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Cowboys do not seem doomed without Dez
Cowboys have already adjusted to Bryant's absence.

With Dez Bryant suspended, OSU receiver Hubert Anyiam has emerged as the Cowboys' go-to receiver. Anyiam has 25 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns this season. Stephen Holman/Tulsa World
 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 10/29/2009  2:29 AM
Last Modified: 10/29/2009  5:55 AM


Related story: Bryant recalls 'difficult' interviews.

Oklahoma State and its fans wanted clarity, and on Tuesday they got it — right between the eyes.

When the NCAA announced that Dez Bryant's suspension would be extended through the rest of the 2009 season, OSU and Bryant were dealt their worst-case scenario.

While it is expected but not certain that Bryant will enter the 2010 NFL draft, it is absolutely certain that the Cowboys will host Texas on Saturday, travel to Iowa State next week, host Texas Tech on Nov. 14 and Colorado on Nov. 19, play at Oklahoma on Nov. 28 and then prepare for their seventh bowl appearance in eight years.

The season continues.

Life goes on.

Fans may be jarred by the NCAA's decision, but there is no shock within the OSU program. If Bryant had been playing all season, producing at his typical level, a suspension during Texas week would have rocked the Cowboys. But because they had a month-long adjustment period before the NCAA's verdict was announced, OSU's coaches and players probably didn't blink when the bad news arrived.

During recent media sessions, you could sense that OSU players were growing tired of being asked about Bryant. With so many questions came the suggestion that OSU was doomed without Dez. You think the Cowboys' competitive juices weren't stirred? Athletes have egos.

While Bryant was sentenced to inactivity, the other Cowboys labored on the practice field and in the weight room. If anything, the Cowboys seem more driven than deflated by the Bryant suspension.

The Bryant debacle wasn't a death sentence for the offense. Check the stats:

In three games with Bryant this season, OSU had an overall total of 26 wide-receiver catches and averaged 201 passing yards. Zac Robinson completed 59 percent of his passes.

In four games without Bryant, OSU had 50 wide-receiver catches and averaged 255 passing yards. Robinson completed 70 percent of his passes.

Bryant is a first-round draft pick who can score on every touch of the football, but during his exile to oblivion, the OSU passing attack become more balanced and difficult to defend. Hubert Anyiam has become the go-to guy. Dameron Fooks and Tracy Moore have emerged as dependable targets. Tight ends Wilson Youman and Cooper Bassett each had a touchdown at Baylor.

Anyiam followed his 10-catch performance against Missouri with a nine-catch afternoon against Baylor. He has arrived, apparently, so it is important that fans and sportscasters learn the correct pronunciation of his name. It's an-yum. Not an-ee-um. Two syllables, not three.

"This has exceeded more than I expected," said Anyiam, a sophomore from Garland, Texas. "Now, I know the ball is coming to me. The expectations are big."

With two touchdown catches, Bryant was the MVP of Oklahoma State's victory over Georgia. He garnered national attention for OSU by appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. But the Cowboys' current five-game win streak is the property of guys like Keith Toston, Robinson, Mike Gundy, the offensive linemen, Anyiam, Fooks, Joe Wickline, Bill Young, Donald Booker, Andre Sexton, Lucien Antoine, Swanson Miller and Dan Bailey.

Statistically, OSU defines an explosive play as any play from scrimmage that covers at least 20 yards.

Through seven games last season, with Bryant viewed as perhaps the most dynamic receiver in college football, the Cowboys had 36 explosive plays.

Through this year's first seven games, four of which were played without Bryant, Oklahoma State has 36 explosive plays.

Without Bryant, OSU is 4-0.

Without Bryant, the Cowboys seem to believe that they can beat Texas.

Life goes on.


Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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11 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (10/29/2009 9:05:12 AM)
One man does not make the team. Good luck Pokes. Beat Texas!!!!
Report Comment
asdxrwh, (10/29/2009 9:18:05 AM)
It's a travesty that the NCAA suspended Dez for the year. Dez should not have lied, I agree, but I believe the NCAA would have done the same to Dez even if he had told the truth. That how crazy the NCAA is. That said, OSU has been winning because of Dez'a absence, in that they've used a lot of players to keep the opposition off balance. If Dez had continued to play that would not have happened. Don't get me wrong, Dez is a great kid, and a great athlete, he and Gundy just need to play as a team not Zach to Dez all the time.
Report Comment
the original Ace, Tulsa (10/29/2009 10:02:27 AM)
t's over, it's done. Dez is gone. Best of luck Dez, you got a raw deal, go make your millions is the NFL and keep your head on straight. Let's go Pokes! Beat Texas!
Report Comment
CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/29/2009 10:47:18 AM)
You play with the hand you are delt. Lets kick some ask for 60 minutes this time.

(Bobdog will be eating steak all day saturday to try and help the cause.)
Report Comment
PIRANA, Tulsa (10/29/2009 12:32:37 PM)
GO POKES!!! BEAT TEXAS!!!
ORANGE!!!...
...POWER!!!
ORANGE!!!...
...POWER!!!
Report Comment
definedego, (10/29/2009 1:02:47 PM)
I wonder if racial discrimination was involved in DEZ harsh sentence?
Report Comment
DanDDiver, Vail, CO (10/29/2009 1:36:40 PM)
Dez wasn't a victim of the NCAA's racial discrimination -- he (and OSU) was a victim of the NCAA's monetary discrimination.

You see, the NCAA discriminates against schools that aren't their cash cow.
Schools like USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Texas and the like get away with either nothing or a slap on the wrist.

The NCAA wants to big schools to garner most of the attention. It brings the NCAA a larger market share of TV revenues and buys the NCAA executives bigger house and more benefits.
They're like Congress or the Mafia -- drunk with power.

Had OSU been a big money-maker to the NCAA, it would have all been over by now and Dez Bryant would be readying himself for Texas.
Report Comment
robosahn, Tulsa (10/29/2009 3:29:58 PM)
He should have just punched the NCAA investigators in the face. At least that way he could have returned to play as soon as November 7th. Worked for LeGarrette Blount at Oregon...too bad the NCAA can't seem to open the dictionary to find the word "consistent"
Report Comment
Corvetteguy, Tulsa (10/29/2009 5:51:25 PM)
doomed?........

hardly. Having a dishonest person on a team is not condusive to close teamwork.

Good riddance...
Report Comment
007, Tulsa (10/29/2009 7:30:28 PM)
and this is news...however for the record this whole thing by the NCAA is BS!!!!
Report Comment
mr isaac, (10/29/2009 10:14:51 PM)
DEATH to the ncaa..its time for a new collegiate governing body...!!!
 

 
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