Oklahoma State University Athletics
Game Notes - Oklahoma State hosts Oklahoma
November 27, 2011 | Cowboy Football
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Nov. 27, 2011
No. 13/11 Oklahoma at No. 3/5 Oklahoma State
Dec. 3, 2011 :: 7 p.m. CT :: Boone Pickens Stadium (60,218 capacity)
TV: ABC (Announcers TBD)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb and Robert Allen)
National Radio: Touchdown Radio Network (Roxy Bernstein & Gino Torretta)
Internet: okstate.com
Satellite Radio: Sirius Channel 85 and XM Channel 85
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It's A Wrap
The Oklahoma State Cowboys close the 2011 regular season Saturday when they host the Oklahoma Sooners in Boone Pickens Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with ABC on hand to televise. The Cowboys enter the game 10-1 overall and 7-1 in Big 12 play. OSU is coming off its first loss of the season, a double overtime setback at Iowa State on Nov. 18. OSU will have had a 15-day break between games by the time the Sooners hit town. Oklahoma is 9-2 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play. The Sooners are coming off a win over Iowa State.
What's At Stake
Oklahoma State has clinched at least a share of its first conference title since 1976 with its 7-1 Big 12 record. A win over OU would mean an outright title for the Cowboys. An OSU loss would mean OSU and OU (and possibly Kansas State) would share the league title in 2011. The two state schools were part of a three-way tie for the Big 12 South title last season, along with Texas A&M. Oklahoma advanced to the Big 12 championship game via tiebreaker in 2010.
One More Win Would...
Another victory in 2011 would clinch the second 11-win season in OSU history and it would give OSU 11 wins two straight seasons as the Cowboys were 11-2 in 2010. OSU has never registered 11 wins during the regular season. One more victory would also be the 40th in the career of OSU's seniors.
• OSU has won 10 games in a season for the fifth time in school history and for the second straight year.
• OSU has won 10 games in two straight seasons for just the second time and for the first time since 1987 and 1988 (when Mike Gundy was the Cowboy quarterback).
• OSU has 10 regular season wins for the second straight season and for the second time in school history.
One More Win For Gundy...
Another win for head coach Mike Gundy would be the 58th of his career. It would tie him for second all-time at OSU with another alum, Jim Lookabaugh.
Wins By OSU Head Coaches
1. Pat Jones - 62
2. Jim Lookabaugh - 58
3. Mike Gundy - 57
Television Info
Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will do battle on ABC. It will be OSU's sixth appearance of the season on ABC. ABC is televising Bedlam to a national audience for the fourth straight year and for the third time in four years the game will be played in prime time.
BCS Update
Oklahoma State checks in at No. 3 in the latest BCS rankings, announced Sunday evening. OSU has never been below No. 6 in the BCS standings in 2011 and spent two weeks at a school-best No. 2 before the loss at Iowa State.
Ballot Box
Oklahoma State checks in at No. 3 in this week's Associated Press poll and No. 5 in the USA Today coaches poll as OSU tries to complete a wire-to-wire stay in the top 10 for the first time in school history.
As The Turnstiles...Um...Turn
Oklahoma State's 2011 season will be a record-breaking one at the box office. The school set a stadium record when 58,895 fans attended the Kansas State game. This season, OSU has hosted the largest, third (Baylor), fourth (Kansas), eighth (Louisiana) and ninth (Arizona) largest crowds in school history. The last three home games have provided three of the top four home crowds in school history. OSU's record for average attendance of 53,719 was set in 2009. This season, through five home dates, OSU is averaging 57,047 per home date.
Series Stuff
The Bedlam Series dates back to 1904 - three years before Oklahoma became a state. The Sooners hold an 81-17-7 lead. Some series notes...
• Oklahoma has won eight straight in the series after an eight-year period in which OSU held a 5-3 advantage.
• Oklahoma State and Texas are the only two Big 12 schools to have beaten Bob Stoops in consecutive seasons since the league was formed.
• In two of the last three meetings, OSU has scored 41 points against the Sooners. Those games represent OSU's second highest point total in the series.
Drama In Stillwater
The Bedlam games in Stillwater have become classic television.
• The cumulative score for the last seven Bedlam games in Stillwater: OU 239, OSU 231.
• Three of those seven games have been decided by six points or less.
• The largest margin of victory over the last seven games in Stillwater is OU's 61-41 win in 2008. That game was 44-41 with eight minutes remaining.
Ranking Roundup
For the fifth time in history, and the third straight year, Oklahoma State will enter the Bedlam game as the higher ranked team. OSU is 2-2 in those previous matchups.
The Last Meeting
Oklahoma was a 47-41 winner in last year's Bedlam game. The game was tied at 24 after three quarters. The game saw 37 points scored over the last 7:38 of the fourth period, including 31 points over the last 4:06.
• Oklahoma ran an astounding 107 plays to OSU's 66, although OSU's 5.7 yards per snap edged OU's 5.5.
• Justin Blackmon, despite being hobbled by an ankle injury, had eight receptions for 105 yards with a touchdown.
• Brandon Weeden passed for 257 yards and two scores, and was intercepted three times.
• Justin Gilbert had an 89-yard kickoff return for a score in the final frantic minutes of the game.
• Cowboy linebacker Shaun Lewis had 12 tackles, a tackle for a loss, and two interceptions, one of which he turned 52 yards for OSU's first score.
So Long Seniors
Oklahoma State will bid farewell to the winningest class in school history with the departure of the 2011 seniors. The class has never won less than nine games in a season. The have a 39-11 record and in 2010 won a share of the Big 12 South championship. In 2011, they have earned at least a share of the Big 12 championship. The senior class is listed at 17 with the news that offensive lineman and lost starter Jonathan Rush has been granted a sixth year of eligibility after he lost 2011 (his senior season) to injury.
2011 Cowboy Seniors
Levy Adcock OL 2010 first-team All-Big 12...All-America candidate
Hubert Anyiam WR Despite injuries, will end his career among OSU's all-time leading receivers
Jamie Blatnick DE Three-year starter having his best season
Colton Chelf WR Originally a walk-on who has become a contributor on record-setting offenses
Josh Cooper WR One of the top receivers in OSU history
Jarrod Fields DB Special teams contributor and a player favorite
Grant Garner C Two-year starter and team's most underrated player
Kyle Hale S Becoming a big special teams contributor
Ryan Howard QB Completing his only season in Stillwater
Richetti Jones DE Four-year contributor in his first year as a starter
Casey LaBrue OL Has performed well as Garner's backup
Markelle Martin S Ringleader of the Cowboy defense the past two seasons
Nick Martinez OL Versatile o-lineman who started at two different spots
Nehemiah Mundy DB Transfer from UNLV
James Thomas LB Playmaker for the defense and part-time starter
Brandon Weeden QB Record-setting Cowboy
Wilson Youman DL Contributor on both sides of the ball during his career
Scoreboard Watching
OSU heads into OU game second nationally in scoring at 49.8 points per game. OSU has scored at least 59 points five times this season, including three times against Big 12 opponents.
Leaders of Men
With an offense that is scoring nearly 50 points per game, it isn't a surprise that Cowboys are all over the national leader board.
• Brandon Weeden is second nationally with 32.3 completions per game.
• Brandon Weeden is second nationally with 373.7 passing yards per game.
• Weeden is third nationally in total passing yards (4,111).
• Weeden's completion percentage of 73.1 percent is fourth in the country.
• Weeden's 34 touchdown passes are fifth nationally.
• Weeden is fourth nationally in total offense (365.09 yards per game).
• Justin Blackmon is second nationally with 9.36 catches per game.
• Blackmon is second nationally with 15 touchdown catches (just one off the national lead).
• Blackmon's 112.82 receiving yards per game ranks eighth nationally.
• Running back Joseph Randle is fourth (12.6) and kicker Quinn Sharp is seventh (10.9) in scoring.
Defense and Special Teams, Too
OSU also has national leaders on the defensive side.
• Junior corner Brodrick Brown is second nationally with 1.56 passes defended per game (17 for the season).
• Brown and senior linebacker James Thomas are tied for No. 17 nationally with .36 interceptions per game. Both players have four this season.
• Sophomore safety Daytawion Lowe is No. 15 with 5.64 solo tackles per game.
• Quinn Sharp is averaging 47.6 yards per punt. That average would lead the nation if he had enough punts to qualify for the NCAA statistics.
• Justin Gilbert is No. 19 nationally, averaging 26.9 yards per kickoff return.
• Gilbert is second nationally with two kickoff returns for TDs this season.
Team Seasonal Watch
Oklahoma State's record-breaking 2011 season has OSU on the verge of setting new single-season records:
• The school record for pass attempts in a season was set last year with 532. OSU enters the Bedlam game with 517.
• OSU has already set a new single-season record with 375 completions in '11. The old record of 357 was set last year.
• The record for passing yards in a season is 4,496 set last year. The Cowboys have 4,418 this season.
• The 2011 mark for average yards per game of 562.2 will be a school record if it is maintained. The old record of 520.2 was set last season.
• The school record for touchdowns in a season was set in 1988 with 78. The current Cowboys have 71 with two games to play.
• The school record for points in a season is 584 set in 1988. The 2011 squad has 548.
• The school record for yards per play of 7.06 was set in 1988. The current team averages 7.2 yards per snap.
• The school record for completion percentage is 67.1 set last season. The 2011 team is completing 72.5 percent of its passes.
Individual Record Watch
The Cowboys are also ripping through the record book as individuals:
• Brandon Weeden has set a new record with 355 completed passes. He broke his own record of 342 set last season.
• Weeden has passed for 4,111 yards. He needs 167 yards to break the mark of 4,277 he set last season.
• Weeden is currently completing 73.05 percent of his passes. The school record of 66.9 percent was set by him last season.
• The school record for total offense was set by Weeden last season (4,209). He currently has 4,016 yards of total offense.
• Justin Blackmon has 103 catches. He set the current school record of 111 last season.
• Blackmon has 15 touchdown catches. He set the school record last year with 20.
• Quinn Sharp's current punting average of 47.6 yards is better than his existing school record of 46.2 set last season.
The Rest of the Story
The Cowboy defense spends a lot of time answering questions because of statistics. OSU enters the Oklahoma game No. 93 in the country in rushing defense, No. 102 in passing defense and No. 107 in total defense. Here are some other numbers:
• The OSU defense is second in the country with 21 interceptions.
• The OSU defense is sixth in the country with 16 fumble recoveries.
• The Cowboys lead the country with 37 forced turnovers.
• OSU is No. 22 nationally with 7.2 tackles for loss per game.
• Opponents have attempted 25 fourth down conversions against OSU, second most in America.
A High Number Worth Noting
Due to the quick-strike nature of the offense, the Cowboy defense has been on the field for 925 snaps through 11 games. To put that number in perspective, the top-ranked Alabama defense has been on the field for just 676 plays in one more game.
Winning Time
Oklahoma State's defense has held eight of its 11 opponents to one offensive touchdown or less in first halves this season. Three of OSU's opponents have been shutout at halftime. As a result, OSU has outscored the opposition in first-half play, 318-101.
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. Over the last nine games, the defense has forced 34 turnovers, highlighted by 20 interceptions. OSU enters the OU game second nationally to LSU in turnover margin and first in forced turnovers (37).
NCAA Turnover Margin Leaders
1. LSU - 1.58
2. Oklahoma State - 1.45
3. Wyoming - 1.36
Advantage Cowboys
Oklahoma State has turned around its turnover story since September. The Cowboys were on the negative side of the ledger after two weeks with four turnovers committed and just three gained. However, over the last nine games, OSU has won the turnover battle 34-17. Over those games (Tulsa, Texas A&M, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Baylor, K-State, Texas Tech and Iowa State), OSU has scored 150 points after gaining a turnover.
Group Picking
At Iowa State, linebacker Alex Elkins became the 11th Cowboy this season to intercept a pass with his pick at Texas Tech. The last time OSU had 11 players with an interception in the same season was in 1983 (11).
The Turnover Gang
Five Cowboys have led OSU's turnover assault on the opposition with a total of 21 between them.
• Junior CB Brodrick Brown has intercepted four passes and recovered two fumbles and broken up 13 passes.
• Sophomore DB Justin Gilbert has three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
• Senior linebacker James Thomas has four interceptions, a fumble recovery and two forced fumble.
• Senior defensive end Richetti Jones has three forced fumbles, two recoveries and an interception.
• Linebacker Shaun Lewis has two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Defensive Footnotes
• OSU allowed just 101 yards in the first half against Louisiana while sprinting to a 34-10 lead. The Cajuns ended the game with 320 yards after OSU began substituting liberally.
• OSU jetted to a 21-0 halftime lead against Arizona and cruised to the win. The Wildcats had just 168 yards during the decisive first half. Arizona ended the game with 439 yards in a 37-14 loss.
• OSU jumped to a 31-6 halftime lead at Tulsa and yielded just 130 yards during the process. OSU went deep into its bench during the second half and TU finished with 482 yards.
• OSU limited Texas A&M to just 170 yards after halftime when OSU was outscoring the Aggies by a 27-9 count in the comeback win.
• Kansas had just 186 halftime yards against OSU and trailed 56-7. The Jayhawks finished with 478 total yards.
• The Cowboys gave up 26 points at Texas, but two came on a safety, seven came on a kickoff return and seven more came on a 15-yard drive following a turnover.
• OSU forced four turnovers at Missouri and stopped another drive on downs. The Cowboys allowed just seven points in the second half at Columbia.
• Against OSU, Baylor was shut out at halftime for the first time since its 2010 game at OSU. The Bears scored 24 points, but 21 came in the fourth quarter (which OSU entered with a 49-3 lead). Baylor also had 193 yards of offense in the fourth quarter.
• Texas Tech did not score an offensive touchdown and did not have a snap in the red zone while generating just 270 yards of total offense.
Building a Tradition
Under Mike Gundy, OSU continues to grow as a program. Since the opening of the 2008 season, the Cowboys are 39-11. That win total is the best ever for OSU over a three-year-plus period and the Cowboys are ninth nationally in wins during that time.
Most Wins Since 2008
1. Boise State 48
2. Alabama 47
3. TCU 45
4. Oregon 42
Virginia Tech 42
6. Oklahoma 41
7. LSU 40
Utah 40
9. Oklahoma State 39
Ohio State 39
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 57-30 and clearly building a sustained period of success at OSU.
• OSU was 12-15 under Gundy after 27 games, but has gone 45-15 since, including 39-11 over the last 50 games, 30-7 over the last 37 and 21-3 over the last 24.
• Gundy's 57 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 .655 winning percentage is second 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 four straight seasons (yet another first).
• Under Gundy, OSU has reached the top 10 of the AP poll for a school-best fourth straight season.
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 OU game will mark OSU's 21st straight as a member of the Associated Press top 25.
• Including this week, OSU has been ranked by the AP 43 times in its last 47 games, including 28 games as a member of the top 15.
• Oklahoma State began the 2009 and 2011 seasons ninth in the AP poll. Those 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 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 is the No. 2 spot that the Pokes held for two weeks in 2011.
• Under Gundy, OSU is 31-11 as a member of the top 25.
• Under Gundy, OSU has spent 22 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 27-10 when ranked in the top 10.
• Under Gundy, OSU has cracked the Associated Press top 10 in four straight seasons -an OSU first.
• The OU game will be OSU's 12th in a row as a member of the AP top 10 - an OSU first.
• Mike Gundy has beaten at least one ranked team every year as head coach.
Ranked Repercussions
Kansas State became the third member of the AP top 25 to lose to Oklahoma State this season. It's the first time OSU has won three games over ranked opponents in the same season since the 1976 Big Eight championship team knocked off four ranked opponents.
Streaking in Stillwater
OSU will carry several team and individual streaks into the OU game:
• Brandon Weeden has tossed at least one touchdown pass in 24 straight games. He broke OSU's school record for that category at Missouri. The old mark of 19 was held by Josh Fields.
• Josh Cooper has at least one catch in 27 straight games.
• Safety Markelle Martin has started 35 straight games to lead the team.
• OSU has completed a pass of at least 31 yards in 19 straight games.
Back in Blackmon
Justin Blackmon, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner and recently named finalist for this year's honor, has been strong down the stretch for the Cowboys. His numbers aren't quite up to last year's record-breaking campaign. Part of the drop off can be attributed to playing time. Blackmon played less than a half against Missouri (injury) and Kansas (OSU was up 56-7 at halftime). His playing time was also limited against Tulsa and Texas A&M due to big leads. He still is authoring another very impressive season.
• Over the last four games, Blackmon has 42 catches covering 579 yards and seven touchdowns. He now has 35 touchdown catches in his last 23 games.
• He set an NCAA record with 14 straight games with at least 100 receiving yards. That streak ended with his seven-catch, 57-yard, one-TD night against Tulsa earlier this season.
• On 11 occasions he has reached double figures in catches.
• He has 214 catches over the last 23 games.
Big Play Blackmon
Justin Blackmon's big play scores have returned as well. One of his touchdowns in Lubbock went for 48 yards. Against, Kansas State he had a 54-yard TD grab and at Iowa State he had a 27-yard TD reception.
The Cooper Streak
After being held to one reception over two games due to injury (one catch vs. Baylor and a DNP vs. K-State), OSU senior receiver Josh Cooper has returned to the lineup with a bang. He has reached 100 receiving yards in consecutive games (Texas Tech and Iowa State) for the first time in his career. The Iowa State totals of 13 catches for 128 yards were both career highs. Cooper is now eighth all-time at OSU with 1,604 receiving yards.
Weeden Watching
Brandon Weeden is forcing his way into the national conversation with his play on the field. The reigning first-team All-Big 12 quarterback was named the Walter Camp national offensive player of the week after leading his team back from a 20-3 halftime deficit to a win at Texas A&M. He is 21-3 as a starter, including 11-1 away from Boone Pickens Stadium.
Weeden Milestones
• He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 24 straight games (all 24 of his career starts).
• He has at least two TD passes in 21 of his 24 starts.
• Four times in his career he has tossed at least five touchdown passes (including at Texas Tech in 2011).
• He has now passed for 8,644 yards in his career.
• Weeden's 4,111 passing yards in 2011 already rank as the second best single-season total in OSU history, behind only his 4,277 yards last year.
• His 34 TD passes in 2011 tie the school record he set last season.
• At Texas Tech, Weeden set a new OSU record with his 69 career touchdowns passes and he passed his head coach in career passing yards and career total offense. He now has 72 TD passes for his career.
Nationally Speaking
Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden can make a case for national consideration based on any number of measurable factors, including his record as a starting quarterback (21-3).
• In Big 12 play, Weeden has 26 touchdown passes and six interceptions. That body of work includes less than one half of play against Kansas and less than three quarters at Texas Tech due to big Cowboy leads.
• He is averaging 373.3 passing yards per game.
• Weeden is the only player in the top 10 in the country in passing efficiency (No. 8) with at least 470 attempts. Weeden has 487.
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 would lead the nation in punting if he had enough attempts to qualify with an average of 47.6 yards.
• Sharp has 18 punts this season in excess of 50 yards and has at least one punt of 51 yards in every game except Texas Tech.
• He has hit 17 of his 20 field-goal attempts.
• He leads the nation with 50 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 10.91 points per game and set a school record by going 10-for-10 on extra point tries against Kansas.
What Can Brown Do?
Brodrick Brown continues to display an all-conference level of play. The player who turned in the 2010 defensive play of the year with his leaping re-routing of a Landry Jones pass to OSU teammate Shaun Lewis in Bedlam, is No. 2 nationally with 17 passes defended this season, and he is No. 17 nationally with four interceptions. He picked off a pass against Kansas and at Texas A&M he broke up a pass on the Aggies' final snap of the game that linebacker James Thomas intercepted for the game-clincher.
Blatnick The Bully
Senior defensive end Jamie Blatnick might be playing the best football of his Cowboy career. At Texas he set a career high with nine tackles and had four tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass-break up and was named Big 12 player of the week. That performance came on the heels of his Kansas game in which he had four tackles, a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. At Missouri, Blatnick had five tackles, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble and two pass deflections that resulted in interceptions. Blatnick now ranks No. 11 all-time at OSU with 15 career sacks. He entered the season with eight career sacks.
Shaun Shines
Shaun Lewis may touch the ball more than any defensive player in the country. He has just 17 career starts and yet he has five interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns), four fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles. And his plays have been big...
• His 28-yard interception return vs. Texas A&M in 2010 set the stage for Dan Bailey's walk-off game-winning field goal.
• He picked off a Landry Jones pass in last year's Oklahoma game and returned it 52 yards for OSU's first score.
• His interception at Missouri set up an OSU touchdown and his fumble recovery in Columbia stopped Missouri in the red zone.
• He had a 70-yard interception return at Iowa State last time out for OSU's first score of the game and deflected a pass that was intercepted by Alex Elkins near the end of regulation.
Youman the Defender
Senior Wilson Youman absolutely has to be one of the busiest players in college football. This 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 has seen game action on both sides of the ball in the same game. He has two pass receptions for six yards and against Texas he picked up his first sack of the season. At Missouri, he turned in the best game of his defensive career with seven tackles to lead OSU's down linemen. He had two tackles for loss, caused a fumble that ended a Missouri drive in the red zone and he deflected a pass that was intercepted.
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 sports a new look in 2011 - actually 48 new looks. OSU has partnered with Nike this season to play in Nike Pro Combat uniforms. OSU has 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. A player panel has made the game selections for the entire season.
Grab Bag
• Twenty-two Cowboys have a tackle for a loss this season.
• Thirteen Cowboys have a sack this season.
• Eleven Cowboys have intercepted a pass this season.
• James Thomas had one career interception in three years before picking off four so far this season.
• Defensive end Jamie Blatnick has 10.5 tackles for loss this season. No OSU tackle had more than 4.0 TFLs all of last season.
• Thirteen Cowboys have scored a touchdown this season.
