Tulsa World: So far, QB switch is a success

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So far, QB switch is a success

OSU’s Zac Robinson, shown againstWashington State on Aug. 30, took overas the Cowboys’ starting QB a year agothis week. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World file

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 9/13/2008 3:01 AM
Last Modified: 9/13/2008 3:31 AM

Robinson, Cowboys have produced better stats than Reid-led teams

STILLWATER — This week is the one-year anniversary of Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson-Bobby Reid switch, which was made in a loss at Troy.

Reid and Robinson each quarterbacked OSU to a victory over Nebraska and to a bowl win. Statistically, however, Robinson has been substantially more productive.

In 13 games with Robinson as the starter, OSU is 8-5 with an average of 525.7 total yards per game.

In Reid’s 13 starts before he lost the No. 1 position, the Cowboys were 6-7. They averaged 392.3 yards per game.

Individually, Robinson as the starter has averaged 319 yards of total offense. Reid averaged 198.5.

“They’re both good quarterbacks, but so far it’s been a change for the better,” Cowboy running back Keith Toston said. “I can’t argue with it.”

On Saturday, in a 12:05 p.m. contest at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Robinson makes his 14th start as the Cowboys (2-0) face Division I-AA Missouri State (0-1).

Last week, Robinson, a fourth-year junior, quarterbacked OSU to 699 total yards in a 56-37 trouncing of Houston. It was the secondgreatest single-game yardage total in school history.

During his Sept. 10, 2007 press conference — four days before the Cowboys were to play at Troy — OSU coach Mike Gundy was asked 19 questions related to his team’s quarterback situation.

Reid had been ine0ective against Georgia and sustained a slight ankle sprain against Florida Atlantic. Robinson played slightly more than three quarters against Florida Atlantic, and OSU had 450 total yards.

So, Gundy was asked repeatedly, who would start at Troy."

Even as he told reporters that Reid might remain the starter, Gundy and his assistants already had begun the process of changing quarterbacks.

Actually, the process had its genesis months earlier, when it was the backup Robinson, and not the starter Reid, who was on the field for OSU’s final possession during a 27-21 loss to Oklahoma.

When Cowboy coaches agreed to switch quarterbacks a year ago, Robinson remembers Gundy’s message as having been succinct: “It’s your time. Let’s go.”

After supplanting Reid (who had been a 20-game starter), Robinson broke the single-season school record for total o0ense. Reid wound up leaving the program and now is playing, as a senior, at Division I-AA Texas Southern.

ESPN.com quoted Reid as having said, “What I experienced up there in Oklahoma, something was taken away from me. Now I’m just trying to get it back … You can try to knock me down, but I’m standing on my feet strong.”

This season, Texas Southern is 0-2. A 34-14 loss to Prairie View A&M was followed by an 83-10 setback at Arkansas State. Reid’s overall numbers: 13-of-31 passing for 161 yards. With Texas Southern having allowed seven sacks, Reid has rushed for minus-15 yards on 18 attempts.

The Robinson promotion may have been the most pivotal decision in Gundy’s three-plus seasons as OSU’s head coach.

Gundy’s recollection of the switch: “The o0ensive sta0 recommended that we make a change. In most cases, if they thought it was best, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m with you.’ “We didn’t make any announcement.

Everybody just went to work. My honest opinion is that (the players) probably expected it.”

In Robinson’s first start, he committed three turnovers and Troy crushed OSU 41-23.

The Cowboys committed 11 penalties and gave up a 74- yard punt return.

A week later, Robinson rushed for 116 yards and passed for 211 as the Cowboys defeated Texas Tech 49-45.

Three months later, he was voted the offensive MVP of OSU’s Insight Bowl triumph over Indiana.

In his 13 starts, Robinson has racked up more than 4,100 yards of total offense.

Then (Reid) and now (Robinson)

A statistical comparison of OSU quarterback Zac’s Robinson’s 13 starts and the previous 13 starts made by his predecessor, Bobby Reid (By Bill Haisten, World sports writer):

Zac Robinson

Team record: 8-5.

Robinson passing: 220-360 (.610), 3,082 yards, 23 TDs, 11 interceptions.

Robinson rushing: 858 yards, 5.6 average, 10 TDs.

Team rushing: 254.8 yards per game, 5.6 yards per attempt.

Team total offense: 525.7 yards per game, 6.9 yards per play.

Team scoring: 37.6 points per game.

Bobby Reid

Team record: 6-7.

Reid passing: 147-267 (.550), 2,130 yards, 19 TDs, 9 interceptions.

Reid rushing: 451 yards, 3.7 average, 4 TDs.

Team rushing: 200.5 yards per game, 5.1 per attempt.

Team total offense: 392.3 yards per game, 6.0 yards per play.

Team scoring: 32.8 points per game.

MISSOURI STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE

12:05 p.m. Saturday Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater.

TV: DirecTV 617

Radio: KFAQ am1170, KRVT am1270

Weather: Get the rain gear ready. There is a 60-70 percent chance of showers with the potential for heavy rain at times. Temperature at game time is expected to be in the mid- to high-70s.

Records: Missouri St. 0-1; Oklahoma St. 2-0

Last meeting: 2006, OSU, 52-10

Series: OSU leads 5-0

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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