No stage fright evident for Cowboys
Published: 8/28/2007 1:51 AM
Last Modified: 8/28/2007 1:51 AM
A year ago, Oklahoma State was almost universally viewed as a Big 12 doormat. Now, the Cowboys are hailed as possible conference contenders.
Could it be that the OSU program really has improved that much in a matter of months?
As offseasons go, this one has been extremely positive for Oklahoma State. But positive offseasons mean nothing if they aren't followed by successful seasons, and the OSU season begins on Saturday at 13th-ranked Georgia.
The perception is that OSU has gotten good in a hurry. The reality is that the Bulldogs have not lost in a nonconference home game since 2000 -- before Mark Richt became the head coach.
If any of the Oklahoma State coaches and players are shaken by stage fright, it was not evident during Monday's press conference at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mike Gundy, Larry Fedora, Bobby Reid, Adarius Bowman, Tim Beckman -- they all seem convinced that OSU will be poised and play well in 92,746-seat Sanford Stadium.
In particular, Fedora seems quite confident. In 2005, his first Cowboy offense ranked 96th nationally in scoring (20.2-point average). Last season, the Cowboys were seventh (35.2). Fedora says the 2007 Cowboys are capable of producing bigger stats and more consistency.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
