Oklahoma State started the season with a dominant performance while clobbering 1-AA opponent Missouri State. Now, yeah, you DO expect a Big XII team to clobber MSU, but last season OSU wasn't doing so, barely escaping the Montanas of the world. This year, the game with a lesser non-conference opponent was a blitzkrieg demolition. The biggest difference for the Pokes this year will be seen on offense, where OSU will have one of the best in the conference, perhaps the nation. Bobby Reid came in as a 5-star type recruit, and has never lived up to the billing but has never been fully healthy nor has he had the weapons. Now, Reid's 100% and with D'Juan Woods an All-American possibility (as was his brother Rashaun)
http://www.tulsaworld.com/SportsExtr..._Sp_fb19_woods
and the addition of another top-shelf receiver, transfer from North Carolina Adarius Bowman, the days of D'Juan being double-teamed are over. The offensive line looks very strong, too. On defense, the strength is right up front, where it needs to be in the Big XII. Running on the Cowboys will not be an easy task, and if another high ranked national recruit, Xavier Lawson-Kennedy finally lives up to his clippings this could be one of the best DLs in the league.
Perhaps most exciting is the number of true freshmen who contributed to the Cowboys win over the Bears. A true freshman was the first 'Puncher to touch the ball in the 2006 season, and the next thing you knew Perrish Cox was standing 90 yards away and 45,000 orange-clad fans were waving to the Oklahoma State fight song with "OSU 6 MSU 0 14:43 1st quarter" on the scoreboard. Keith Toston was a redshirt possibility, instead he averaged over 4 yards a carry and scored a touchdown of his own.
Even in the days when OSU football was really down, the school has always been known for two things. First, "Tailback U" has it's next in the long line of running stars with Mike Hamilton getting 155 yards on just 16 carries (like most of the starters, he played almost none of the 2nd half) to follow up on last year when he was one of the few truly bright points on offense in Stillwater; and the Cowboys reputation in special teams lives on...try these numbers on for size:
Kick returns
Player No. Yards Avg. TD
Perrish Cox 1 96 96 1
Tommy Devereaux 1 23 23 0
Punt returns
Player No. Yards Avg. TD
Tommy Devereaux 2 75 37.5 0
Perrish Cox 3 72 24.0 0
Chris Collins 1 11 11.0 0
and the kicking game, always a source of Orange Power pride, was its usual self with Matt Fodge averaging over 50 yards a punt, and Jason Ricks 7-7 on PATs and adding a 53-yard Field Goal.
The Cowboys even looked good, with the new Nike uniforms approved of even by old codgers like me who'd want to see them wear the same uniforms as Walt Garrison if possible. The mistakes of the last few years are gone, and OSU has a distinctive look without being, well, weird looking. And names are back on the back of the jerseys. Even the pregame festivities were outstanding, with everyone talking after the game about the pregame video extravaganza, highlighted with OSU Grad Garth Brooks asking the question that will be the motto for fans all season, "How Orange Are You?"
The odds are stacked against the Pokes, as they're in the toughest division in the nation with three legitimate National Championship possibilities (although OU may be off that list after losing their starting QB, do NOT mistake a close game with UAB as a sign that the Sooners aren't very, very good...they are) and the games with Texas and Texas Tech, both among the nation's most talented teams, both on the road. Argghh. At least we don't have to play at College Station this year and without the advantage of the 12th man I predict an OSU win over the "other Aggies" of Texas A&M this year.
So, it's a great start and very bright days ahead as OSU takes their 1-0 record into a Little Rock date with the Indians of Arkansas State, a 2005 bowl team, this weekend. Expect another big win for the Cowboys, and expect a return to the big time for OSU football. Are you ready? How Orange Are You??