OSU accustomed to being a presence in the polls
Published: 8/5/2011 6:23 PM
Last Modified: 8/5/2011 6:23 PM
Occupying the No. 8 position in the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll, Oklahoma State matches its highest preseason ranking. In 2009, the Cowboys had preseason rankings of No. 8 in the coaches’ poll and No. 9 in the Associated Press media poll. This season’s first AP poll is released on Aug. 20.
In 1989-2007, the Cowboys played only 22 games in which they had a national ranking. There were seven such games in 1997, seven in 2003 and eight in 2004.
During the last three seasons, however, the OSU program ascended to a better level. In 31 of their last 35 games, the Cowboys had a national top-25 ranking. Since 2008, OSU played 18 games in which it was within the top 15 of the BCS standings.
Following Friday’s practice session, OSU coach Mike Gundy discussed the reaction to his team’s No. 8 ranking.
“My phone – you can imagine the text messages from everybody across the country, being very kind and appreciative of what we’ve been able to do,” Gundy said. “I didn’t hear anything from the players, (but) I did mention it to them in the meeting last night. When you put yourself in this position, you’ve got to perform and handle yourself in the right way. You’ve got to do whatever it takes to maintain. In their minds, they probably expected that from all that’s gone on during the preseason.”
Gundy on his message to the players: “We tell them the truth. The fans and the media across the country are going to think that you’ve got a really good football team. And really, we are a good football team and we should perform at a high level. Last year (when OSU was not ranked during the preseason and was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 South), some of our approach was that you had something to prove to everybody. . . . Now, it’s more that we have some positive things to bring to the table.”
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
