OSU-Cap'n Mike

[1369]

So Cap'n, you think Gundy can bring the 'Pokes back from the basement and make a good showing in the Big XII?

With all the hype Reid had when he came in, I'd like to see him deliver this year.

I'm still not sold on Gundy as Head Coach, most of his calls as OC last year, well, they just plain sucked ass.

I was a freshman when Gundy made his debut at QB and froze my ass off in El Paso when they beat WV in the Sun Bowl

[MajorMike]

Not this year, but we are starting a total of 5 Seniors, Reid and Hamilton are both just Sophmores, had a top 20 recruiting class last year, will have another this year, and quite frankly if we had had 2 or 3 balls go our way we would have been a bowl team last year. 2 late interceptions (by Pena, not Reid) in the Mizzou game allowed them to beat us by 7 and we were down 35-0 to Baylor at Baylor after 4 turn overs, turned the ball over EIGHT times total and damn near won that game. Look at the 1st words of the SI.com preview for OSU: "Turnover and turnovers: Those were the factors that doomed Oklahoma State a year ago." We were 115th nationally with 35 turnovers lost.

This year we get 3 easy games to open year, Houston is very win-able, then at KState and KU. 4-2/5-1 is very possible out of that stretch. We get atm next for the 1st game at home after 3 road games and it will not only be Homecoming, but the game before atm goes to Baylor (where they lost last time and dang near lost to them at home last year) and plays uo. Other than that, we go to get pounded at UT and tek and will most likely lose at home against Neb, but we play Baylor at home at uo last game of season at home. We go 4-2 1st half of season, we will beat Baylor and at least 1 of atm or uo. 6-6. could still go 5-1 early if we keep turnovers down.

I expect more next year and I believe in Fedora's offense (Gundy doesn't call plays). You also have to remember that not only did we have a new coach last year, but before the season started we had our best DB and a team leader killed and Gundy kicked off 9 players because he didn't want any of the problems off the field the last coach had. To add, if Gundy succeeeds, we know he isn't going anywhere. The is an alum, has not want to go anywhere else, and will not leave for a better job. He will coach here as long as he wins. If he doesn't win by next year having the talent and recruits he does, he is gone in 3. Simply beating uo (which he hasn't yet) won't let him keep his job like past coaches.

[johngateswhiteley]

Not this year, but we are starting a total of 5 Seniors, Reid and Hamilton are both just Sophmores, had a top 20 recruiting class last year, will have another this year, and quite frankly if we had had 2 or 3 balls go our way we would have been a bowl team last year. 2 late interceptions (by Pena, not Reid) in the Mizzou game allowed them to beat us by 7 and we were down 35-0 to Baylor at Baylor after 4 turn overs, turned the ball over EIGHT times total and damn near won that game. Look at the 1st words of the SI.com preview for OSU: "Turnover and turnovers: Those were the factors that doomed Oklahoma State a year ago." We were 115th nationally with 35 turnovers lost.

This year we get 3 easy games to open year, Houston is very win-able, then at KState and KU. 4-2/5-1 is very possible out of that stretch. We get atm next for the 1st game at home after 3 road games and it will not only be Homecoming, but the game before atm goes to Baylor (where they lost last time and dang near lost to them at home last year) and plays uo. Other than that, we go to get pounded at UT and tek and will most likely lose at home against Neb, but we play Baylor at home at uo last game of season at home. We go 4-2 1st half of season, we will beat Baylor and at least 1 of atm or uo. 6-6. could still go 5-1 early if we keep turnovers down.

I expect more next year and I believe in Fedora's offense (Gundy doesn't call plays). You also have to remember that not only did we have a new coach last year, but before the season started we had our best DB and a team leader killed and Gundy kicked off 9 players because he didn't want any of the problems off the field the last coach had. To add, if Gundy succeeeds, we know he isn't going anywhere. The is an alum, has not want to go anywhere else, and will not leave for a better job. He will coach here as long as he wins. If he doesn't win by next year having the talent and recruits he does, he is gone in 3. Simply beating uo (which he hasn't yet) won't let him keep his job like past coaches.


...let me get this straight? you think OSU will beat either OU or A&M? is that right? cause, i got news for you...no chance in hell.

[MajorMike]

...let me get this straight? you think OSU will beat either OU or A&M? is that right? cause, i got news for you...no chance in hell.

I'll save that one, too.

[Beer is Good]

...let me get this straight? you think OSU will beat either OU or A&M? is that right? cause, i got news for you...no chance in hell.
I see them beating aTm. That will be a close game and I think they have as good of a chance as aTm in winning that game. If their run defense is strong - they may beat OU as well.

[Beer is Good]

Not this year, but we are starting a total of 5 Seniors, Reid and Hamilton are both just Sophmores, had a top 20 recruiting class last year, will have another this year, and quite frankly if we had had 2 or 3 balls go our way we would have been a bowl team last year. 2 late interceptions (by Pena, not Reid) in the Mizzou game allowed them to beat us by 7 and we were down 35-0 to Baylor at Baylor after 4 turn overs, turned the ball over EIGHT times total and damn near won that game. Look at the 1st words of the SI.com preview for OSU: "Turnover and turnovers: Those were the factors that doomed Oklahoma State a year ago." We were 115th nationally with 35 turnovers lost.

This year we get 3 easy games to open year, Houston is very win-able, then at KState and KU. 4-2/5-1 is very possible out of that stretch. We get atm next for the 1st game at home after 3 road games and it will not only be Homecoming, but the game before atm goes to Baylor (where they lost last time and dang near lost to them at home last year) and plays uo. Other than that, we go to get pounded at UT and tek and will most likely lose at home against Neb, but we play Baylor at home at uo last game of season at home. We go 4-2 1st half of season, we will beat Baylor and at least 1 of atm or uo. 6-6. could still go 5-1 early if we keep turnovers down.

I expect more next year and I believe in Fedora's offense (Gundy doesn't call plays). You also have to remember that not only did we have a new coach last year, but before the season started we had our best DB and a team leader killed and Gundy kicked off 9 players because he didn't want any of the problems off the field the last coach had. To add, if Gundy succeeeds, we know he isn't going anywhere. The is an alum, has not want to go anywhere else, and will not leave for a better job. He will coach here as long as he wins. If he doesn't win by next year having the talent and recruits he does, he is gone in 3. Simply beating uo (which he hasn't yet) won't let him keep his job like past coaches.
Good to see they didn't schedule a power for Homecoming like they did last year against UT. I think that is a great homecoming game for OSU

[MajorMike]

Big 12 South
1. Texas Longhorns
Coach: Mack Brown (163-88-1, 78-16 in eight years at UT)
2005 record: 13-0
Bowl game? Defeated Southern California 41-38 to win the Rose Bowl and the Bowl Championship Series title. It was the first national championship for the Longhorns since 1970.
Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense
Key games: Ohio State, Oklahoma (at Dallas), @ Nebraska, @ Texas Tech
Guys to watch: New starting quarterback Colt McCoy. At the very least, he joins the "Cool Texas QB name club," along with Major Applewhite and Chance Mock. A redshirt freshman, McCoy has the honor of taking over for Vince Young, who might go down as one of the best players in college football history. But he's going into a good situation. The Longhorns have talent everywhere and he won't leave to lead the team. His only mission will be to not mess up. Jamaal Charles will likely lead the way on offense. McCoy passed for 3,806 yards in high school, so the passing ability is there. He won't ever run like Young, but won't be expected to. If he keeps from committing too many turnovers, the Horns will be in fine shape.
2006 thoughts: In the tradition of Tom Osborne and Bobby Bowden, Brown erases his name from the list of big-name coaches to never win it all. And if what happened with the Huskers and Seminoles holds true for Brown, Texas will win it all again under his watch. They've got too much money and talent to not be a contender annually. And while the departure of Young might make people think it's safe to think about playing Texas, think again. This team still has a lot of talent and weapons. If they beat the Buckeyes again this year, there won't be many more roadblocks in the way to make a repeat appearance in the national title game. Besides the obvious "it's always a big game" against Oklahoma, the late-season trip to Lubbock is a potential trap. If this team loses more than two games, it'll be a surprise.

2. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Coach: Mike Leach (48-28 career and at Tech in six seasons)
2005 record: 9-3 (6-2, T-2nd Big 12 South)
Bowl game? Lost the Cotton Bowl to Alabama, 13-10
Returning starters: 8 offense, 5 defense
Key games: @ Texas A&M, Texas, @ Oklahoma
Guys to watch: Just like with Texas, the Raiders are breaking in a new signal-caller. And for the first time since 2001, it won't be a senior under center. Graham Harrell is the potential "West Texas Wizard" in-the-making. Only a sophomore, Harrell will try to live up to the same standards as Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons and Sonny Cumbie. If he can be inserted as seamlessly as the other QBs, Tech will have him for three seasons.
2006 thoughts: If the Raiders can gig a win in College Station on Sept. 30, the contest against the Longhorns almost a month later could determine the Big 12 South champion. Their schedule breaks down nicely for them, as their biggest games are spaced apart somewhat. Three of their final four games are at home. Tech should be in that 9- or 10-win range again and if they are undefeated after the Texas game, look out, as Tech could crash the BCS championship party. But it all hinges on new QB Harrell.

3. Oklahoma Sooners
Coach: Bob Stoops (75-16 career and at OU in seven season)
2005 record: 8-4 (6-2, T-2nd Big 12 South)
Bowl game? Defeated Oregon 17-14 in the Holiday Bowl.
Returning starters: 4 offense, 9 defense
Key games: @ Oregon, Texas (in Dallas), @ Texas A&M, @ Oklahoma State
Guys to watch: Welcome back to the world of quarterbacks, Paul Thompson. After he was moved to wide receiver (and told that was his best route to the NFL) in favor of Rhett Bomar in 2005, Thompson is back throwing footballs for the first time in a year. The Bomar situation changed a lot of things concerning the Sooners lofty expectations and questions remain in the aftermath. Can Thompson just step back into the QB role and succeed after taking a whole year off from that position? Will teams respect him at all or just stack the box and take their chances against Adrian Peterson? Losing Bomar could be the start of a "chain of dominoes" situation for the Sooners. Thompson has to prove right out of the box that the 2005 game against TCU was a fluke. If not, he could be in trouble.
2006 thoughts: As mentioned about, losing Bomar really changes the outlook on offense. It takes away a legit passing threat in Bomar and replaces him with a questionable arm in Thompson. But he's an athlete and a good runner and the Sooners will likely focus on the ground game this season, putting their hopes on Peterson's stellar ability and Thompson's scramble ability to run down the clock. Their defense should be very stout this season and that could be enough to prevent a collapse. But if they do better than last season, it'll be via a lot of low-scoring (ex. 21-17, 17-13) type games. The Sooners are hard to read, and anywhere from eight to 11 wins could be a possibility.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Coach: Mike Gundy (4-7 career and at OSU in one season)
2005 record: 4-7 (1-7, 6th Big 12 South)
Bowl game? N/A
Returning starters: 9 offense, 5 defense
Key games: @ Houston, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma
Guys to watch: This team will rise and fall on the shoulders of Bobby Reid. Maligned last season due to injury and sub-par performance, all of Orange Country will be looking to him for a better season individually and team-wise. Is it fair to pin the entire hopes of a season on one guy? Probably not. But life's not fair and that's the situation Reid faces. Either step up and be the stud he was in high school or look at the term "big-time recruiting bust" square in the face.
2006 thoughts: A lot about this team will be known after a three-game road trip to Houston, Kansas State and Kansas. While all those games are winnable for the Pokes, they're also all not gimmes. OSU has never been a team to do really well on the road, so this stretch will test them. Win all three and a breakout, 8- or 9- win season is in their future. Win two-of-three and seven wins are likely. Lose them all? Hello 5-7. Of the three, the Houston game is the toughest. Win there and this team will have some much-needed confidence and can finally close the door on last year, as they should be 4-0 (and having matched last season's win total) after a win over the Cougars.

5. Texas A&M Aggies
Coach: Dennis Franchione (91-73, 16-18 in three years at A&M)
2005 record: 5-6 (3-5, 4th Big 12 South
Bowl game? N/A
Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense
Key games: Texas Tech, @ Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, @ Texas
Guys to watch: Yet another new QB to the starting ranks. This time, it's Stephen McGee replacing Reggie McNeal. McNeal passed for 6,992 yards at A&M and had a mean running ability. He'll be hard to replace. But McGee came in for an injured McNeal last season and kept the Aggies competitive against the Longhorns.
2006 thoughts: Does it seem like the hype surrounding the coaching ability of Franchione is just that, hype? It's sure starting to seem that way. He was supposed to be the Aggie savior, but has disappointed so far. Some pundits are expecting a lot out of A&M this season, but I'm unconvinced. Coach Fran has a lot to prove and if he doesn't do it this season, he might be Texas Toast.

6. Baylor Bears
Coach: Guy Morriss (20-37, 11-23 in three years at Baylor)
2005 record: 5-6 (2-6, 5th Big 12 South)
Bowl game? N/A
Returning starters: 8 offense, 4 defense
Key games: TCU, Kansas State, @ Oklahoma State
Guys to watch: The two-headed backfield monster of Paul Mosley and Brandon Whitaker. Both running backs proved to be very capable last season, with Mosley putting up 657 yards and seven touchdowns and Whitaker posting 481 yards and one score. Combined, the two rushed for 1,138 yards on 281 carries (a 4.25 yards a game average. With a quality QB such as Shawn Bell leading the offense, they should have their chances to run against opponents.
2006 thoughts: Baylor had its best season last year since a 4-7 mark in 1996. Is Baylor a team on the rise or did they just pad their record against their weak non-conference schedule last season (Southern Methodist, Samford, Army)? The Bears added two wins in the conference over ISU and OSU, but will they be able to win in Stillwater and find a North team they can beat (they have KSU at home this season)? It's hard to predict Baylor to be anything but cellar-dwellers, and until they prove to be a more consistent program, this is where they'll stay for the time being.

[BeerIsGood!]

Tech's offense is far to pass heavy and is far too simple. It's basically an offense that runs variations on 16 plays. Drag routes galore. Only one problem... Texas has the freak athletes on defense to stop it and has shown that they have it figured out. Last two years...

Texas 51 Tech 21
Texas 52 Tech 17

The Texas D officially arrived last season, and it's gonna be more of the same this season.

[MajorMike]

Same was the deal with uo. They had the athletes to keep up. The way to beat uo has been throw over the top which teams have done in recent years (USC, OSU, atm, KState). tek never could throw over the top - they are dink and dunk.
While I don't like tek's style of play, very few teams have the ability to overcome it. It's good for at least 8-10 wins a year.