just a bar. The Gray Fox Inn was THE place to hang out, and pitcher's were 2 bucks and $1.25 during happy hour. My favorite eateries was the Garden of Eatin and Hideaway. Running out to Spav's to dance, and stopping at the Coney Islander after the bars closed also legend in my mind. I can't forget the throngs of students on Washington Street a couple of nights before spring break as we waited for students to shed their clothes and 'streak' through the crowd.

Hello, goodbye

2010-07-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Stillwater Chamber of Commerce has selected Jace Dawson as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Dawson works at Stillwater National Bank, and will start at the Chamber on Aug. 16. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1999.
It's funny how many OSU students stay or leave only to return to Stillwater. A recently completed survey of OSU alumni who graduated between 2004 and 2008 shows many still call Stillwater home. A total of 3,149 surveys were completed. It surprised me to learn that 358 or 11.4 percent lived and worked in Stillwater. Only Tulsa had more 2004-2008 alums living and working there. You can read more about the survey in Sunday's NewsPress.
Writing about alums, OSU lost a great one this week with the death of Bob Fenimore. He put Oklahoma A&M football on the map, and played in the National Football League. Mr. Fenimore was more than a great athlete. He was an outstanding person who helped make Stillwater into the city it is today. He also touched and positively changed the lives of many people. He will be missed.

Open primaries for Oklahoma?

2010-07-27T05:54:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since my last post. I took a week off to visit my mom and brother in Indianapolis.
Today, I went to my polling place and voted in the primary election. About 25 people had voted by 7:20 a.m.
Oklahoma needs to adopt open primaries.
The County Commission District 3 race is a good example why. Democrats and independents likely won't have any participation in the election of their county commissioner.
The candidates are running in the Republican primary. The Democrats didn't field a candidate. There could be an independent candidate file to run in the November election, but it's doubtful. Many voters won't be able to decide who represents them on the county commission.
I realize there are hazards in an open primary. In some races, voters will cross party lines, and vote against the strongest opposing party candidate. In theory, setting up their party candidate for victory in November.
We could do away with party primaries completely, and put a full slate of Republicans and Democrats in a July election with the two candidates receiving the most votes battling in November.
I'm sure this idea won't fly. It would be like Division I football doing away with the bowl system in favor of a championship playoff. It'll never happen, but it's fun to discuss.

I'm not a farm boy

2010-06-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Tulsa. My step-father was a natural resources broker. I learned more about the oil patch than the cow pasture. I spent my days learning about business in Junior Achievement instead of getting an agribusiness background in 4-H or FFA. It didn't really surprise me when I captured third place in an informal cow-judging contest earlier this week. The contest was part of the Payne County farm and pasture tour. Contestants judged four cows, ranking them from most to least cow-like. I ranked the cows correctly, but misjudged the tiebreaker -- guessing the smallest cow's weight. It weighed 738. I estimated 650 pounds.
I may be a city slicker, but I've spent my time on farms, too.
I lived in Troy, Ala., (peanut country).
I've lived in Clute, Texas. Clute is in Brazoria County, and has the largest county fair in Texas. I covered that county fair, and the sale of the champions and reserve grand champions.
So, I now a little about horse and cow flesh.
Earlier this year, I wrote a story about longhorn cattle raised in Pawnee County.
Longhorns remind me of Bevo and the University of Texas.
The Big 12 conference is disintegrating. I expect Texas to bolt for the Pac-10 with OSU and OU tagging along. See Saturday's Sports section for more on the Big 12 exes to Texas strategy.

A weekend to remember

2010-05-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

I remember my childhood in Indiana. Memorial Day revolved around backyard cookouts, a transistor radio and the Indianapolis 500. Back then, The Indy 500 wasn't televised live. You'd listen to it on the radio, and watch it the next weekend on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Our family would gather in the backyard, put charcoal in the grill, turn on the radio and hand crank peach ice cream. We really didn't do much to remember our fallen war heroes.
As a journalist and a father years later, my family celebrated Memorial Day differently. I would always volunteer to cover the Memorial Day remembrances for the newspaper. My daughter and wife usually would accompany me to these events.
Usually, the celebration started with a color guard presenting the flags, and a pastor leading those gathered in prayer. Usually, the head of the VFW or American Legion would say a few words, and someone would read the names of local soldiers killed during war. A bugler would close the ceremony by playing Taps.
Often, the crowd watching the ceremony would be smaller than the contingent of people participating in it. Of course, I would return to the newspaper offices, write my story and ready my pictures for publication in the next day's paper.
I never could find the words to describe the lump in my throat and the chill that ran up and down my spine when the bugler played Taps, and I understood the sacrifices my neighbors made to keep me and my family safe and free.
At 9:30 a.m. Monday, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2027 will conduct a Memorial Day ceremony at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
I plan to be there. It would be exciting to see the number of spectators surpass the number of participants.

Changes ahead

2010-05-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

The only constant in life is change.
The NewsPress, National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University experienced change in the last two weeks.
The NewsPress newsroom moved into its news center this week. The news gathering operation is still in the same building. We've moved upstairs in the portion of the building that once housed KOSU. Readers of the printed newspaper won't notice any changes. Those will come in the e-world. We will have more content for our website -- www.stwnewspress.com. The news center will have a studio dedicated to the production of online videos -- including daily Webcasts of the day's most important stories.
It also will allow us to produce more multimedia projects for the website, including slide shows, podcasts, oral histories and video stories.
On stwnewspress.com Thursday, we broke the story that the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is negotiating to buy the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. The Gable museum will be a branch of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame if the deal goes through. Buck Clark, the mayor of Waterloo, says the city supports the merger 100 percent.
Wednesday, I spent an hour interviewing the new dean of OSU's Spears School of Business. Dean Lawrence Crosby has big plans for the school, including a new building at the same site by 2015. Read more about Crosby's dreams for the business school in Sunday's NewsPress.

People best part of my job

2010-05-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

The best part of being a journalist is the new people you meet almost daily.

Today, I talked with longtime Stillwater entrepreneur Joe George. He wrestled for Oklahoma State, and has had a slew of businesses over the years in Stillwater. He and Myron Roderick opened the Big Eight Drive-In in Stillwater in 1957. Roderick owned it, but George created the Big Eight-conference based menu. George, who will be 73 soon, says he is on his 15th and final business. He owns Sawgrass Equipment, LLC, formerly Honda Power of Stillwater. Read more about George in Sunday's NewsPress.

By telephone, I interviewed former Cushing resident Laura Shofner from her home in Boston. She was on her way to visit friends at Walden Pond. Shofner credits her small-town Oklahoma upbringing with helping her shine on stage in opera and musical theater. On May 8, she sang the national anthem at the unveiling of the Katharine Hepburn stamp, and will be performing all summer on the East Coast. Shofner said she begged her parents to let her do Star Search, the American Idol of the time. Her parents refused, waiting her to have a normal childhood, she said. "I glad they did. I had so many more opportunities in Cushing that I would have had anywhere else," she said. "I was able to spread my wings because I grew up in a small town." Kids growing up in Tulsa or Oklahoma City didn't get those opportunities. "In Tulsa or Oklahoma there are a lot of kids and fewer opportunities," she said. A story about Shofner is slated in June.

Tornado trouble

2010-05-20T13:52:00.000-07:00

Don't know about you, but I hunkered down in a small bathroom under the stairs in my two-story duplex while the tornado sirens were blaring and wind whipped around my building on Wednesday. I live a block off S.H. 51 behind a Mexican restaurant. The TV newscasters were saying the tornado is coming right down Highway 51. I wasn't alone in the bathroom. My two dogs were there too, and I had a portable radio with me in case the TV went off. It did. Stupid satellite TV.

I moved here from Florida last July. I tell you, I prefer hurricanes to tornadoes. Hurricanes give you plenty of warning although they are more fickle about when and where they're coming ashore. If a hurricane was coming, I'd go to the store and buy items for my hurricane survival kit. Food, medicines, money because the ATMs would be down for days, extra cans of gas for the car and generator, batteries, first-aid items, non-perishable food, etc.

Tonight, I'm going out to prepare my tornado survival kit. Many of the same items will be in it.

You know the best part of a hurricane or tornado survival kit. Getting to eat all the stuff in it once the hurricane or tornado season ends. Waste not, want not!

Taking the bus

2010-05-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the price of gas lately? It's sliding closer to the $3 mark. I wouldn't be surprised if it reached $3 a gallon by the Fourth of July. Last week, I took OSU's community buses to and from work for a couple of days. It costs 50 cents to to ride the bus with free transfers at the multimodal station if you need to go across town. It's a great value. A few thoughts about buses. It takes more planning to get across town. You can't just hop in a car and go. You have to be at the bus stop by a certain time and wait at the multimodal station for a while too. It took me about 45 minutes to get from my door to the NewsPress. It's a trip that usually takes 10 to 15 minutes by car, depending on Sixth Street traffic. The buses don't ride as nicely as a car. In fact, its a bumpy ride. The drivers are really nice. It's a plus to have a bus system in a town the size of Stillwater. Several people took advantage of the service. I'm guessing more will be riding if the price of gas skyrockets.