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Gundy is at his best right now

OSU's Mike Gundy warms up during warm-ups. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

 
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 10/30/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009  6:08 PM
Go to John Klein's Blog

A CASE COULD be made that Mike Gundy has turned in the nation's best coaching job the first two months of the season.

Through eight weeks of the season much of the attention may fall to TCU's Gary Patterson or Alabama's Nick Saban for good reason.

But, imagine for a second what third-ranked Texas would be without Colt McCoy, Jordan Shipley and Sergio Kindle.

That's what Gundy has endured at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have lost their two best offensive players (Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter) and arguably their best defensive player (Orie Lemon).

"They (Cowboys) have had some tough issues," said Gundy.

Still, OSU is pretty much on target at 6-1 and with a Big 12 South Division showdown against Texas on Halloween night in Stillwater.

"Texas is a great college football team," said Gundy. "They are arguably the best team in all of college football."

Gundy's reputation, for better or worse, is often defined in the national media by a post-game outburst more than two years ago.

What he has done this season should be enough to change that perception.

It would have been pretty easy for Oklahoma State to collapse.

Since late last summer, the Cowboys have been hit with a dizzying number of injuries, suspensions and departures.

This is a far different team than the one most expected.

"We've gotten really good production from guys that did not have much experience just a month ago," said Gundy.

How they got here, and why, is reason enough that Gundy should be considered for national coach of the year — at least for the first eight weeks.

There's still a lot of season to go, but what Gundy has done to steady the ship, find new stars and adjust his team has been by far the best coaching of his career.

It is right there with Bill Snyder's current turnaround at Kansas State and Paul Rhoads' miracle at Iowa State.

This team barely resembles the one we expected last summer. The only thing remotely similar to expectations is the record.

"I think we've had more injuries to key players than in the previous four years," said Gundy.

If not for an upset by explosive Houston in Stillwater, OSU would likely be ranked fourth.

Instead, it is No. 13 but within range of a quick jump back into the top 10 if it can win this weekend.

In last week's 34-7 victory at Baylor, three players who weren't expected to play much or any this year caught TD passes — tight ends Wilson Youman and Cooper Bassett and wide receiver Dameron Fooks.

The much-maligned defense shut out Baylor for three quarters, running its scoreless streak to five quarters before Baylor scored late.

Zac Robinson, who didn't seem to have his usual zip early in the season, has become a deadly accurate passer in recent weeks.

His surge has made the Cowboys pretty wicked on offense in the last three games.

Robinson was slowed early this season by a nagging leg injury.

"Zac is a good college football player," said Gundy. "I think we all knew that."

All of those areas have OSU thinking its goals of competing to win the Big 12 are no longer out of the question.

That's pretty amazing.

Even before the season began, the starting tight end left school.

A starting linebacker, considered by many to be OSU's best defender, was lost to an injury before the season began.

Then the really bad stuff started hitting.

Hunter, an All-Big 12 running back and potential All-American, was hurt and is still trying to get back.

Bryant, America's best collegiate wide receiver, was injured, suspended and is now apparently done for his career.

The Cowboys have done what they could to keep the season alive. They found new guys to make plays.

Even Robinson admitted that the losses have forced OSU "to spread it around and guys have been making plays."

Last Saturday, nine players caught passes from Robinson. Keith Toston and Beau Johnson combined to run for 202 yards.

Robinson said he is "comfortable" with the players the Cowboys do have, and it shows.

Now, it is a big step up to beat Texas. But no one should write off the Cowboys, because they didn't write off themselves.
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

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COMMENTS 
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45 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
TyrasFatAx, B.A. (10/30/2009 3:13:49 AM)
Gundy is 0-8 against Texas and OU, if he can beat one of those teams without Dez then yes I will admit he has done a good job....until then, lets wait and see, the schedule has been pretty light so far.
Report Comment
PhoenixIX, Jenks (10/30/2009 3:19:30 AM)
Gundy will soon be acknowledged for what he has become.

The BEST College Coach in Oklahoma.
Report Comment
Alan Shore, (10/30/2009 6:04:19 AM)
Right now he is, but wait until about 7:30 pm on Saturday...
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (10/30/2009 6:37:34 AM)
I'd rather be lucky than good.
Report Comment
FIRE GUNDY, TULSA (10/30/2009 6:38:37 AM)
Wait, not really.
Report Comment
Thunder196, Tulsa (10/30/2009 6:42:59 AM)
Once a person makes it to the top of the list there is no place to go but down.
Report Comment
tulsaGuy, (10/30/2009 7:02:25 AM)
Lest we forget, he is 42 and a MAN !!

How's that graduation rate coming along at OSU Football?
Report Comment
cowboys_r_us, Oklahoma City (10/30/2009 7:46:36 AM)
They mentioned losing Lemon, Mosley, Bryant and Hunter. They didn't mention Kye Staley, Jeremy Smith, Damian Davis, Bo Bowling, Josh Cooper, or Jeremy Broadway. If nothing else, their current performance is a tribute to this staff's ability to recruit and motivate. Go Pokes!
Report Comment
Ernie McCracken, (10/30/2009 8:10:39 AM)
Graduation Success Rankings for 2008 Football:

OSU: 40th
OU: 65th
UT: 62nd
A&M: 47th
Report Comment
MexiMike, Tulsa (10/30/2009 8:34:18 AM)
Tulsaguy, I think Ernie just put you in your dimwitted place. Go watch some cartoons.

Regardless of what happens Saturday, Gundy has done a great job keeping his team's heads high. All of the injuries and issues revolving around this season would tear most teams apart but these guys keep winning. For that, I am most proud of my Pokes.
Report Comment
PIRANA, Tulsa (10/30/2009 10:02:08 AM)
Go Pokes!!! Beat Texas!!!
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (10/30/2009 10:16:41 AM)
Good luck Pokes!!
Report Comment
pennpoke, (10/30/2009 10:45:38 AM)
The media (especially ESPN) is constantly reminding us of the poor quality of the opponents during OSU's 5-win streak. How shortsighted can they be to completely disregard the level of Texas' own opponents?

Their whole non-conference slate was a party tray of cream puffs, and they own mighty conference victories over Colorado, lame-duck Missouri, and a hobbled and wobbly OU team (and that one was a real display of football ugliness, with no particularly good play by Texas).

I won't argue that their defense is much better than OSU's, but UT's offense is getting quite a bit of overplay by the media. If OSU's defense plays up to the level of recent game, UT is in for a shocker tomorrow night.
Report Comment
forkandknife, Tulsa (10/30/2009 11:00:59 AM)
HOOOOOOOOOK EM' HORNS!!
Report Comment
shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (10/30/2009 11:48:50 AM)
Bevo...it's what's for dinner......
Report Comment
CW Kingston, (10/30/2009 12:05:03 PM)
Way to go Gundy!!! Way to go Pokes!!!
Report Comment
Sooner Alum 04, (10/30/2009 1:17:22 PM)
Gundy is a great coach but to say he's the best in Oklahoma is not accurate. BOB STOOPS has SIX BIG 12 TITLES, A NATIONAL TITLE, and three other appearances. I hate to sound one sided because I am an OU grad and fan but I also enjoy watching TU and OSU as well but Gundy has a long way to go to claim that title. I wish the POKES' well except in NORMAN. BOOMER!!!
Report Comment
CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/30/2009 1:29:23 PM)
POWER!!!

(The last time Bobdog let a boomer he had to light a match.)
Report Comment
oldnorthroad, (10/30/2009 1:29:51 PM)
Oklahoma State is arguably one of the best teams in the nation? Nobody outside this state is making that argument. I guess pandering to the OSU crowd is important this week.
Report Comment
CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/30/2009 1:38:30 PM)
oldnorthroad is arguably one of the best TW posters in the nation? Nobody inside or outside this state is making that argument. I guess pandering to the Moron crowd is important for oldnorthroad this week.

(Bobdog packs the truck for a big tailgate party on Saturday. Win or lose Bobdog has fun.)
Report Comment
MexiMike, Tulsa (10/30/2009 2:07:55 PM)
BobDog, you make me laugh.

Sooneralum, obviously Gundy hasn't achieved what Stoops has yet but he isn't exactly working with the same type of players, tradition, athletic budget, etc. either. Let's just agree that Mack Brown is overrated.

Oldnorthroad is having a hard time keeping up these days. Does 13th in the nation not qualify as one of the nation's top teams? How about the recent national awards lists that our players and coaches are on?

I guess posting negative comments on an article that has nothing to do with the school you root for is important this week--and last week...and the week before that...and so on...
Report Comment
canesablowin', (10/30/2009 2:39:58 PM)
Pretty lengthy column not to mention even once that the best coaching job this season has been turned in by Kevin Sumlin. The Houston Cougars came into OSU when the Cowboys had Bryant, Hunter and Lemon and summarily sent them off their home field with their one loss of the season. Sumlin outcoached Gundy then and has since gone on to beat Mike Leach's Texas Tech squad and the SEC's Mississippi State. Best coaching job in 2009: Kevin Sumlin.
Report Comment
CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/30/2009 2:45:52 PM)
Lets have fun this weekend and everybody stay safe.

(Bobdog heads out the doggie door.)
Report Comment
Orange, Tulsa (10/30/2009 3:23:06 PM)
I'm a huge OSU supporter, but I have to admit that canesablowin' makes a pretty good case...

Regardless, I'm pretty happy with Gundy's performance of late.
Report Comment
Hlywood7, Edmond (10/30/2009 3:33:51 PM)
Let's not forget that OSU was fortunate to win at A&M. Remember the TD pass where an A&M defensive back let the ball go right through his hands and into an OSU player's hands. Then there was the dropped TD pass for A&M accounting for a 14 point swing.
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