Gundy seems set for Big 12 award
Published: 11/23/2010 3:10 PM
Last Modified: 11/23/2010 3:10 PM
In July, Big 12 media members predicted that Oklahoma State would finish fifth in the South division.
The 10th-ranked Cowboys are 10-1, 6-1 in the conference and have secured at least a share of the South title.
Sunday is the deadline for those same media members to submit All-Big 12 ballots, and it would be a shocker if OSU’s Mike Gundy isn’t voted the coach of the year.
Consider this: In 2005, Gundy’s first Cowboy team recorded one conference victory. In 2006, there were three conference victories. In 2007, there were four. In 2008, five. In 2009, six.
Against Oklahoma on Saturday, the Cowboys have a shot at reaching the seven-win mark in conference play.
If common sense does prevail and Gundy is voted the conference coach of the year, he joins Jimmy Johnson and Pat Jones in having gotten that distinction. In the Big Eight, Johnson was the 1979 coach of the year, while Jones was honored in 1984 and 1992. Gundy also is a candidate for the 2010 Eddie Robinson and Bobby Dodd national coach of the year awards.
For having squeezed a 9-4 record from a team that didn’t have Dez Bryant or a healthy Kendall Hunter for most of the season, Gundy probably should have been the 2009 Big 12 coach of the year. This year, he should win in a landslide.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
