OSU football notebook: Randle's hero worship
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Saturday, November 03, 2012
11/03/12 at 5:14 AM
Oklahoma State running back Joseph Randle grew up in Wichita, Kan. What's the respect level for Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder in Kansas?
"He came to my high school and all the teachers and everybody, it was like dang near a parade," Randle said. "He is definitely a legend around there."
Battle scars: To promote quarterback Collin Klein for postseason honors, Kansas State's publicity office sends cards with Klein's statistical achievements to media outlets. The cards feature a picture of a battered and bandaged Klein on the front, and the cards are sealed with a Band-Aid.
"That's pretty good," OSU defensive end Cooper Bassett said when told about the Band-Aid. "He deserves that. He's got that reputation because he is a tough kid."
Switching sides: Bassett committed to Kansas State while at Tuttle High School. His dream school was OSU, and he switched after the Cowboys deemed him scholarship-worthy.
Guess who Bassett called for advice when he was torn about whether to honor his original commitment? He phoned Bill Young, who, at the time, was Kansas' defensive coordinator.
Young had recruited Bassett for KU, and Bassett respected Young enough to seek his opinion. Then, two job changes for Young and a position switch for Cooper later, the former tight end wound up being coached by Young at OSU.
Good find: OSU "beat" Stephen F. Austin in the race to sign freshman receiver Austin Hays to a letter of intent. Hays has taken advantage of injuries in the receiver corps to start three consecutive games.
"He is a really good take for us," Mike Gundy said. "He is one of those players that I expect to look completely different at this time next year, just going through a winter program and developing his body. And things will come much easier next year. Plays won't move so fast."
Pep talk: Gundy indicated he and cornerback/return man Justin Gilbert had a do-better talk.
Gilbert, a junior, was a mock draft darling before the season began. He played "average" early in the season and has played better lately, according to Gundy.
Why do talented players occasionally go through rough spells?
"It could be preseason hype," Gundy said. "It could be (thinking about) coming out early. It could be (because they are) on the cover of a magazine. It could be Fiesta Bowl MVP. I just think things happen like that sometimes to kids."
Gundy said Gilbert "definitely needs to turn it on." Added the coach, "The good news is with him, he's got something to turn on. A lot of times we have discussions with those kids and they don't have any gas left in the tank. He has got a lot of gas in his tank, so he can turn it on if he wants to do it."
Gundy said Gilbert was "fine" with the chat and agreed he could do better.
Said the coach, "He understands. He is not the first guy that has ever happened to."
Oklahoma State At No. 3 Kansas State
7 p.m. Saturday.
Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, Kan.
TV: KTUL-8.
Radio: KFAQ am1170.
Weather: Clear, temperatures in 50s at kickoff.
Records: OSU 5-2, 3-1 Big 12; KSU 8-0, 5-0 Big 12.
Last meeting: OSU defeated KSU 52-45 last season.
Series: OSU leads 36-22.
Associated Images:
Randle
|
