One of two things usually come to mind first when you talk about Oklahoma State Cowboys football. 1.) the infamous Mike Gundy “THAT’S GARBAGE! and “I’M A MAN, I’M 40!” rant from 2007 (we know you’ve seen the parodies, but just in case you haven’t go here and here)
2.) the richest most powerful and all-seeing, all-doing alumni booster in college football in T. Boone Pickens. The stadium is not the only building on the OSU campus with his name on it.
But after the first 11 win season in school history, featuring the most explosive offense ever at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys will soon become more nationally known for their winning ways and exciting white-collar football.
2010 was: a banner year in school history; as the ‘Boys broke new ground: 11 wins, three All-Americans, two national award winners, the first ever Big 12 South co-championship. And the greatest offense Stillwater has ever seen. They were #3 in total, #3 in scoring, and #2 in passing. And 9/11 starters return to that awesome unit.
BMOCs: RB Joseph Randle has to replace stud back back Kendall Hunter. Otherwise the offense that is as explosive as Gundy’s temper and as big in numbers as Boone Pickens investment funds returns in tact. QB Brandon Weeden is a favorite for national awards, as his WR Justin Blackmon. Both NFL draft pick written all over them, and this fall they’ll benefit from another year together in the system. Last year was their first as starters together. WR Josh Cooper can bring it as well. LB Shaun Lewis was the Big 12 co-defensive freshman of the year.
2011 will be fruitful if: the offense stays healthy, and they out-shoot their opponents. The pass defense was an atrocious train wreck last season, ranking 115th overall. Of course that was a little misleading as OSU jumped all over their opponents early, and the Cowboys gave up a lot of garbage time passing yards to teams that had to no choice but to pass.
2011 will be awful if: the questions in the defensive front seven aren’t answered. The secondary is athletic, and good enough to take chances, but it was also a sieve at times, and needs all the help it can get with better pressure up front.
Bottom Line: They should easily win 10 giving them another double digit victory season. But this year is about getting in the BcS, winning their first conference title since the year I was born (1978), and maybe even playing for a national title. They are a darkhorse candidate for a title game berth. The Cowboys constantly have to live in the shadow of their bigger brother in the state, and guess who’s ranked #1 in both preseason polls- yes, the Sooners.
OSU Rankings: #12 Athlon, #7 Lindy’s, #8 USA Today, #5 AP, #13 Phil Steele
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
He does regular weekly radio spots in Chicago and Cleveland and has appeared on live shows all across the world from Houston to New Zealand. You can follow him on Twitter
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