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OSU football: Class act
OSU seniors, combining for 407 career starts, savor unprecedented success


 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/19/2009  2:26 AM
Last Modified: 11/19/2009  11:31 AM

 In January-February 2005, Mike Gundy and his new Oklahoma State coaching staff scrambled to retain committed recruits and lure a few additional prospects to Stillwater.

Scout.com gave that cobbled-together class a national ranking of No. 64. Among the Cowboy recruits were Zac Robinson, Andre Sexton, Andrew Lewis and Brady Bond, all of whom were redshirted during the 2005 season.

A year later, OSU assembled a class that was rated 16th nationally. Among those recruits were Perrish Cox, Russell Okung, Keith Toston, Derek Burton and Patrick Lavine.

On Thursday, when the Cowboys face Colorado in a 6:30 p.m., ESPN-televised Big 12 contest, one of the more distinguished senior classes in OSU history performs for the final time at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Typically, a college football senior class would include about 15 players who collectively would have gotten between 150 and 250 career starts. The 22 Cowboy seniors have made a combined total of 407 starts (with 360 having been made by four-year players).

"The other day at practice, I heard Russell and some guys talking about what this class was able to accomplish," Gundy said. "It all moves so fast. There's not a lot of time to reflect until we've played our final game. But these guys have really done a good job and accomplished a lot."

OSU's total of 407 senior starts is the top such figure in the Big 12. Oklahoma has gotten 191 starts from its seniors. Texas has gotten 266. Colorado, 151.

"It makes a tremendous statement about how we've been able to stick together, regardless of the situation," said Okung, a veteran of 44 starts at offensive tackle.

In the first Big 12 game of the Gundy era, Colorado smashed OSU 34-0 in Stillwater. That Cowboy team went on to finish 1-7 in conference play. Since that game, while Colorado has descended to a slump of four consecutive losing seasons, the 2005-06 recruits like Robinson, Okung, Cox and Sexton have lifted the OSU program to an unprecedented milestone — four consecutive bowl appearances.

Colorado brings to Stillwater records of 3-7 overall, 2-4 in the Big 12. The Cowboys are 8-2, 5-1. They are 12th in the Bowl Championship Series standings. Their fans are buzzing about the potential of a Cotton Bowl berth or perhaps a first appearance in a BCS bowl.

"If we can win the rest of our games, we'll take OSU to a place that it's never been. We can do this. It's on us," said Cox, a senior cornerback, a Thorpe Award semifinalist and the Big 12's all-time leader in kickoff-return yards. "When I first got here, everybody told me that the time would go by fast. I didn't believe them.

"Now, I've only got two more games this season and only one more home game. It's unbelievable, man."

Said Toston, a Cowboy senior running back who needs 42 rushing yards to reach the 1,000 mark: "Our last game in that stadium it's going to be pretty big. It'll be something I'll never forget."

Thursday's most prominent plot line centers on the status of Robinson and whether he will make his 35th consecutive start at quarterback for the Cowboys. OSU's career leader in total offense, passing yards and touchdown passes, Robinson absorbed a violent shot during the final two minutes of last week's victory over Texas Tech.

Cowboy junior Alex Cate may get the start, but Robinson has been cleared to play.

For the first time in school history, OSU has recorded at least seven victories in four consecutive seasons. The current seniors have driven OSU to a steady progression. In Big 12 play, OSU was 3-5 in 2006, 4-4 in 2007 and 5-3 last season. If the Cowboys defeat Colorado, they will be 6-1 in league play. Never before has an Oklahoma State football team recorded six conference victories.

"We know we're chasing OSU history — a chance to be one of the best teams in OSU history," said Sexton, a senior linebacker and the Cowboys' career leader in starts with 48. "That's why a lot of us came up here — the opportunity to turn things around.

"We argue around here about which class was the one that turned OSU football around, and I'm going to say it was a mixture of the '05 and '06 classes. It's been a great run."



Twenty-two OSU seniors will play their final home game Thursday against Colorado. The group, which includes players signed in coach Mike Gundy’s first two recruiting classes and junior college transfers, has accounted for 407 career starts, the best in the Big 12. Eight of those players have 25 or more starts, including three with 44 or more. Below are all 22 seniors, including position and uniform number.

PROGRAM ANCHORS

A look at each of the OSU seniors who have recorded at least 25 career starts. Bold number is career starts:

48
Andre Sexton, OLB: School record for most career starts. His 205 career solo tackles ranks fourth nationally among all active defenders.

44
Russell Okung, OT: Program’s longest current streak with 44 straight starts. Likely All-Big 12, All-American selection. Likely first-round pick.

44
Patrick Lavine, OLB: Leads all major-college LBs in interceptions (5) this season. With 280 tackles, he is 16th on OSU’s career list.

39
Brady Bond, OT: After having played eight-man football at Garber High School, Bond became a fixture at right tackle for the Cowboys.

36
Andrew Lewis, C: Has been a starter at left guard and center. He and Robinson were on the cover of SI’s 2009 college football preview.

34
Zac Robinson, QB: OSU’s record-holder in career total offense, passing yards and touchdown passes.

34
Perrish Cox, CB: Thorpe Award semifinalist leads the nation in passes defended (four interceptions, 15 pass break-ups).

25
Derek Burton, DT: Has been a key figure in Cowboys’ dramatic defensive improvement. OSU is seventh nationally in rushing defense.



Most successful seniors

over the last four seasons (and with three games remaining in the 2009 season), the current oklahoma State seniors have been a part of 31 victories. A list of the most successful senior classes in oSU football history:

Senior year Victories
1988 34
1987 34
1986 32
1985 32
2009 31
1933 30


Best in Big 12

Entering this weekend’s games, Oklahoma State has gotten a combined total of 407 career starts from its senior class. How that figure compares to others in the Big 12:

OSU 407
Baylor 374
Iowa State 283
Texas 266
Kansas State 254
Texas Tech 247
Kansas 219
Oklahoma 191
Texas A&M 177
Nebraska 176
Missouri 152
Colorado 151



Note:

Middle linebacker Orie Lemon is not included on the list. He would have been a senior during the 2009 season, but sustained a serious knee injury before the Sept. 5 opener against Georgia. Lemon is expected to return as a senior next season.

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
      Add your comment Show: Most Recent Comment First

32 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
what now brown cow, (11/19/2009 8:46:07 AM)
mighty proud of these Cowboys
Report Comment
MexiMike, Tulsa (11/19/2009 9:03:16 AM)
These guys are definitely the life blood OSU needed to bring football back to form. I'm extremely proud of these young men and all that they have accomplished. Go Pokes!
Report Comment
mh, (11/19/2009 9:08:50 AM)
For a moment I thought this article would be about what a class act Gundy is! What a joke he is. I did not realize OSU football had "turned around". I suppose when you become accustomed to losing all the time, when you have a little success you can declare "that you have turned the corner". The last time I looked there were no Big 12 championships or National Championships in the OSU trophy case. Until they have some of each I would be hesitant to say the program had turned the corner.
Report Comment
Leonardo, Tulsa (11/19/2009 9:24:04 AM)
These young men are a product of outstanding recruiting and a coaching staff that further develops their talent. Mike Gundy has been very instrumental in elevating this program to a new level with more to come, GO POKES!
Report Comment
PIRANA, Tulsa (11/19/2009 9:41:16 AM)
Go Pokes!! ORANGE POWER!!!
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 9:50:43 AM)
Agree mh..........Sooners have been around the corner and the block quite a few times............go CU
Report Comment
Leonardo, Tulsa (11/19/2009 10:00:07 AM)
Hey mh, you should abstain from climbing tall trees. The rapid descent is starting to show CRANIUM damage!
Report Comment
PRCowboy, (11/19/2009 10:00:25 AM)
I too am very proud of our seniors. Way to turn it around. Hopefully we can keep it going. The Gooners beter get used to it. No matter what happens at Bedlam, the Cowboys are imporving, while the Sooners seems to be falling. Great time to be a Cowboy. GO POKES!!!
Report Comment
BOBO1, (11/19/2009 10:09:07 AM)
Couple of classless self called gooner fans on the blog eh? Most likely they never attended any college. I doubt any classy OU fan would want to even be associated with them. As for OSU....go Cowboys you have made great strides...don't underestimate Colorado and get the job done. Seniors enjoy your last game at Lewis...oh I forgot TBoonePickens stadium...sorry I am showing my age.
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 10:19:07 AM)
Hey Boo-boo - are you Bob Fennimore's cousin ??........ enjoy your last game at NGAT Field...."No good at football"
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/19/2009 11:22:31 AM)
Work hard, play well, win games, and watch the haters come out! That's a good sign!

GO POKES!
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 11:47:25 AM)
Osu is a bunch of Cowjokes.......look at this year......we lose 16-13 to the #3 Shorthorns on a neutral field and you get annihilated at home by the Shorthorns.....the Shorthorns lead the OU series by 19 or so but we lead 'em in National Titles 7 to 4.....you have no National Titles or Big 12 titles so just go out and enjoy beating Colorado, another team that's no good at football... and Carlos - buy Pirana and Leonardo a cold one sometime at Eskimo Jokes.......hee hee
Report Comment
dalonogee, (11/19/2009 11:58:44 AM)
Haters hate that's what they do. I am hard pressed to find a Sooner fan in Northeast Oklahoma who knows where the campus is. The band wagon is easy to jump on, but let OSU enjoy the recent success.
Report Comment
Have that, America (11/19/2009 12:10:17 PM)
MH & SUEA...you guys really are a couple of class acts. I understand that you must being going through some hard times right now. The president that you voted for hasn't given you enough hand outs. The machine shop you work in fired you because of your crystal meth useage. and your morbidly obease wife is divorcing you and taking your trailer. but at least you have the sooners right? oh, wait, the sooners are terrible this year and have only won what, 2 bowl games in the last decade? poor lil fellers...

crawl back into your hole scumbag...your kind isn't welcome here.
Report Comment
ken7, (11/19/2009 1:16:57 PM)
Have That is A-OK
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 1:22:19 PM)
Have That - change your name to Has Nothing and you're a true LosuR............you know, has no National titles, no Big 12 titles, no Big 12 South Titles, no job, no wife...........just doesn't have anything at all.....
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 1:23:10 PM)
Have That - change your name to Has Nothing and you're a true LosuR............you know, has no National titles, no Big 12 titles, no Big 12 South Titles, no job, no wife...........just doesn't have anything at all.....
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 1:24:43 PM)
Geeez - what kind of LosuR board is this ??? A big bad Swooner posts something and it comes on twice........Go buffs
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/19/2009 1:29:09 PM)
Most common excuse words used by Gooner fans in 2009: "neutral field". They will be making excuses about this season for years! OSU lost more key players than OU and played on less "neutral fields" and we're doing just fine.

Having haters is a good thing. That means they care enough to have you on their minds.

GO POKES!
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 1:31:17 PM)
Hey SUEA - do you think OSU will ever take the lead in the Bedlam series ???..........Suea - ya, they'll win the next 70 or so in a row.........
Report Comment
get to the CHOPPA! , Broken Arrow (11/19/2009 1:41:59 PM)
Well, as a sooner fan I do have respect for what OSU had done under Gundy. Zac Robinson is a classy dude. It's a shame that injuries and Deion Sanders caused the Bedlem Game some importance. Usually, the Bedlam game is OSU trying to ruin OU's season in costing them a BCS bowl spot. However, this year the table has turned and OU is now trying to cost OSU a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. It will be a fun game. Not all Sooner fans are idiots. Good Luck Zac in whatever you choose to do after this year. I think it's good to have two strong teams in the State.
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 1:51:37 PM)
Congrats LosuR ....Choppa Whoppa just presented you with the Big 12 title for "Most Career starts from a Senior Class"........I'm off to mess with the TU shorthorns.......Stillwater, the home of Combo softies-wussies...... Go CU
Report Comment
get to the CHOPPA! , Broken Arrow (11/19/2009 2:09:55 PM)
SUEA.....AHHHH WHAT?
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/19/2009 2:18:24 PM)
......thinking these Pistol Peters are probably right about the Sooner swoon this year so I figure Texas "with Tech added on" will spring another upset in Lubbock...........Dead raiders 34 Swooners 31
Report Comment
O, Tulsa (11/19/2009 2:19:30 PM)
There is going to be a tear in my eye when this group walks out onto the field at BPS for the final time. This has been a great group of kids. No major problems and have represented the school well. They have set the bar for the rest to follow.

Thank you guys
Report Comment
definedego, (11/19/2009 3:13:13 PM)
MH... good luck on turning your life around... are you president of a fortune 400 company? Millionaire? Own a company that employs over 100 people.... To say a program has not turned around unless it has won a national title or a conference title within the last 10 years or so is stupid! MH... turn YOUR life around!
Report Comment
statepride, Fayetteville (11/19/2009 6:00:57 PM)
Hey lOUsers, you're right... no B12 or National titles "yet". Here's what we do have: PRIDE and CLASS! I realize you know nothing of either as those terms are blacked out in the single dictionary at the university library. Oh, never mind. Most of you have never even stepped foot on campus - not to mention the library. Losing sucks doesn't it?
Report Comment
MexiMike, Tulsa (11/20/2009 9:06:09 AM)
Successful troll is successful.
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/20/2009 3:01:57 PM)
Yep state pride...........losing tough..... especially when you've lost 6 straight Bedlams, fixin' to be 7, Cowpoacher
Report Comment
SUEA, MESQUITE (11/20/2009 3:24:15 PM)
Wonder why LosuR gets upset when I say you're no good at football....personally, I think you're not bad.....it's these Texas dudes that keep saying it and the're 12-0 lately against ya so guess they have a valid point, hunh ??
Report Comment
SinBagSailor, (11/20/2009 5:22:22 PM)
I agree, O. What a terrific bunch of kids. Congratulations to the OSU seniors and may the younger ones filling their shoes next year use these boys as examples to follow.
Report Comment
Phred_53, Stillwater (11/21/2009 9:42:19 AM)
To the Sooner fans who think that "Class" is spending time downgrading another team, pathetic. Try rooting for YOUR team instead. Of course my guess is you cannot find the campus, have never been to a game, and your idea of being a fan is buying a tee shirt and a hat at Wal-Mart. Go Pokes! Thanks to all the Cowboy Seniors who gave 4-5 years of their lives to make this program better.
 

 
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