Tulsa World: Cowboys deserving of attention after win

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Cowboys deserving of attention after win

By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
Published: 10/5/2008 2:10 AM
Last Modified: 10/5/2008 2:19 AM

STILLWATER — The time has come to declare that the Oklahoma State football program under coach Mike Gundy has arrived.

Gundy, of course, doesn't agree.

"We're making progress in a lot of areas," Gundy said after OSU's 56-28 waxing of Texas A&M on Saturday night. "But we have not arrived."

It's all a matter of perspective.

Even if his team is ranked No. 21 in the nation and is off to a 5-0 start, a coach is never going to say his club has reached all its goals with seven games still left to be played in the regular season.

And that was the coachspeak approach Gundy took after the contest before 51,147 spectators at Boone Pickens Stadium.

But sportswriters can build teams up as well as we tear them down. And this OSU club deserves the attention.

So while Gundy might not be ready to say it, the rest of us know the OSU program is definitely headed in the right direction in his fourth season coaching at his alma mater.

This was Gundy's first win in four tries against Texas A&M. In his rookie season in 2005, Gundy watched the Aggies embarrass his Cowboys, 62-23.

So that means OSU has made a 67-point turnaround in four seasons against the Aggies, which also means Gundy has something special brewing at OSU, whether he's ready to admit it or not.

Yes, Texas A&M (2-3, 0-1 Big 12) has struggled big time in its first year under coach Mike Sherman.

But this Big 12 Conference opener for both schools demonstrated that Gundy is developing OSU into a total team. That became evident in the first half, when an OSU offense that had led the way in the first four wins failed to perform in its normally efficient manner.

The sputtering offense proved to be no problem for the Pokes, because the defense and special teams took over as OSU raced to a 28-7 halftime lead.

"There has been so much talking going on outside of our building about the offense outscoring everybody," Gundy said. "The (critics) wonder if they can hold up."

A defense that had taken a lot of heat as the team's weak link in the first month of the season forced five Texas A&M turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) in the first two quarters. Both interceptions resulted in returns for touchdowns by defensive end Ugo Chinasa and linebacker Patrick Lavine.

The OSU star on special teams was Dez Bryant.

The sophomore wide receiver once again demonstrated that he's emerging as one of the special players in the Big 12.

Bryant uncorked a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter that highlighted all of his skills.

After catching the punt, he used his slick moves and speed to break tackles en route to a return that should make ESPN's Sportscenter highlights. Bryant ended up accounting for 24 of OSU's points as he added three touchdown receptions.

Gundy's "do better" halftime speech obviously fired up the sporadic offense. When the Pokes' defense surrendered 21 second-half points, OSU's offense answered A&M's scoring outburst with 28 points.

"We weren't good in the first half, offensively," Gundy said. "There were a lot of mistakes. We put the ball on the ground. Dez (Bryant) had two or three procedure penalties where he come out of his stance early and got a little rattled for whatever reason."

Bryant's four-touchdown explosion more than made up for his miscues and helped set up one of the Big 12's biggest showdowns next week.

The Cowboys will travel to Missouri to take on a No. 4-ranked Tiger team that mirrors OSU in many ways.

Like the Cowboys with Bryant and Robinson, Mizzou has a high-octane offense that is led by quarterback Chase Daniel and a sophomore star in wideout Jeremy Maclin. And the Tigers' defense is suspect.

"We are very excited about where we are," Gundy said. "We're trying to do the best we can to keep everything on an even note and continue to work hard.

"We'll go back to work (Sunday) morning and get ready for Mizzou.

Missouri's coaches will undoubtedly also work overtime preparing for the Pokes.

When they watch replays of OSU's five wins this season, they will see a team that has come so far in four seasons under Gundy that it just might be ready to make its name as a Big 12 contender instead of pretender.

If it does, there will be no doubt that the Pokes have arrived. By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist

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	Report Comment MexiMike, tulsa (10/5/2008 11:56:13 AM) Dez Bryant's punt return was the #1 play on the Sportscenter Top 10!!!! GO POKES!
	Report Comment Rhymeister, Tulsa (10/6/2008 7:55:19 AM) State needs to play error free this Saturday, let Mizzou rack up all the penalties!!!

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