Fun for all
Published: 4/16/2007 12:41 PM
Last Modified: 4/16/2007 12:41 PM
No one I know correlates fun and getting pounded into submission into the same thought.
In his initial season as Oklahoma State's head football coach two years ago, Mike Gundy on more than one occasion had the audacity to tell assembled members of the media that he had fun after a few of those games that his team didn't win.
Remember, the Cowboys didn't win many games in 2005.
"I had fun out there today," Gundy said after Vince Young and Texas shredded OSU's defense in the second half of a 47-28 win that year. Texas only scored the last 38 points of that game.
The OSU coach uttered the same phrase after a 38-31 home loss to Missouri earlier that fall and a 34-0 shutout home loss to Colorado. Although, Gundy was suffering from a high fever during that Colorado loss, so maybe the antibiotics weren't kicking in yet.
Maybe Gundy was attempting to mask his true feelings about how awful that 2005 squad was. Now, the OSU coach does not have run from the truth.
OSU football is fun.
Even when the Cowboys don't score more points than the opponent, they sure do put on an entertaining show.
The fun from last year's 7-6 season should carryover to 2007. With eight starters back on each side of the ball, the early expectations are that this is far and away Gundy's best team.
The offense will remain the focal point of this fun and exciting team.
Bobby Reid continues to mature as a quarterback and offensive leader. Zac Robinson is a more than adequant backup to Reid, and will be utilized some to offer a change of pace.
Adarius Bowman is the best wide receiver in the Big 12 Conference. Artrell Woods was the surprise of spring practice at the other receiver slot. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew just might be the best pro prospect on the Stillwater campus currently. Dantrell Savage and Keith Toston are a terrific one-two combination at tailback.
If new defensive coordinator Tim Beckman can get the defense to improve their total and scoring defense rankings that languished in the 80s nationally last year into the 60s this year, OSU legitimately stands a chance to improve by a victory or two.
The road schedule is brutal. The contests at Georgia, Troy, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Baylor and Oklahoma are the furthest things from automatic Ws. Successful teams find ways to win away from home. OSU is just 3-8 away from Stillwater under Gundy.
We're still 138 days away from the opener in Athens, Ga. But if the Cowboys can figure out how to triumph "between the hedges" at Samford Stadium and a few other road locales, then 2007 could indeed be fun for all in orange and black.
--- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
