Oklahoma State University Athletics
Game Notes - Cowboys Battle Arizona In Tucson
September 02, 2012 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 2, 2012
Complete Release in PDF Format
Oklahoma State at Arizona
Sept. 8, 2012 :: 9:30 p.m. CT :: Arizona Stadium (56,000 cap.)
TV: Pac-12 Network (Kevin Calabro, Glenn Parker and Ryan Nece)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb and Robert Allen)
National Radio: TBA
Internet: okstate.com
Satellite Radio: Sirius Ch. 93
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Tucson Time
The Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-0) hit the road for the first time in 2012 when they travel to Tucson to face the Arizona Wildcats (1-0) Saturday night in Arizona Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. central (7:30 p.m. in Tucson).
On The Air
The Cowboys and Wildcats will be televised on the new Pac-12 Network. Check local listings for availability. Calling the action will be Kevin Calabro, with Glenn Parker providing analysis and Ryan Nece reporting from the sidelines.
Setting The Series
OSU and Arizona are meeting for the third straight season and for the ninth time overall. The Cowboys hold a 5-3 series advantage, thanks to wins in 2010 and 2011. Prior to the 2010 Alamo Bowl, the two schools had not met since World War II. Some series notes...
• Arizona and Oklahoma State first met in 1931 and the series was deadlocked at 3-3 after six meetings from 1931 through 1942.
• This week's game marks OSU's first visit to Tucson since 1942.
• OSU has lost three of its four games in Tucson.
• Over the last two seasons, (2011 in Stillwater and the 2010 Alamo Bowl) Oklahoma State's two wins over the Wildcats have been by a combined score of 73-24.
• OSU is 5-4 all-time in games played in the Grand Canyon State. That total includes a 1-3 mark against Arizona in Tucson, 1-1 in Tempe against Arizona State and 3-0 in Arizona bowl games (2-0 in the Fiesta Bowl and 1-0 in the Insight Bowl).
The Last Two Years
Oklahoma State and Arizona resurrected a long-dormant rivalry when they were paired together in the 2010 Alamo Bowl. That game was followed by the previously scheduled home-and-home series that concludes Saturday night in Tucson. Some notes from the last two meetings.
• Oklahoma State has just four starters remaining from that Alamo Bowl game that took place in December of 2010. They are offensive linemen Jonathan Rush and Lane Taylor, defensive back Brodrick Brown and linebacker Shaun Lewis.
• Returning from last year's starting lineup vs. Arizona are Rush, Taylor, Brown and Lewis, along with running back Joseph Randle, defensive lineman Nigel Nicholas, linebackers Caleb Lavey and Alex Elkins, corner Justin Gilbert and safety Daytawion Lowe, along with kicker/punter Quinn Sharp.
• OSU's wins over the last two seasons have been keyed by big halftime leads. In the first half of play over the last two seasons, OSU has outscored Arizona, 44-7.
• In two career games vs. Arizona, Randle has 123 rushing yards and 127 receiving yards. He has 11 career receptions against the Wildcats.
The Roster Rundown
Other career achievements by the current Cowboys against Arizona...
• Brodrick Brown has 10 tackles in two games.
• Daytawion Lowe had seven tackles in last year's game and forced a fumble.
• Tracy Moore has four receptions for 29 yards in two games.
• Quinn Sharp averaged 54 yards on three punts in last year's game.
Last Year In Stillwater
Oklahoma State put together scoring drives of 88 yards, 80 yards and 70 yards on its first three possessions of the game to jump to a 21-0 lead and an eventual 37-14 win over Arizona.
• The Cowboys generated 594 yards of total offense.
• Joseph Randle had a big game for the Cowboys with 121 rushing yards on just 15 carries and another 99 receiving yards on nine catches. He scored two touchdowns. Jeremy Smith ran for 65 yards on 11 carries with a 6-yard TD run.
• Arizona turned the ball over just one time (on a fumble). The Wildcats ran for just 41 yards, but Nick Foles passed for 398 yards on 51 attempts. He had entered the game as the nation's leading passer.
The Click Connection
Oklahoma State and Arizona have a connection in Jim Click. The former OSU football player and team captain from Altus, Okla., heads up the Jim Click Automotive Team, which has 13 dealerships in Arizona and Orange County, California. He is a fan and supporter of both programs and helped initiate the two-year football contract between the two schools. Click is a member of OSU's Alumni Hall of Fame.
Arizonan For OSU
OSU junior receiver Blake Jackson, a product of Gilbert High School who earned All-America honors at Scottsdale Community College, is the only native Arizonan on the OSU travel roster.
Oklahomans For Arizona
A couple of Arizona Wildcats, OL Cayman Bundage and OL Trent Spurgeon, hail from Oklahoma. Spurgeon was a high school teammate of OSU lineman Brandon Webb at Owasso.
The Wildcats At A Glance
Arizona is coming off a 24-17 overtime win over Toledo in its first game under Rich Rodriguez. Quarterback Matt Scott passed for 357 yards and Ka'Deem Carey rushed for 147 yards as the `Cats generated 624 yards of total offense. It was the second best offensive output in the history of Arizona football.
The Road Less Traveled
The growth of Oklahoma State's football program under Mike Gundy is perhaps best illustrated by the Cowboys' play on the road.
• In OSU's first 13 road games under Mike Gundy, the Cowboys were 2-11.
• After three seasons under Gundy, OSU was just 4-12 on the road.
• Over the last three seasons, OSU is 11-2 on the road, including 10 wins in OSU's last 11 road games. Those totals do not include neutral-site bowl wins the last two seasons.
• OSU's 10 road wins over the last two years are tied for the most in the country.
OSU And The Pac
Oklahoma State is 11-10 all-time against the Pac-12. Those totals do not include OSU's long-running series against former Big Eight and Big 12 rival Colorado.
• The Cowboys have won four straight against the Pac-12 and six of their last seven. Included in that total are bowl wins over Arizona (2010 Alamo) and No. 4 Stanford (2012 Fiesta Bowl).
• That recent run by the Cowboys has included wins over Washington State (two), Arizona (two), Stanford and UCLA.
• From 1986 through 2004, OSU played just four games against the Pac-12 Conference. However, over the last four years, OSU has played six games against the league.
• Saturday's game will be the first for OSU in a true Pac-12 venue since the Cowboys picked up a 2004 win against UCLA in the Rose Bowl. The Cowboys played Washington State in Seattle to start the 2008 season.
Two To Start
In Tucson, Oklahoma State will be looking to start a season 2-0 for the 37th time in its history, for the third straight season and for the sixth time in eight seasons under Mike Gundy.
Savannah State Recap
Oklahoma State defeated Savannah State by an 84-0 count Saturday evening in Stillwater. Some of the quick highlights from the game:
• OSU picked up its first shutout since 2000 when it blanked Northwestern State, 24-0. It was Les Miles first year as the Cowboy head coach.
• Oklahoma State used 95 players in the game.
• Three different players were used on kickoffs, seven had rushing attempts.
• Eleven players had pass receptions on just 37 attempts and 26 catches.
• The offensive starters from OSU didn't complete OSU's 35-point first quarter.
• OSU recorded its highest point total since a 117-0 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State in 1916.
• OSU tied a school record for points in a quarter with 35 in the first period against the Tigers. It also tied that record last year vs. Kansas.
• OSU set a Big 12 record with its 84 points.
• OSU set a new record with nine rushing touchdowns.
• OSU had 102 punt return yards by midway through the second period vs. Savannah State. The Cowboys had 79 punt return yards all of 2011.
• Quinn Sharp broke his own school record by going 12-for-12 in the extra-point department. His old mark was 10-for-10 against Kansas last season.
• OSU's 395 rushing yards marked the 18th-best total in school history and the most by OSU since 2008.
New In Town
Oklahoma State scored 12 touchdowns against Savannah State. Seven of those touchdowns were registered by players who had never dented the scoring column before. True freshmen Austin Hays and Brandon Sheperd had TD receptions, redshirt frosh Corey Bennett had a 10-yard run, Indiana State transfer John Goodlett had a 14-yard reception and true sophomore Desmond Roland had rushing TDs from 5, 24 and 42 yards out.
Starting With Starts
Oklahoma State broke in 10 new starters vs. Savannah State, including quarterback Wes Lunt, center Evan Epstein, o-tackle Daniel Koenig, receivers Josh Stewart, Blake Jackson and Charlie Moore, defensive linemen Calvin Barnett, James Castleman and Ryan Robinson, and safety Shamiel Gary.
• Corner Brodrick Brown started his 28th straight game for OSU's longest active streak.
• Lane Taylor started his team high 37th game.
• Against Savannah State, defensive end Cooper Bassett got his second career start. His previous start came in 2009 as a tight end.
• The offensive line now has a combined 62 career starts.
• The first-team linebackers have 47 career starts. Entering 2011, that trio had six career starts - all by Shaun Lewis.
• The secondary has 57 combined starts.
Winning Ways
Oklahoma State has been one of America's most successful college football programs since the beginning of the 2008 season.
• Since 2008, OSU is the sixth winningest program in the country with 42 victories.
• Since 2009, OSU ranks sixth with 33 wins (33-7).
• Since the beginning of the 2010 season, the Cowboys are fourth with a record of 24-3.
• Since the start of 2011, OSU is 13-1 which ties it for second nationally with Alabama. Only LSU, at 14-1, has a better record.
• Oklahoma State, Alabama and Oregon are the only three "BCS" schools in the country with at least nine wins over each of the last four seasons (not including TCU, which was competing in the Mountain West Conference at the time).
• Since 2009, Oklahoma State's 20-5 conference record is the best in the Big 12.
• Since 2007, Oklahoma State is No. 11 in the cumulative BCS Standings, according to CBS.
Gundy in Perspective
Head coach Mike Gundy is in his eighth season as head coach at his alma mater. He is 60-30 and is the reigning national coach of the year (Paul "Bear" Bryant and Eddie Robinson awards) and he was named as the 2010 Big 12 coach of the year.
• OSU was 12-15 under Gundy after 27 games, but has gone 48-15 since then, including a 33-7 record since 2009 and 24-3 since the opening of 2010.
• Gundy's 60 wins at OSU rank second all-time behind only Gundy's college coach, Pat Jones (62-60-3).
• 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 now North Carolina, and Tim Beckman at Toledo and now Illinois).
• Under Gundy, OSU has gone to six 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).
• The 23 wins during 2010 and 2011 are most ever by OSU in a two-year stretch.
• Under Gundy, OSU has reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll for a school-best four straight seasons.
Continuing Trends
Here's a look at some of last year's superlatives and how they carried over to the 2012 season opener.
• OSU averaged 387.2 passing yards per game last season to rank second nationally. The Cowboys enter the Arizona game No. 29 nationally after passing for 287 yards against Savannah State.
• OSU was third in total offense (545.85 yards per game) in `11. The 682 yards against Savannah State was the best among NCAA schools last weekend. It tied for the seventh best total in OSU history.
• OSU was second nationally in scoring last season (48.69 ppg) and leads the country in that stat after one week.
• OSU was sixth nationally with an average of 25.9 first downs per game a year ago, and had 33 last week to rank fourth.
• OSU was eighth in third-down percentage with a conversion rate of 48.9 percent in 2011. In 2012, OSU has converted seven of its 10 third-down attempts.
• The Cowboys finished No. 11 in red-zone offense (73 scores on 82 opportunities) in 2011. OSU was 9-for-9 in that category last week to lead America.
• The Cowboy defense finished second with 24 picks last season last season. OSU got two Saturday night against the Tigers.
Speaking Lunt-ly
The new starter that has gained the most attention during fall camp is quarterback Wes Lunt. The Rochester, Ill., native became the first true freshman quarterback to start an OSU season opener since at least 1950. The last true freshman QB to start a game at any point during a season was Tone Jones in 1993.
Lunt's Debut
Wes Lunt's debut was brief but very effective. Although he did not play after the first quarter, Lunt already has a new record to his credit after his 11-for-11 passing effort (for 129 yards) against the Tigers. His perfect game was the first for any Cowboy with more than 10 passing attempts in a game. Bobby Reid was the previous record holder for single-game completion percentage with at least 10 attempts. He went 9-for-10 against Baylor in 2006. Below is a quick look at the best single-game efforts by TRUE freshman quarterbacks in OSU history. Elsewhere in this release the records for all freshmen quarterbacks can be found. The most successful true freshman season in OSU history was turned in by Mike Gundy. He became a freshman All-American and set an NCAA record with 118 pass attempts to start a career without throwing an interception. That record stood until the freshman season of Robert Griffin III of Baylor.
At the Box Office
For the second straight season, OSU has set a new record for season ticket sales. The 2011 record of 48,714 was passed last weekend as the number climbed to 48,722. The total is likely to continue to grow through the Texas game (which can only be attended with a season ticket).
Home in the Polls
Oklahoma State opened the 2012 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll and USA Today coaches' poll. At no time in its history has Oklahoma State been more visible in the national polls than during the Mike Gundy era.
• The season opener against Savannah State was OSU's 23rd straight game as a member of the AP top 25.
• OSU has been in the preseason AP top 25 just five times in its history, including this season. However, 2012 marks the third time in four seasons Oklahoma State has accomplished the feat. OSU has debuted in the top 10 twice, checking at No. 9 in 2009 and 2011.
• Including the upcoming Arizona game, OSU will have been represented in the AP poll in 46 of its last 50 games. In 29 of those games, the Cowboys have been in the top 15. This week's AP poll comes out on Tuesday.
• In 2010, the Cowboys finished No. 10 in the USA Today poll and in 2011 OSU was third in the final AP and USA Today balloting. Prior to the past two seasons, OSU had not closed a season in the top 10 of a major poll since 1984 (seventh).
• The highest the Cowboys have been ranked under Gundy, and in program history, came in the Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 polls of last season when OSU peaked at No. 2 in the two major polls.
• Under Gundy, OSU is 34-11 as a member of the top 25.
• Under Gundy, OSU has spent 24 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.
Still Streaking
OSU will carry several team and individual streaks into the Arizona game.
• OSU has had a scoring drive of less than two minutes in 27 straight games.
• OSU has forced at least two turnovers in 12 straight games (dating back to last year's Thursday night affair with Arizona).
• The OSU defense has intercepted a pass in 12 straight games (also dating back to last season's 37-14 win over Arizona).
Another Scoring Streak
Oklahoma State's current 19-game streak of scoring at least 30 points leads the country. Oregon is next at 14. The last time OSU failed to reach the 30-point mark was the 24-14 win at Kansas State in 2010. It was that game in which OSU played without suspended All-America receiver Justin Blackmon.
The JJ Attack
It didn't take long for Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith to get the band back together in the Cowboy backfield. The two Cowboys combined to rush for five touchdowns (all in the first quarter) against Savannah State as OSU set a team record with nine in the game. The duo combined for 144 yards with the five touchdowns.
Smith and Randle
We will just go ahead and state that, in the humble opinion of us, the best college running back combination in history is Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas. Both are members of the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The current combo of Jeremy Smith and Joseph Randle may not be ready for Canton, but together, they may be the best 1-2 punch in college football today.
• Together, Smith and Randle rushed for 1,826 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Combined they averaged 6.2 yards per rush.
• In week two of their junior seasons, the two have combined for 2,880 career rushing yards.
• Smith averaged eight carries per game last season, but averaged 7.1 yards per rush and had runs of 74 and 63 yards.
Randle On The Run
Joseph Randle's 24 rushing touchdowns last season were the third best total in the country and he is currently seventh nationally with 28 career rushing touchdowns -- and he has just passed the halfway point of his career. For his career, Randle averages 5.996 yards per carry. His 1,775 career rushing yards have him No. 25 on OSU's all-time list.
Careers to Watch
Some other career numbers to keep an eye on as OSU heads to Tucson...
• Receiver Tracy Moore enters the season No. 21 all-time with 1,067 receiving yards.
• Justin Gilbert is now second all-time at OSU with 1,462 kickoff return yards. He trails only current San Francisco 49er Perrish Cox (2,804 yards).
New O-Line Look
The Oklahoma State offensive line looks different in 2012, but also familiar. Gone are four starters from last season, but back are three players with starting experience at OSU. Guard Lane Taylor leads the squad with 37 career starts. Jonathan Rush was a starter in 2010 and the first four games of 2011 before being sidelined due to injury. He's back to man the other guard spot. Tackle Parker Graham started four games last season at right tackle and two on the left side. The other tackle spot belongs to Daniel Koenig. The youngest of three Koenig brothers to play for OSU, he made his first career start vs. Savannah State. The center spot is manned by fifth-year senior Evan Epstein, who was another first-time starter against the Tigers.
Taylor-Made
For the second time in his career, guard Lane Taylor is the foundation of a completely rebuilt offensive line. Taylor became one of the big stories in 2009 when he came from off of the depth chart to earn a starting spot at guard. In 2010, he was the only returning offensive line starter for a young Cowboy team that went on to finish 11-2 and earn a co-championship in the Big 12 South. And in 2012, he is once again the only O-Line starter returning from the previous season.
Sacks Appeal
Since the beginning of the 2007, the Oklahoma State offensive line has been among the most productive in the country. OSU entered the 2012 season third nationally in fewest sacks allowed over the last five years with 61. OSU has allowed more than 12 sacks in a season just once in that stretch. Three of the teams in the top five of the category are service academies. None of those schools ever attempted for more than 380 passes in a season. Last year, OSU attempted 595 passes.
The Young Influence
OSU defensive coordinator and alum Bill Young, who will not make the trip this week as he recovers from a medical procedure, is in his fourth season at Oklahoma State (he shares the defensive coordinator title with Glenn Spencer). In his first three-plus seasons, OSU has gone 33-7, including 20-5 in Big 12 play. His emphasis since returning to town has been on turnovers. In Young's three seasons back in Stillwater, the Cowboys have finished No. 11, No. 5 and No. 1 nationally in turnovers forced. OSU is No. 31 nationally in that category after week one with two turnovers gained.
Three Years and Triple Digits
Oklahoma State's turnover trend, which drew its share of national publicity a season ago, is much more than a one-year phenomenon. Over the last three seasons, Oklahoma State has forced 108 turnovers -- 17 more than runner-up Oregon forced over the same time frame.
Turning On The Turnovers
OSU forced just two TOs in the opener after averaging 3.4 forced TOs per game last season. But the relatively slow start follows a trend. The Cowboys forced just three total turnovers after the first two games of last season - followed by 41 turnovers over the last 11 games.
New Pickers
Two new names were added to the turnover parade on Saturday as true freshman Ashton Lampkin and true sophomore Lyndell Johnson got their first career interceptions in the Savannah State game.
Corner Men
Oklahoma State has a dynamic duo at cornerback in senior Brodrick Brown and junior Justin Gilbert. Brown is a returning first-team All-Big 12 corner and is mentioned on three preseason watch lists. Gilbert is a returning starter (and Fiesta Bowl MVP) with physical tools that would make most college football players envious. Together, Brown and Gilbert put up impressive numbers a year ago.
• They combined to pick off 10 passes last season, the third-best total by any duo in the country. Their five picks each tied them No. 14 in America (individually speaking).
• They also combined to break up 25 passes (15 by Brown and 10 by Gilbert).
• Brown finished third in the country a year ago with 20 passes defended. Gilbert was No. 30 in that category with 25.
Three of a Different Kind
Oklahoma State returns all three starting linebackers from a year ago. The trio of Shaun Lewis, Caleb Lavey and Alex Elkins has combined for 47 career starts. Lewis and Lavey started every game last year while Elkins missed just the Tulsa game after suffering an injury against Arizona. The three players are indeed a team as each player brings something different to the table.
• Shaun Lewis is the most experienced as he enters his third year as a starter. The former freshman All-American is an absolute playmaker. In 20 career starts, Lewis has five interceptions, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and he has scored two defensive touchdowns.
• Lavey is the cerebral leader of the team in the middle of the OSU defense. He's the Cowboy player always in the right place at the right time. With one year as a starter under his belt, he is likely to take a step forward in 2012.
• Elkins is the best athlete of the trio with the combination of size and speed that gets him noticed. Despite being a returning senior starter, he is still short of actual football experience. He continues to get better with repetitions. He was second on the team a year ago with 90 tackles.
Sharp Performances
Over the last three seasons, Oklahoma State has had a Ray Guy Award winner (Matt Fodge in 2008) and a Lou Groza Award winner (Dan Bailey in 2010). In senior Quinn Sharp, the Cowboys could have the best of both worlds. Sharp is a legitimate contender for both national awards in 2012 (he has already been a semifinalist for each).
• Sharp is the reigning Big 12 special teams player of the year.
• He has already earned first-team All-America honors as both a punter and a kicker (in two different seasons).
• A year ago, Sharp was third nationally with a punting average of 46.3 yards and he was seventh nationally in field goal percentage (22-of-25).
• Sharp was fifth nationally a year ago in scoring (11.5 ppg) and tops among America's kickers.
• Sharp has led the nation in kickoff touchbacks each of the past three seasons. He has 11 after one game in 2012 to once again lead the country.
The Rest of the Story
OSU returns the heart and soul of its special teams units. Along with Sharp, OSU returns holder Wes Harlan, and snappers Connor Sinko (field goals) and Andrew Suter (punts).
Schedule Overview
Oklahoma State will face a challenging 2012 schedule, which, at this point, is redundant. According to the NCAA, which ranks its schedules based on cumulative opposition, OSU faced the nation's fourth toughest schedule a year ago. In 2012...
• OSU will face eight bowl teams from 2011, including six bowl champions.
• The Cowboys will play three teams that won 2011 conference titles (Louisiana, TCU, West Virginia).
• Oklahoma State will battle five teams that won 10 games a year ago and a sixth (Louisiana) that won nine games.
• Five OSU opponents (all Big 12 teams) are ranked in the preseason AP top 25.
The Throne Room
For the first time since 1977, Oklahoma State enters a season defending a conference title. The Cowboys claimed the Big 12 championship last year with an 8-1 conference record. The 12-1 season included a Fiesta Bowl victory over No. 4 Stanford. OSU concluded the year with its highest finish ever in the Associated Press, coaches' poll, and BCS Standings (third in all three). Oklahoma State just missed an appearance in the national championship game as Alabama edged out OSU for the second spot in BCS national championship game by the closest margin (between second and third) in the history of the process.
Seniors Among Seniors
Four members of the OSU roster enter 2012 with a college degree in hand. Center Evan Epstein has a degree in business management. Receiver Isaiah Anderson has earned his degree in education, defensive lineman Cooper Bassett has a degree in health promotion and holder Wes Harlan has a degree in business marketing.
Gundy's Tenure
Mike Gundy is just the fifth coach in Oklahoma State history to reach his eighth season as the Cowboy head coach and the first to do it since Pat Jones coached his 11th and final season in 1994. Only Gundy, Jones and Cliff Speegle have coached at least eight years at the school in the post-World War II era. Gundy's tenure is now the fifth longest in the new Big 12.
