Tulsa World: Osu Notebook

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Osu Notebook

By MATT DOYLE, World sports writer
Published: 8/29/2008 2:07 AM
Last Modified: 8/29/2008 2:16 AM

Born to block: There is a common element that all the Oklahoma State wide receivers adhere to besides trying to catch passes. They all must be able to block down field when they do not have the ball.

"That is a big part of our offense in order to move the ball down the field," junior receiver DeMarcus Conner said. "There is no choice. You have to do that to play."

Conner is projected to start Saturday's season opener against Washington State. Conner earned that assignment in part for his development as blocker. Quarterback Zac Robinson calls Conner the best blocker among the OSU receivers.

"I watched Adarius Bowman the last two years and he was a great receiver. But watching him block was something else," Conner said. "He would go in there on linebackers and get tough with them. You see someone like him do that and see what it opened up for the offense, it shows you what can happen when you do those little things."

For openers: Last season, the opener at Georgia was hyped up for the entire offseason. Anywhere OSU players turned, fellow students and fans always asked them about Georgia.

This season's opening opponent Washington State is not a marquee, top-15 team that the Bulldogs were a year ago.

However, the Cowboys are dismissing the importance of the contest with the Cougars.

"It has been a little bit different. Georgia was something we talked about all the time since the previous January," Robinson said. "We'd break it down by saying 'Beat Georgia' or "Beat the 'Dogs' after every workout. This year, our big focus is winning the Big 12 South. The last two weeks, though, we've honed in on Washington State and geared our focus toward them.

"But I'm pumped. It's been a long eight months since the bowl game (against Indiana). We're excited that it's game week."

Something has to give: The last seven times a team from the Big 12 has traveled two or more time zones for a regular season game, it has lost. Included in that streak is Baylor's 17-15 loss to Washington State in Seattle two years ago.

Over the past six seasons, the Big 12 is 1-10 when traveling two or more time zones for a regular season road game. The lone victory is OSU's 31-20 triumph at UCLA to open the 2004 season.

The 2004 victory at UCLA is one of three OSU has posted against Pac-10 Conference in season openers. The Cowboys won 45-3 at Arizona State to open the 1984 season, and 31-17 at Washington to start the 1985 season.

Fresh faces: Special teams assignments and injuries will play a role in how many first-year freshmen will see action this season.

Even with no travel squad limitations in place for Saturday's game, the Cowboys are expected to bring only a pair of defensive backs, Johnny Thomas and Markelle Martin, tight end Jamal Mosley, running back Kye Staley and kicker Quinn Sharp. By MATT DOYLE, World sports writer

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