OSU Notebook: Chasing greatness

BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
10/09/12 at 4:53 AM

Joseph Randle vaulted from 18th place to 14th place on OSU's all- time rushing list with a 199-yard performance against Texas.

Randle has accumulated 2,203 career rushing yards. He has four 100-yard rushing games this season. If he can produce another 100-yard game in the Big 12 road opener Saturday against Kansas, he'll move past Worley Taylor and Bob Fenimore into 12th place on the all-time rushing list.

Because Randle is climbing the Tailback U. ladder, Mike Gundy was asked if the junior running back is in position to be compared to OSU's all-time greats.

Gundy said it's unfair to compare anybody to Barry Sanders. But the coach said Randle is a lot like Thurman Thomas.

Continued Gundy, "And if he will continue to play at a high level consistently, then he gets closer to being like Thurman. Both of them are very intelligent. Both of them are good blockers. Both of them are good receivers. Neither one of them have just complete breakaway speed, but they run well and keep their pads down and they are both mentally tough."

At some point, Randle may be worthy of being mentioned among OSU's great running backs, according to Gundy. "And the other guy (Sanders) is just different than everybody else."

Time flies: Gundy's weekly press conference usually lasts about 30 minutes. His question-and-answer session Monday lasted only 10 minutes and 13 seconds.

What's the deal? There were fewer questions than normal. Media attendance was down because a press conference to preview a game against Kansas conflicted with an OU-Texas press conference in Norman. That wasn't an issue in the past because Oklahoma staged its weekly press conference on Tuesdays.

And, because the Cowboys were coming off an open date, many talking points had been addressed during the bye week.

During a lull between questions, Gundy said, "This is what happens when you have an open week, or two open weeks."

OSU is four games - and two open dates - into the season. The Cowboys will close the regular season by playing eight games in as many weeks.

Mini-vacation: Gundy prefers to keep his players rested, so he gave them free time before they were required to return to campus for a Sunday night practice.

If senior receiver Isaiah Anderson came back a couple of pounds heavier than his listed weight of 175, it's because he visited the Texas State Fair and ate what he described as a lot of fried food.

"Even if I gained a couple of pounds, it wouldn't be a bad deal," Anderson said. "I could still handle it. I can still be fast and productive, so it's all good."

Not yet: A kickoff time has not been set for an Oct. 20 homecoming game against Iowa State. OSU indicated the Big 12's TV partners will choose a start time six days prior the game.

Associated Images:

Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle is now 14th on OSU's all-time rushing list. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World