Oklahoma State University Athletics
#TBT – 2009 Season Opener vs. Georgia
September 01, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – As Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State football team put their final preparations in for the 2016 opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana, we look back to one of the most thrilling season openers of Gundy's head coaching tenure – the 2009 opener vs. Georgia. The Pokes won the game, 24-10, but that was only part of the story.
The Buildup
It was a premium matchup between the Cowboys – ranked ninth in the nation at the time – and the Bulldogs, who were ranked 15th. It also marked the grand opening of Boone Pickens Stadium in its current state and was a rematch of the 2007 season opener, which Georgia won in Athens, 35-14.
On top of the normal pressure that comes with facing a powerhouse program such as Georgia in week one, Gundy and the Cowboys were dealing with other internal issues in the immediate buildup to the game that had an impact on how they were able to prepare. Among those issues were an injury to safety Markelle Martin, a budding star at the time, and another injury to middle linebacker Orie Lemon, who tore up his knee on the practice field just days before the game.
What most didn't know at the time of the game was that Dez Bryant, a consensus All-America selection the year before, had the cloud of an NCAA investigation hanging over him and there was very real concern internally during the week on whether or not the Cowboys most heralded player would be available that day. He was eventually cleared to play, but his unknown status in the lead-up to the game resulted in a great deal of stress put on Gundy, Bryant and the team.
The narrative going in was how would an injury-slowed Oklahoma State defense that was labeled as the weakness of the team even when healthy be able to handle the punishing, powerful Bulldogs and could the high-powered Cowboy offense live up to the lofty expectations when facing a defense as stout as Georgia's (basically the same stereotype that observers lean on whenever a Big 12 team plays an established SEC team).
Pregame
Among a group of dignitaries, Mike Gundy and Boone Pickens were involved in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to trumpet the grand opening of Boone Pickens Stadium. While fans were excited about what the future might hold in the new facility, there was some trepidation and maybe even some fear about the SEC giant that awaited the Cowboys inside the stadium that day.
After the ceremony ended but before the main stadium gates were opened to the fans, the Cowboys entered the stadium for a brief walk around the field before they went to the locker room to get dressed. The Bulldogs had also just entered the stadium and were on the field doing the same when a small group of Georgia defenders found Bryant and accosted him. Here's the cleaned-up version of what they yelled – "It's going to be a long day for you - if you even make it to the end of the game after we're finished with you." Bryant barked back with his thoughts on them and things escalated before teammates from both sides stepped in.
The Game
The Cowboys won, and they did it with defense and by being more aggressive than the Bulldogs. Here's how Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman worded it:
"Oklahoma State's defense was tired of being called the weakness of the Cowboys' football team.
All they had to do was turn on ESPN, Fox Sports Network or any other national outlet and they would hear questions about their play.
In the Cowboys' 24-10 win over Georgia at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, the OSU defense made a clear statement:
Enough already.
They answered all those questions and sent a message with a stellar performance, holding Georgia to 257 total yards, including just 95 rushing yards, and forcing three turnovers."
Of the Cowboys 24 points that day, 10 came immediately after turnovers forced by their defense. OSU limited the mighty Bulldogs to 95 yards rushing and cornerback Perrish Cox was a central figure in keeping UGA's standout receiver A.J. Green to only 52 receiving yards in the game.
While Green wasn't able to make plays for the Bulldogs, Bryant was able to deliver for the Cowboys, as he got loose for two touchdown catches – one that tied the game early and one that essentially sealed the win late.
Postgame
As the final seconds of the game ticked away, a chant of "Big 12, Big 12, Big 12" cascaded from the stands down onto the field as the Cowboys rushed to join the student section in celebrating their win.
After the game, Gundy was asked if the win was a program changer. His answer was telling:
"I would like to think overall that we're a little bit beyond that," Gundy said. "We've played some really good teams the past couple of years and we've either beaten them or we've stood toe-to-toe with them. And I think the players start to believe we can play with anybody if we can play our best game."
The Buildup
It was a premium matchup between the Cowboys – ranked ninth in the nation at the time – and the Bulldogs, who were ranked 15th. It also marked the grand opening of Boone Pickens Stadium in its current state and was a rematch of the 2007 season opener, which Georgia won in Athens, 35-14.
On top of the normal pressure that comes with facing a powerhouse program such as Georgia in week one, Gundy and the Cowboys were dealing with other internal issues in the immediate buildup to the game that had an impact on how they were able to prepare. Among those issues were an injury to safety Markelle Martin, a budding star at the time, and another injury to middle linebacker Orie Lemon, who tore up his knee on the practice field just days before the game.
What most didn't know at the time of the game was that Dez Bryant, a consensus All-America selection the year before, had the cloud of an NCAA investigation hanging over him and there was very real concern internally during the week on whether or not the Cowboys most heralded player would be available that day. He was eventually cleared to play, but his unknown status in the lead-up to the game resulted in a great deal of stress put on Gundy, Bryant and the team.
The narrative going in was how would an injury-slowed Oklahoma State defense that was labeled as the weakness of the team even when healthy be able to handle the punishing, powerful Bulldogs and could the high-powered Cowboy offense live up to the lofty expectations when facing a defense as stout as Georgia's (basically the same stereotype that observers lean on whenever a Big 12 team plays an established SEC team).
Pregame
Among a group of dignitaries, Mike Gundy and Boone Pickens were involved in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to trumpet the grand opening of Boone Pickens Stadium. While fans were excited about what the future might hold in the new facility, there was some trepidation and maybe even some fear about the SEC giant that awaited the Cowboys inside the stadium that day.
After the ceremony ended but before the main stadium gates were opened to the fans, the Cowboys entered the stadium for a brief walk around the field before they went to the locker room to get dressed. The Bulldogs had also just entered the stadium and were on the field doing the same when a small group of Georgia defenders found Bryant and accosted him. Here's the cleaned-up version of what they yelled – "It's going to be a long day for you - if you even make it to the end of the game after we're finished with you." Bryant barked back with his thoughts on them and things escalated before teammates from both sides stepped in.
The Game
The Cowboys won, and they did it with defense and by being more aggressive than the Bulldogs. Here's how Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman worded it:
"Oklahoma State's defense was tired of being called the weakness of the Cowboys' football team.
All they had to do was turn on ESPN, Fox Sports Network or any other national outlet and they would hear questions about their play.
In the Cowboys' 24-10 win over Georgia at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, the OSU defense made a clear statement:
Enough already.
They answered all those questions and sent a message with a stellar performance, holding Georgia to 257 total yards, including just 95 rushing yards, and forcing three turnovers."
Of the Cowboys 24 points that day, 10 came immediately after turnovers forced by their defense. OSU limited the mighty Bulldogs to 95 yards rushing and cornerback Perrish Cox was a central figure in keeping UGA's standout receiver A.J. Green to only 52 receiving yards in the game.
While Green wasn't able to make plays for the Bulldogs, Bryant was able to deliver for the Cowboys, as he got loose for two touchdown catches – one that tied the game early and one that essentially sealed the win late.
Postgame
As the final seconds of the game ticked away, a chant of "Big 12, Big 12, Big 12" cascaded from the stands down onto the field as the Cowboys rushed to join the student section in celebrating their win.
After the game, Gundy was asked if the win was a program changer. His answer was telling:
"I would like to think overall that we're a little bit beyond that," Gundy said. "We've played some really good teams the past couple of years and we've either beaten them or we've stood toe-to-toe with them. And I think the players start to believe we can play with anybody if we can play our best game."
Players Mentioned
CB
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