Oklahoma State University Athletics
Game Notes - OSU Hosts Kansas
October 02, 2011 | Cowboy Football
Oct. 2, 2011
Kansas at No. 6/7 Oklahoma State
Oct. 8, 2011 :: 2:36 p.m. CT :: Boone Pickens Stadium (60,218 Capacity)
TV: None
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb and Robert Allen)
Internet: okstate.com
Satellite Radio: Sirius Ch. 138; Not Available on XM
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Back To Action
The Oklahoma State Cowboys, coming off of a landmark win at Texas A&M followed by an open date, play their only home game in a six-week period Saturday when they host the Kansas Jayhawks at Boone Pickens Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. OSU enters the game at 4-0/1-0 while Kansas checks in at 2-2/0-1.
Television Info
For the first time this season, an Oklahoma State football game will not be televised live.
Game Highlights
OSU will produce a highlight package that will be distributed via FTP site during the game and updated again following the game. For information on the FTP site, visit www.okstate.com/media.
Flipping For The Gipper
During the OSU-Kansas pregame, OSU alum and stadium namesake T. Boone Pickens will participate in the Ronald Reagan Centennial Coin Toss, which has been held at NFL and NCAA stadiums across the country. The ceremony is in honor of the former president's 100th birthday. Pickens participated in the same ceremony just prior to the Washington Redskins-Dallas Cowboys Monday night game on Sept. 26.
Crowd Noise
The Kansas-Oklahoma State game figures to draw one of the largest crowds in OSU stadium history with advance sales topping the 56,000 mark. Already this season OSU has set a record for season ticket sales (more than 48,000 as of last week). In its first two home games of the season, Oklahoma State has had the fifth and sixth largest home crowds in its history.
Series Stuff
Oklahoma State is 30-29-2 all-time against Kansas in a series that has been feast or famine for both sides. Things worth noting from the series:
• Kansas holds a 14-13-1 series advantage in Stillwater while OSU is 17-15-1 in Lawrence.
• Kansas won nine of the first 11 meetings between 1923 and 1952.
• KU held a 21-6 series advantage through 1968.
• The series flipped in 1969 with OSU going on an 18-1-2 run. Including the ties, Oklahoma State did not lose to Kansas over a 17-year period (1973 to 1989).
• Kansas turned things around, winning the last six games between the schools as members of the Big Eight Conference (1990-95).
• During the Big 12 era, OSU holds a 6-1 advantage and has lost to KU just once since 1995.
Last Year In Lawrence
Oklahoma State's 48-14 win over Kansas last year in Lawrence was historic as the Cowboys won a 10th regular season game for the first time ever. OSU also clinched a share of the Big 12 South championship with the win over the Jayhawks.
• The Cowboys started slow at KU, trailing 14-10 after the first period. OSU, however, outscored Kansas 38-0 over the final three periods as Brandon Weeden passed for 389 yards (in what was then the ninth best passing game in OSU history) with three TDs.
• Kansas native Joseph Randle ran for 19 yards and a score and had 58 receiving yards on four catches. Justin Blackmon's day featured 10 catches for 130 yards with a touchdown. Josh Cooper had a TD grab and finished the day with 94 receiving yards on seven receptions.
• Kansas managed just 288 yards of total offense, but the Jayhawks were the only team OSU faced in 2010 that did not commit a turnover.
KU Connections
There are several connections between the Cowboys and the Jayhawks.
• OSU co-defensive coordinator Bill Young was the DC at Kansas from 2002 through 2007 and was the coordinator for the Jayhawks' Orange Bowl team in '07.
• OSU defensive graduate assistant Jermial Ashley played for Bill Young at Kansas.
• KU co-defensive coordinator Buddy Wyatt was an OSU assistant in 1996.
• Lee Fobbs is KU's director of high school relations and the father of former OSU running back Jamal Fobbs.
• Murphy Grant is KU's director of sports medicine and served for five years as OSU's athletic trainer for men's basketball.
• Kansas basketball staffers Bill Self and Barry Hinson are OSU grads, as is Chris Theisen, KU's assistant AD for media relations.
College Station Recap
Oklahoma State is coming off of a 30-29 win over Texas A&M in College Station on Sept. 24. The Cowboys rallied from a 20-3 halftime deficit with 27 straight points to take control of the game. The Aggies scored their lone second-half TD with just over two minutes remaining in the game and OSU took a safety on the game's final play to avoid giving possession back to Texas A&M.
• After the win, Brandon Weeden was named as the national and Big 12 player of the week. He tossed two TD passes with a school-record 47 completions, a school-record 60 pass attempts and a school record 438 passing yards.
• In the second half, OSU scored on five of its first six possessions and only a fumble through the end zone kept the Cowboys from scoring six straight times.
• OSU ran 37 plays in the third quarter after running 37 in the entire first half. OSU had 275 yards of offense in the critical third quarter while limiting A&M to just 59.
• The Cowboy defense had two quarterback sacks after the Aggies entered the game having not allowed a sack all season. OSU recorded seven tackles for loss and forced four second-half turnovers.
The Last Word On A&M
Putting the final wraps on Oklahoma State's road win at No. 8 Texas A&M:
• The Cowboys' rally from a 17-point halftime deficit was the biggest comeback by the Pokes since 2006 when OSU erased a 17-0 halftime deficit at Kansas to post a 42-32 win.
• OSU won its first road game against a top-10 opponent since 2008 at No. 3 Missouri.
• The victory was OSU's sixth straight against a Texas member of the Big 12 Conference.
• The win was OSU's first in a game featuring two top-10 teams since the No. 9 Cowboys knocked off No. 7 South Carolina in the 1984 Gator Bowl.
• The win was OSU's seventh all-time on the road against a member of the AP top 10.
• The win OSU's fourth straight over Texas A&M.
National POWs
Two Cowboys, quarterback Brandon Weeden and defensive back Brodrick Brown, were recognized as the national offensive (Walter Camp) and defensive players (Lott IMPAT) players of the week for their efforts at Texas A&M. Details on Weeden's effort can be found throughout this update. Brown had eight tackles, an interception, and two pass break-ups against the Aggies. His last deflection, on A&M's final drive, landed in the hands of linebacker James Thomas and clinched the OSU victory.
The Perfect Club
As the football season rolls into the second Saturday of October, Oklahoma State finds itself as one of 15 undefeated teams remaining in the FBS level of college football.
A Rare Start
Opening a season with a 4-0 start is still a somewhat rare occurrence in Stillwater. Oklahoma State has accomplished the feat just 15 times in its history. However, OSU has opened with four straight wins three times in the last four seasons (2008, 2010, 2011).
Starting 5
Oklahoma State will be looking for just the 10th 5-0 start in school history when the Jayhawks visit Boone Pickens Stadium. OSU will also be looking to start a season 5-0 for the third time in four seasons after accomplishing the feat in 2008 and 2010.
Conference Getaways
Since 1960, OSU's first season of competition in the Big Eight Conference, the Cowboys have opened conference play with two straight wins just seven times. Three of those seven 2-0 starts have come in the last three seasons as OSU opened 2-0 in the league in 2010, 2009 and 2008. OSU also accomplished the feat in 2004, 1997, 1972 and 1964.
Speaking Of The Big 12
Oklahoma State is now 13-4 in Big 12 play since the beginning of the 2009 season. That record is the best in the conference during that time frame.
Turnover Tradition
Every year under Bill Young the OSU defense has improved its takeaway number. In 2010 OSU ended the year with 34 takeaways to rank fifth in the country. The 2011 Cowboys started slowly in that department with just three turnovers forced through the first two games, including just one interception. Over the last two games, however, the defense has returned to form. OSU forced 10 total turnovers at Tulsa and at Texas A&M, with seven interceptions. OSU enters the Kansas game seventh nationally with 13 turnovers forced through four games and OSU is fourth nationally with eight INTs. OSU leads the Big 12 in both categories.
NCAA Chart Watching
Oklahoma State finished the 2010 season second nationally in passing yards and third nationally in total offense. After four games in 2011, the Cowboys are second nationally in passing offense (415.5 yards), third nationally in total offense (571.6) and sixth nationally in scoring (46.8).
Building A Tradition
Under Mike Gundy, OSU continues to grow as a program. Since the opening of the 2008 season, the Cowboys are 33-10. That win total is the best ever for OSU over a three-year-plus period and the Cowboys are No. 10 nationally (tied) in wins during that time.
Gundy in Perspective
Head coach Mike Gundy is in his seventh season as head coach at his alma mater with a blossoming resume in Stillwater. He is 51-29 and is clearly building a sustained period of success at OSU.
• OSU was 12-15 under Gundy after 27 games, but has gone 39-14 since, including a 33-10 record over the last 43 games and 24-6 over the last 30.
• Gundy's 51 wins at OSU rank third all-time behind only Jim Lookabaugh (58-41-6) and Gundy's college coach, Pat Jones (62-60-3).
• Gundy's .638 winning percentage is third best at OSU. That OSU chart is topped by Hall-of-Famer Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf (.735).
• Perhaps the most impressive part of Gundy's tenure at OSU is that he has built the program with three different offensive coordinators and three different defensive coordinators. Three of his former assistants have left Oklahoma State to become head coaches (Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia, Larry Fedora at Southern Miss and Tim Beckman at Toledo).
• Under Gundy, OSU has gone to five straight bowl games (an OSU first) and won at least seven games in six straight seasons (another school first) and at least nine games in three straight seasons (yet another first).
• Under Gundy, OSU has reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll for a school-best fourth straight season.
Gundy Gets To 50
The Tulsa victory was the 50th for Mike Gundy as OSU's head coach. He is just the third Cowboy boss to reach that milestone and the first to accomplish the feat since Pat Jones won his 50th game on Sept. 15, 1990, over Northern Iowa. It was Jones' 73rd game as the OSU boss. Jim Lookabaugh, the other head coach to reach 50 wins, got to the mark in 89 games. Gundy's 50th win came in his 79th game.
Home in the Polls
Oklahoma State has been in the top 10 each week of the 2011 season. At no time in its history has Oklahoma State been more visible in the national polls than during the Mike Gundy era.
•The Kansas game will mark OSU's 14th straight as a member of the Associated Press top 25.
•Including this week, OSU has been ranked by the AP 36 times in its last 40 games, including 22 games as a member of the top 15.
• Oklahoma State began the 2009 season No. 9 in the AP for its highest preseason ranking ever. OSU tied that preseason ranking in 2011. They are the only two preseason top 10 appearances in school history.
• In 2010, the Cowboys finished No. 10 in the USA Today poll, marking the first time that OSU closed a season in the top 10 of a major poll since 1984 when OSU was seventh in the final AP vote.
• The highest the Cowboys have been ranked under Gundy came in the second week of 2009 when OSU reached No. 5 in the AP. OSU has tied that high-water mark, checking in at No. 5, after the win at Texas A&M.
• Under Gundy, OSU is 25-10 as a member of the top 25.
• Under Gundy, OSU has spent 14 weeks (including weeks in which OSU was idle) in the top 10. Prior to Gundy, OSU had spent just 25 weeks in the top 10 of the AP poll in its history. The Cowboys hold an all-time record of 21-9 when ranked in the top 10.
• Under Mike Gundy, OSU has cracked the Associated Press top 10 in four straight seasons, which had never happened at Oklahoma State.
• The Kansas game will mark OSU's fifth straight as a member of the AP top 10. OSU achieved that feat just once before in its history. During the second half of the 1984 season OSU never fell below No. 10 in the AP and climbed as high as third.
Streaking in Stillwater
OSU will carry several team and individual streaks into the Kansas game:
• Brandon Weeden has tossed at least one touchdown pass in 17 straight games.
• Josh Cooper has at least one catch in 21 straight games.
• Safety Markelle Martin has started 28 straight games to lead the team.
• Sophomore running back Jeremy Smith has rushed for a touchdown in eight straight games.
• OSU has completed a pass of at least 31 yards in 12 straight games.
Back In Blackmon
To say that Justin Blackmon continues to be a problem for opposing defenses is an understatement. He continued to add to his NCAA record against Arizona with his 14th straight game with at least 100 receiving yards with his 128-yard, two-TD effort against Arizona. That streak ended with his seven-catch, 57-yard, one-TD night against Tulsa. A quick look at Blackmon over the last 16 games of his career:
• He has 24 receiving TDs over the last 16 games, along with a special teams touchdown and a rushing TD.
• He has a reception of at least 20 yards in 16 straight games.
• Thirteen of his 23 TD catches have covered at least 20 yards.
• On eight occasions he has reached double figures in catches.
• In seven of the 16 games he has reached at least 140 yards in receiving.
• He has 140 catches over the last 16 games.
Cooper Is A Keeper
Senior receiver Josh Cooper is coming off the best game of his Cowboy career. The Mustang senior caught a career-best 11 passes for a career-best 123 yards at Texas A&M. His 31-yard reception in College Station was the longest of the day for OSU and the second longest of Cooper's career. It was the third 100-yard game of his career and moved him up to No. 13 on OSU's all-time receiving yards list.
The Breakout Game
Folks in the Big 12 region have become familiar with the weekly level of play of OSU senior Brandon Weeden - the reigning first-team all-league quarterback. The comeback at Texas A&M launched Weeden onto the national stage as he led the Cowboys from 17 points down at the half to a win while setting three school records in the process. Weeden earned national player of the week honors (Walter Camp) for his efforts in the 30-29 victory as well as Big 12 honors. At Texas A&M Weeden:
• Led OSU on scoring drives on five of the team's first six possessions in the second half with the lone exception a sure-fire TD pass that was fumbled out of the end zone for a safety
• Completed 30-of-37 passes for 284 yards and two scores after halftime
• Completed passes to 11 different receivers
• Set school single-game records for completions (47), attempts (60) and yards (438)
• Improved his record as a starter to 15-2, including 8-0 away from Stillwater
Weeden Watching
Brandon Weeden enters the Kansas game second nationally with 398 passing yards per game. He is second in the country in total offense (380.75 per game). He is the only quarterback in the country to pass for at least 360 yards every game this season. More Weeden numbers:
• He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 17 straight games (all 17 of his career starts).
• He has at least two TD passes in 15 of his 17 starts.
• He cracked the 6,000-yard mark in career passing against A&M and now has 6,125 for his career.
The OSU Top 10
If the U.S. Government were to get involved, they might designate Brandon Weeden as a monopoly. The Edmond senior now has six of the top 10 passing games in school history and has set the single-game high twice in the last 12 months. He has also moved up to third all-time at OSU in career passing yards.
The New J.R.
A year ago, then-freshman running back Joseph Randle was intriguing. As a backup to All-American Kendall Hunter, he was almost as effective in the passing game (427 receiving yards) as he was rushing the ball (452 yards). Against Arizona, he nearly made history with that versatility. Randle rushed for 121 yards and two scores (with an 8.1-yard average). He also caught nine passes for 99 yards, including a 63-yarder. He would have joined Gerald Hudson as the only OSU players to reach 100 yards in rushing and receiving in the same game.
Randle To Date
Sophomore running back Joseph Randle enters the KU game No. 16 nationally and third in the Big 12 in rushing with 115.3 yards per game (5.55 yards per carry).
Sharp Performance
The right leg of Quinn Sharp has become so valuable to the Cowboys, it might deserve its own seat on team charters. In his first season of handling all of the Cowboy kicking chores, Sharp has been among the nation's best at just about everything.
• He hasn't punted enough times to qualify for the NCAA statistical rankings, but his average of 47.9 yards would be fourth nationally.
• He is No. 3 nationally in field goals, having converted 9-of-10, including a 46-yarder against Louisiana.
• He leads the nation with 22 touchbacks on kickoffs. He has led the country in that category each of the past two seasons.
• Sharp is No. 7 nationally in scoring with 12.3 points per game.
Road Gains
The win in College Station was OSU's 11th in its last 12 road games. OSU's current seven-game road winning streak is the third longest in the country and the second longest in OSU history. The Cowboys are 13-3 on the road since the beginning of the 2008 season.
Longest Active Road Win Streaks
1. Virginia Tech - 10
2. Oregon - 8
3. Oklahoma State - 7
Gilbert Is Gaining
Sophomore just Gilbert gave the Cowboys their first lead at Tulsa with a 96-yard first-quarter kickoff return for a score. In his first 16 college games, he had three kickoff returns for touchdowns to rank fourth among all active NCAA players (he is the highest ranking sophomore on that list). Another return for a touchdown will tie him with Perrish Cox for the OSU career record. Incidentally, Gilbert also had an interception against Tulsa. Gilbert had a kickoff return for a TD wiped out b penalty at Texas A&M.
The Wilson Award
Senior Wilson Youman absolutely has to be one of the busiest players in college football. In each of the first two games of the season, he has seen action on offense, defense and special teams. The senior played on offense as a tight end, on defense as a defensive end and on the special teams kicking units. Since arriving on campus, Youman has bounced between offense and defense but 2011 is the first time he saw game action on both sides of the ball in the same game.
300-100-100-100
Oklahoma State's offensive numbers in the Louisiana were highlighted by the combination of a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers for just the third time in school history - all in the last 13 games. Against Louisiana, Brandon Weeden passed for 388 yards (the ninth best game in OSU history), Joseph Randle rushed for 129 yards, Justin Blackmon had 144 receiving yards and Tracy Moore had 112 receiving yards. The previous 300-100-100-100 combos came in 2010 against Troy and Nebraska and featured Weeden, Blackmon, Josh Cooper and Kendall Hunter accomplishing the trick.
Three Diplomas
Three members of the Cowboy roster, quarterback Brandon Weeden (business), center Grant Garner (business management), and defensive end Jamie Blatnick (health promotions) have already earned their degrees at Oklahoma State.
Uniform Note
Oklahoma State will sport a new look in 2011 - actually 48 new looks. OSU has partnered with Nike this season to play in Nike Pro Combat uniforms. OSU will have its choice of 48 different combinations with helmets of white, black and gray, jerseys of black, gray and orange (for home games), and pants that are black, white, orange or gray.
Quick Recap
Oklahoma State is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. In 2010, the Cowboys, despite being picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 South, set a school record for wins with their 11-2 record. They won 10 regular-season games for the first time ever, tied for the Big 12 South title for the first time and went undefeated on the road for the first time since 1945. OSU finished in the top 10 of the national polls (No. 10 in USA Today) for the first time since 1984.
