By JIMMIE TRAMEL Sports Writer on Sep 2, 2012, at 8:36 PM Updated on 9/02 at 8:39 PM
OSU SPORTS
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Truth: If I had a vote, Oklahoma State wouldn’t have played Savannah State, an opponent so outmanned that the Cowboys could have broken the school single-game scoring record of 134 points, if they so desired.
That’s not a knock on OSU. That’s a knock on all schools in BCS power leagues. Yeah, scheduling can be tricky, but every attempt should be made to at least schedule an opponent located this side of credible.
That said, I’m going to give you three reasons why the game was good for OSU. Ready? Here goes: 1, Jarid King. 2, Christian Schroeder. 3, Taylor May.
Don’t know them? Join the club. They are among the (at least) 19 walk-ons who got to live their dream Saturday night and play in a game at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Afterward, OSU coach Mike Gundy said he was glad that “everybody” -- or at least everybody who isn’t injured or redshirting -- got to play.
Among the “everybody” were 11 players who don’t merit bio information in OSU’s football media guide and at least one of them whose name can’t be found on a media guide roster. One of the no-bio guys was redshirt freshman Corey Bennett of Choctaw, a (best guess) fifth-team tailback who ran 12 times for 91 yards and a touchdown against Savannah State. You think Bennett’s ever going to forget that?
“They work hard,” Gundy said of Cowboy walk-ons. “They don’t get their school paid for. They are out there every day, in most cases on a demonstration squad. Their moms and dads and grandparents and friends and girlfriends come to watch them play.
"And then (for walk-ons) to be able to get on the field and play 15 or 20 or 30 plays is a highlight for some of them for their career. That’s the one good part of us being ahead is to let everybody play and it also saves your legs and your varsity players and should help you in November.”
For specific’s sake, Gundy was asked to name-drop a few walk-ons he was happy to reward with playing time. Off the top of his head, he mentioned King (a senior defensive tackle from Dallas), Schroeder (a sophomore receiver from Grapevine, Texas) and May (a redshirt freshman defensive end from Plano). Gundy could have kept rattling off names.
“And when they get out there and get to run around, it’s just a lot of fun to watch them,” the coach said.
The game, of course, was not much fun for Savannah State, whose coach credited Gundy for showing mercy. Tigers head coach Steve Davenport is a former Georgia Tech teammate of OSU co-defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer, who said, “There’s a bunch of my friends over there on that other coaching staff and I hated that for them. They are going through a growth process there and they are struggling.”
Savannah State, which was playing an FBS opponent for the first time, will travel this week for another paycheck game at Florida State.
Will the Seminoles show as much compassion as OSU? The Cowboys pulled starters after building a 35-0 first quarter lead.
Surely, Florida State's walk-ons will get a chance to earn smiles. But it's too bad the smiles will come in a game that should never happen.
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