Judgment day
Published: 9/18/2006 9:55 AM
Last Modified: 9/18/2006 9:55 AM
Mike Gundy can say this week’s game at Houston is just like any other game the Cowboys will play this year. I say it’s the most important contest of Gundy’s 15-game tenure as OSU coach.
Win this week on the road, a difficult chore thus far in the Gundy era, and all the talk of the on-field improvement across the board in the OSU program receives validation. Starting off 4-0, with a bye week before starting Big 12 Conference play Oct. 7 at Kansas State, would justify the belief that the Cowboys are a bowl-caliber team that can make some noise in the Big 12.
Lose at Houston, however, and many of the concerns since summer will be analyzed and dissected throughout the open week.
The three men Gundy tutored under as an OSU assistant – Pat Jones, Bob Simmons, and Les Miles – all had their breakthrough wins as OSU head coaches on the road. Jones won his first game 45-3 at Arizona State in 1984. The Sun Devils were tabbed by one national magazine as the preseason No. 1 team that year. Simmons’ 21-14 win at Iowa State to open the 1997 season sparked OSU to an 8-4 record. Miles’ 16-13 win at OU to close the 2001 season was the catalyst for the next three seasons in which OSU went 24-14 and made three consecutive bowl appearances.
Gundy can make his career record 8-7 with a win Saturday at Houston. If he does, it would be a sign that better days are indeed ahead for OSU football.
--- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
