MajorMike
07-31-2007, 09:14 AM
Wasn't it Les Miles who was recently bitching about how nobody played a tougher schedule than him?
Cowboys won't be filling up on cupcakes as much in future seasons
A wide-open spread offense isn't the only philosophical difference between Mike Gundy and Les Miles.
Gundy made it clear last week at Big 12 media days in San Antonio that the Cowboys' September diet won't consist solely of cupcakes.
In addition to non-conference games already lined up, OSU is negotiating a home-and-home series with Washington State.
If a deal can be struck, the Cowboys might play the Cougars at Seattle's Qwest Field in 2008, with a return trip to Stillwater in 2010.
OSU already has contracts for home-and-home series with Georgia (2007 and 2009); Arizona (2011 and 2012); Purdue (2013 and 2016); North Carolina State (2014 and 2015); Air Force (2015 and 2016); and Clemson (2017 and 2018).
"Our guys didn't play well on the road last year,” Gundy said. "That's one reason we're playing at Georgia. Myself and coach (Mike) Holder and the staff talked about what we thought it would take to win the Big 12 championship in the future.
"We feel like our team has to play well on the road against quality opponents. We're in a very difficult division (Big 12 South). We're always going to have to win on the road against quality opponents. That's why we're taking on this challenge of Georgia and other quality opponents from here on out.”
Miles believed it was important to schedule as many built-in September wins as possible to assure becoming bowl eligible.
That no longer will be the case.
In addition to several BCS opponents on the schedule the next 10 years, OSU also has series scheduled with Troy, Houston, Rice and Tulsa.
"We're looking at scheduling one premier game every year and backing that up with two or three other games that aren't at that level,” said associate athletic director Dave Martin.
"Then our goal is to get seven home games, three in non-conference, when possible.”
Besides preparing his team for Big 12 play, Gundy said tougher non-conference games have additional benefits.
"Since we don't have a warm-up game, our team has been very excited all summer,” Gundy said.
"By having Georgia in the opener, it's kept us focused in preparation for this game. It's a great opportunity for us.”
Another factor weighs into Gundy's and Holder's scheduling philosophy. Asked to pay more to sit in Boone Pickens Stadium, fans see more competitive games when teams like Georgia, Arizona, Purdue, Clemson and Washington State visit Stillwater.
"That's definitely part of it,” Gundy said. "We want games fans enjoy. It's good to have home-and-home series against teams that will generate interest.”
Martin has struck enough deals with BCS opponents that the schedule the next 10 years is interesting.
"Coach Holder and I are on the same page,” Gundy said. "We want to schedule quality people in the future.”
Cowboys won't be filling up on cupcakes as much in future seasons
A wide-open spread offense isn't the only philosophical difference between Mike Gundy and Les Miles.
Gundy made it clear last week at Big 12 media days in San Antonio that the Cowboys' September diet won't consist solely of cupcakes.
In addition to non-conference games already lined up, OSU is negotiating a home-and-home series with Washington State.
If a deal can be struck, the Cowboys might play the Cougars at Seattle's Qwest Field in 2008, with a return trip to Stillwater in 2010.
OSU already has contracts for home-and-home series with Georgia (2007 and 2009); Arizona (2011 and 2012); Purdue (2013 and 2016); North Carolina State (2014 and 2015); Air Force (2015 and 2016); and Clemson (2017 and 2018).
"Our guys didn't play well on the road last year,” Gundy said. "That's one reason we're playing at Georgia. Myself and coach (Mike) Holder and the staff talked about what we thought it would take to win the Big 12 championship in the future.
"We feel like our team has to play well on the road against quality opponents. We're in a very difficult division (Big 12 South). We're always going to have to win on the road against quality opponents. That's why we're taking on this challenge of Georgia and other quality opponents from here on out.”
Miles believed it was important to schedule as many built-in September wins as possible to assure becoming bowl eligible.
That no longer will be the case.
In addition to several BCS opponents on the schedule the next 10 years, OSU also has series scheduled with Troy, Houston, Rice and Tulsa.
"We're looking at scheduling one premier game every year and backing that up with two or three other games that aren't at that level,” said associate athletic director Dave Martin.
"Then our goal is to get seven home games, three in non-conference, when possible.”
Besides preparing his team for Big 12 play, Gundy said tougher non-conference games have additional benefits.
"Since we don't have a warm-up game, our team has been very excited all summer,” Gundy said.
"By having Georgia in the opener, it's kept us focused in preparation for this game. It's a great opportunity for us.”
Another factor weighs into Gundy's and Holder's scheduling philosophy. Asked to pay more to sit in Boone Pickens Stadium, fans see more competitive games when teams like Georgia, Arizona, Purdue, Clemson and Washington State visit Stillwater.
"That's definitely part of it,” Gundy said. "We want games fans enjoy. It's good to have home-and-home series against teams that will generate interest.”
Martin has struck enough deals with BCS opponents that the schedule the next 10 years is interesting.
"Coach Holder and I are on the same page,” Gundy said. "We want to schedule quality people in the future.”