Tulsa World: OSU notebook

TULSA WORLD HOMEPAGE | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | WIRELESS

OU | OSU | TU | ORU | HIGH SCHOOLS | COLLEGE FOOTBALL | COLLEGE BASKETBALL | NFL | FANTASY | OUTDOORS | GOLF | PROS | ALL

HOMEPAGES

SPORTS EXTRA BLOGS

		Sports Editor Mike Strain
		Sports Columnist Dave Sittler
		The Picker Entertaining & Infuriating

LOCAL PROS

ALL SPORTS

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

OUTDOORS

FIND A STORY

Search the World's archives

EMAIL ALERTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

RSS FEEDS

CONTACT US

BUY PHOTOS & PAGES

Buy a published photo by clicking the "Order this Picture" link on the photo. For a full-color page reprint, call 732-8198 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday or order online.

TULSA WORLD

ADVERTISE ON SPORTS EXTRA

Learn more about the site.

Newspaper View Print this story

Bookmark

OSU notebook

By BILL HAISTEN World sports writer
Published: 11/28/2008 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/28/2008 3:33 AM

Special on special teams: Entering Saturday's Bedlam game with third-ranked Oklahoma, 11th-ranked Oklahoma State would seem to have the advantage in special-teams play.

The Cowboys have the Big 12 leaders in punt returns (Dez Bryant) and kickoff returns (Perrish Cox), along with a Ray Guy Award national finalist in punter Matt Fodge and a kicker, Dan Bailey, who is 12-of-15 on field goals.

OU has had special-teams problems, most notably on kickoff coverage. The Sooners gave up big returns during their loss to Texas and victories over Kansas State and Texas A&M.

"It's an equalizer," Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said of special-teams play. "We've always taken a lot of pride around that around here. The coaches take more ownership in their particular area."

Cox scored on a 90-yard kickoff return in the season-opening victory over Washington State. On "at least six or seven" subsequent occasions, Gundy said, Cox has been close to breaking additional home-run returns.

Another challenge: For the fourth time this season (and for the first time in Stillwater), the Cowboys are matched with an opponent ranked in the top three of the Associated Press poll. OSU won 28-23 at No. 3 Missouri, lost 28-24 at No. 1 Texas and lost 56-20 at No. 2 Texas Tech.

Home success: In 18 games at Boone Pickens Stadium over the past three seasons, OSU has averaged 45.1 points and 515.7 total yards.

The Cowboys have a 6-0 home record this season. OSU has never won seven home games within a single season.

If they beat OU, the Cowboys will complete their first perfect home season since 1984. Since October 2006, OSU is 12-3 at home.

Thomas honored: During halftime of Saturday's game, former OSU All-American Thurman Thomas will be honored for having been elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is Dec. 9 in New York.

Top-five upsets: OSU has recorded three Bedlam victories when the Sooners were ranked in the top five of the AP poll. In 1976, OSU defeated No. 5 OU 31-24 in Norman. In 2001, OSU shocked the No. 4 Sooners 16-13 in Norman. In 2002, OSU beat No. 3 OU 38-28 in Stillwater.

Tight series: In four Bedlam games played at Stillwater in this decade, the Sooners have scored 105 points. The Cowboys have scored 101. By BILL HAISTEN World sports writer

Newspaper View Print this story

Bookmark

COMMENTS

Add your comment

Show: Most Recent Comment First

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

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.