Where do we go from here?
That's the question being asked across the Big 12 nation right now. Many different answers, and many different problems with every answer.
This is coming after Texas A&M has announced that they will be leaving the Big 12 by July 1st, 2012.
Whatever. I still don't get why they're leaving, but good riddance. Their arguments are flawed. You don't agree with the Longhorn Network? You agreed to it last summer when the conference was sinking.
You want to escape the shadow that Texas casts on everyone? How about NOT writing your fight song about them for starters.
But I'm not here to rant about Texas A&M leaving, as stupid as I think the move is. I'm here to give possible solutions to the current problem: Who to replace them with.
These are in list form, with #1 being who I'd like to see most.
#1: Brigham Young
They went independent this past year, and always field a good football team. This move would put them in the North division, and add power there that would try and make up for the balance that went out of the door with Nebraska. They also compete in all of the other sports, but as people have made well known in the Big 12, we care about football... at least until Basketball season starts. Go Jayhawks!?
#2: Boise State
A bit of a stretch, but I'd like to see it. If you don't know about their football team, then you have bigger problems than the Big 12 issues, starting with getting of the house more often. This move would also add power to the north and balance out the conference. The only problem is that Boise is a 24 hour drive from Stillwater through mountains and snowstorms during basketball and early baseball season, and all of those teams travel by bus. Probably not the best and safest move. Plus, as Thad said in the news room: "I'm pretty sure the only rematch OU wants with Boise State is in a National Championship game." I agree.
#3: Louisiana Lafayete/Louisiana Monroe/UTEP
I REALLY like this move. I would love to see the Big 12 pick up one of the teams above, as well as two of these three teams. We pick up two of these teams and it opens up, geographically speaking, horizontal recruiting (meaning side to side, instead of the strip of land we currently have from Texas to Iowa). This also is a bit like the recruiting process in the way that we pick up two of these teams, give them a year or two to get their feet, and hope for them to turn into a K-State/Kansas/Iowa State team that contends for a Division Title every few years. Who knows what could happen.
#4: Tulsa
An improbably move, but it'd be good. I can't see Tulsa wanting to come to the Big 12, but they'd fit very well. They're a program on the rise and scheduled both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in non-conference. The only bad part would be that it would open up the Tulsa recruiting to the entire Big 12, an area that's currently run by Oklahoma State who picks up Union and Jenks players like it's their job. I like the Tulsa move though, I just can't see them doing it.
#5: Houston/SMU
I would prefer Houston over SMU, but either way is kind of a crap move with a few positive. To start, both of their stadiums hold just over 30,000, and both are located in major cities. Major cities mean major OU/UT fan bases, which turns those games into a high school type, where half of the stadium is crimson or orange, and half is SMU/Houston. SMU would be worse because of the red river rivalry being in Dallas every year. The OU/UT fan bases there are crazy, and they'd dominate. I like Houston a little bit more because it would open up recruiting down there, but is it really worth it? They wouldn't help out in football, and once again, that's what it's all about... I think. Also, with a move here, the Big 12 would turn into the Big Texas. Do we really want that?
In my ideal situation, I pick up BYU, Louisiana Monroe and Louisiana Lafayette. The farther east the conference can go, the better. Memphis would also be a decent team to pick up instead of BYU, but I think that's too much of a stretch to put on this list.
Worst case scenario, we can tell Baylor and Texas Tech "Catch ya later" and head to the west coast? If everyone is fine with traveling 12+ hours to the away games and midnight kickoff times, then I am too.
Kickoff is Saturday at 6, and I'll be on the first row with the Paddle People for the first time. My next post will be a recap of that game from my perspective, as well as what it was like participating with one of the coolest traditions there is.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Top 5 Moments Of Oklahoma State's 2010 Season
I am so ready for college football to start that I simply cannot take it anymore. I've just about worn out my NCAA 12 disc on Xbox, and have been on YouTube constantly looking up last year's highlight videos.
That being said, I've compiled a little bit of a reflection post. These are the Top 5 moments of last season in my eyes.
Number 5: Justin Blackmon's reverse against Baylor
This is the only video I could find. Fast forward to the 2:42 mark to see the play I'm talking about. This was the first play out of halftime, and basically took all of the wind out of Baylor's lung's from there on out.
Number 4: Brandon Weeden to Justin Blackmon against Arizona
Fast forward to :46. I love this play. Not only because it's a perfectly thrown fade, but the fact that Blackmon runs across the goal line before crossing it. This really didn't have any importance in the game other than the Cowboys simplly flexing their muscles.
Number 3: Josh Cooper's punt return against Troy
Fast forward to the 4:55 mark to see the play. This was awesome, Troy rolled out to the right to see if a passing lane was open, then launched a rugby style punt. Cooper did his best Reggie Bush impression, and ran about 150 yards to complete a 55 yard punt return for a TD.
Number 2: Dan Bailey's Game Winning Field Goal against Texas A&M
This was the second most fun game to watch besides Bedlam last year. Thursday night on ESPN against a team that would eventually win a share of the division with us and the Sooners. A nervous Jerrod Johnson looked on after having MAJOR turnover trouble (I felt bad for him, I've personally met and worked out with Jerrod and he's a great guy, just had a pretty rough ride last year) as Dan Bailey booted the game winning field goal. I still have video of this on my phone from watching in the stands, and now I regret not rushing the field.
Number 1: Bedlam
I was tired, I was sick, and I was cold. Tired because I had been up since the day before because of an ESPN Gameday all nighter, sick because we had waited outside on library lawn all night in the sub-freezing cold to secure a prime spot for the show, and cold because Stillwater's weather likes to add in wind to make it that much worse. I can't narrow this game down to one play. Obviously if I had to, it'd be what is now become known as "The Interception", that somehow didn't make the highlight cut on the top video, so I included it in the bottom. It could be our kick return at the end of the game. Perhaps the simple fact that Justin Blackmon still had 100 yards receiving and a touchdown with a bum ankle. You can't narrow this game down, just simply hit play, turn up the volume and enjoy. Next year when I do this, hopefully I'll have a winning higlight to show. Fingers crossed.
Personal Twitter: @brendon_morris
O'Colly Twitter for OSU Football and Men's Basketball: @brendon_ocolly
Go Pokes!
That being said, I've compiled a little bit of a reflection post. These are the Top 5 moments of last season in my eyes.
Number 5: Justin Blackmon's reverse against Baylor
This is the only video I could find. Fast forward to the 2:42 mark to see the play I'm talking about. This was the first play out of halftime, and basically took all of the wind out of Baylor's lung's from there on out.
Number 4: Brandon Weeden to Justin Blackmon against Arizona
Fast forward to :46. I love this play. Not only because it's a perfectly thrown fade, but the fact that Blackmon runs across the goal line before crossing it. This really didn't have any importance in the game other than the Cowboys simplly flexing their muscles.
Number 3: Josh Cooper's punt return against Troy
Fast forward to the 4:55 mark to see the play. This was awesome, Troy rolled out to the right to see if a passing lane was open, then launched a rugby style punt. Cooper did his best Reggie Bush impression, and ran about 150 yards to complete a 55 yard punt return for a TD.
Number 2: Dan Bailey's Game Winning Field Goal against Texas A&M
This was the second most fun game to watch besides Bedlam last year. Thursday night on ESPN against a team that would eventually win a share of the division with us and the Sooners. A nervous Jerrod Johnson looked on after having MAJOR turnover trouble (I felt bad for him, I've personally met and worked out with Jerrod and he's a great guy, just had a pretty rough ride last year) as Dan Bailey booted the game winning field goal. I still have video of this on my phone from watching in the stands, and now I regret not rushing the field.
Number 1: Bedlam
I was tired, I was sick, and I was cold. Tired because I had been up since the day before because of an ESPN Gameday all nighter, sick because we had waited outside on library lawn all night in the sub-freezing cold to secure a prime spot for the show, and cold because Stillwater's weather likes to add in wind to make it that much worse. I can't narrow this game down to one play. Obviously if I had to, it'd be what is now become known as "The Interception", that somehow didn't make the highlight cut on the top video, so I included it in the bottom. It could be our kick return at the end of the game. Perhaps the simple fact that Justin Blackmon still had 100 yards receiving and a touchdown with a bum ankle. You can't narrow this game down, just simply hit play, turn up the volume and enjoy. Next year when I do this, hopefully I'll have a winning higlight to show. Fingers crossed.
Personal Twitter: @brendon_morris
O'Colly Twitter for OSU Football and Men's Basketball: @brendon_ocolly
Go Pokes!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
My List: Top 5 NFL Quarterbacks
Eli Manning spoke on ESPN Radio in New York yesterday, and said that he was an elite level quarterback... Um, no.
Eli Manning has a Super Bowl ring, sure. However, the ring goes to the best TEAM, not the best quarterback.
Let me break this down for you. Last year, Tony Romo went down with a season ending injury, and Jon Kitna replaced him. Kitna finished the season with an 88.9 quarterback rating- Almost 4 points higher than Manning. Not only that, but Manning threw a league-worst 25 interceptions.
So after all this talk, it has gotten me thinking, who do I think are the best quarterbacks in the league?
Shout out to Audrey Ryon, who starts this debate with me almost once a week... And always gets proven wrong.
Number 1: Peyton Manning
This is why Audrey and I debate, because of who tops my list. Peyton Manning is THE BEST quarterback in the league, and at least top 5 in the history. No player has ever managed a game like Manning does, and if he had half of the tools that Tom Brady has year in and year out, he would have a whole hand of rings by now. The simple fact is that he doesn't, but he turns a team that is mediocre at best without him, into a playoff team with him.
Number 2: Tom Brady
I'd like to start this off by saying I am NOT a Tom Brady fan. I have never liked celebrity quarterbacks, but I simply can't justify putting anyone above him. Brady is an incredible athlete, I'll give him that. He's blessed with a great coach and a great general manager, but it takes some major talent to accomplish all that he's accomplished. Justin Southwell tweeted something I really liked today. He said: "@JustinSouthwell: Brady threw 4 interceptions last year. And I think that was only because he wanted to make sure he was still human." Couldn't have said it better.
Number 3: Drew Brees
Drew Brees has been one of my favorite players for a long time. For someone to get shafted like he did in San Diego a few years ago after putting up incredible numbers (I bet some of you forgot he even played there), to going to a losing team in a city that would be completely demolished shortly after, Brees has responded well. He's at the top of every statistical category every year, but the knock on him is interceptions. He threw 22 last year, second most in the league.
Number 4: Michael Vick
I LOVE watching Vick play. He's a wild card, and you simply cannot gameplan for him. If you drop back in coverage, he runs. If you blitz, he flicks his wrist and throws a 40 yard bomb right over your head. How do you contain that? You can't. The only bad thing about his style is that he gets hit A LOT, which leads to injuries. It's a good thing Philadelphia invested in a good backup, because he's guaranteed at least two games a year.
Number 5: Phillip Rivers
Rivers has silently rose to the top of the NFL quarterback world. He was second in the league in quarterback rating last year (101.8, second to Tom Brady who had 111.0), and has taken the Chargers to the playoffs many times with no one around him. He lost his runningback, but has Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, and Norv Turner calling the plays. I like my chances with Rivers, who has always been a smart, and efficient quarterback.
I took to twitter and asked "What makes a quarterback a GREAT quarterback?"
@Andrew_sturgis: leadership!
@kkcopenhagen: 5 Words: Do It Like Tim Tebow < I'm guessing leadership qualities.
That's all I've got! Thanks for reading, and be sure to follow my twitter (@brendon_morris), as well as my Daily O'Collegian twitter (@brendon_ocolly) for all breaking news on Oklahoma State Football and Men's Basketball.
Eli Manning has a Super Bowl ring, sure. However, the ring goes to the best TEAM, not the best quarterback.
Let me break this down for you. Last year, Tony Romo went down with a season ending injury, and Jon Kitna replaced him. Kitna finished the season with an 88.9 quarterback rating- Almost 4 points higher than Manning. Not only that, but Manning threw a league-worst 25 interceptions.
So after all this talk, it has gotten me thinking, who do I think are the best quarterbacks in the league?
Shout out to Audrey Ryon, who starts this debate with me almost once a week... And always gets proven wrong.
Number 1: Peyton Manning
This is why Audrey and I debate, because of who tops my list. Peyton Manning is THE BEST quarterback in the league, and at least top 5 in the history. No player has ever managed a game like Manning does, and if he had half of the tools that Tom Brady has year in and year out, he would have a whole hand of rings by now. The simple fact is that he doesn't, but he turns a team that is mediocre at best without him, into a playoff team with him.
Number 2: Tom Brady
I'd like to start this off by saying I am NOT a Tom Brady fan. I have never liked celebrity quarterbacks, but I simply can't justify putting anyone above him. Brady is an incredible athlete, I'll give him that. He's blessed with a great coach and a great general manager, but it takes some major talent to accomplish all that he's accomplished. Justin Southwell tweeted something I really liked today. He said: "@JustinSouthwell: Brady threw 4 interceptions last year. And I think that was only because he wanted to make sure he was still human." Couldn't have said it better.
Number 3: Drew Brees
Drew Brees has been one of my favorite players for a long time. For someone to get shafted like he did in San Diego a few years ago after putting up incredible numbers (I bet some of you forgot he even played there), to going to a losing team in a city that would be completely demolished shortly after, Brees has responded well. He's at the top of every statistical category every year, but the knock on him is interceptions. He threw 22 last year, second most in the league.
Number 4: Michael Vick
I LOVE watching Vick play. He's a wild card, and you simply cannot gameplan for him. If you drop back in coverage, he runs. If you blitz, he flicks his wrist and throws a 40 yard bomb right over your head. How do you contain that? You can't. The only bad thing about his style is that he gets hit A LOT, which leads to injuries. It's a good thing Philadelphia invested in a good backup, because he's guaranteed at least two games a year.
Number 5: Phillip Rivers
Rivers has silently rose to the top of the NFL quarterback world. He was second in the league in quarterback rating last year (101.8, second to Tom Brady who had 111.0), and has taken the Chargers to the playoffs many times with no one around him. He lost his runningback, but has Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, and Norv Turner calling the plays. I like my chances with Rivers, who has always been a smart, and efficient quarterback.
I took to twitter and asked "What makes a quarterback a GREAT quarterback?"
@Andrew_sturgis: leadership!
@kkcopenhagen: 5 Words: Do It Like Tim Tebow < I'm guessing leadership qualities.
That's all I've got! Thanks for reading, and be sure to follow my twitter (@brendon_morris), as well as my Daily O'Collegian twitter (@brendon_ocolly) for all breaking news on Oklahoma State Football and Men's Basketball.
Monday, August 15, 2011
What You Need To Know About The A&M/SEC Situation
A&M is unhappy. Everyone knows that, but why?
It's simple- They're tired of being bullied by Texas (And OU to a lesser extent).
To put it in a way that's easy to understand, Texas basically said "Do what I say or I'm taking my toys and going home" when everyone was trying to get the Big 12 to stay together last year.
They did what Texas said, and now Texas fans have a $300 million dollar "Longhorn Network" to watch.
You can understand why Texas A&M would be a little upset, correct? Wrong.
Texas and Texas A&M are both public institutions, which means their profit and revenues and all things financial are regulated by the state.
In common terms: If they make a lot of money with the Longhorn Network, the state government can cut a piece of their government income pie out and relocate it to the Texas A&M bank account.
So why is A&M so mad, if this is purely a money issue then it's fine?
They've argued that it is an unfair recruiting tool, but it was recently announced that Texas could not show high school games.
There's nothing left after that. Texas A&M has basically gone rogue status.
What the Aggies are trying to do is break away from their big brother in Austin and form their own path, and the only way they see that happening is by leaving Texas' conference and going to their own.
Seems like a good idea on paper, but the Aggies are forgetting one fact- You've gotten your butt handed to you just about every year since 1996 (The creation of the Big 12).
"Well, it's hard to win the conference with Texas and OU in your division." You won the conference in 1998, and that's it. Yes, it's tough to play both of those schools, but it isn't impossible. Why can Mizzou always seem to pull off the OU upset? Why did you not take advantage of Texas' down year last year and win the division?
And if they say "Well, if we got out we'd do better." Wrong again. Look at your bowl record since 1996. There is a great win over TCU in 2001, but other than that? NINE losses.
Four of those nine losses are at the hands of SEC teams (Mississippi State, Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU), and the latter three were complete routs. Even in the regular season, A&M hasn't defeated an SEC team since 1995, the year before the Big 12 was created.
The other five losses came at the hands of known power house teams such as UCLA, Penn State (2), Ohio State, and Cal. Those teams are just as good as the teams in the SEC today, and you want to go up against that every year? The total score from all five of those games are 189-64.
All in all, I've changed my way of thinking on this situation. A&M will fall into the great abyss of College Football if they leave the Big 12. It doesn't matter what they do in the next two years if they end up joining, because those years will be losing. I love Texas A&M, but it's gonna be hard to watch.
And for all of you who are saying "Why doesn't Texas just join the SEC too, if they're the best then they should play in the best conference!"
Nonsense. Why would Texas leave? They're a school that can stand on their own. They have the whole Big 12 Conference in the palm of their hand. If the Big 12 falls apart, they're one of very few teams in the nation that could go independent and STILL compile one of the hardest schedules in the nation, simply by their prestige alone.
Yes, Texas is very good at football, and all sports for that matter, but they don't need to leave. They're the premiere team in their conference, and consistently go to top bowls just about every year.
Which reminds me what my grandpa always says: "Don't fix it if it ain't broken."
It's simple- They're tired of being bullied by Texas (And OU to a lesser extent).
To put it in a way that's easy to understand, Texas basically said "Do what I say or I'm taking my toys and going home" when everyone was trying to get the Big 12 to stay together last year.
They did what Texas said, and now Texas fans have a $300 million dollar "Longhorn Network" to watch.
You can understand why Texas A&M would be a little upset, correct? Wrong.
Texas and Texas A&M are both public institutions, which means their profit and revenues and all things financial are regulated by the state.
In common terms: If they make a lot of money with the Longhorn Network, the state government can cut a piece of their government income pie out and relocate it to the Texas A&M bank account.
So why is A&M so mad, if this is purely a money issue then it's fine?
They've argued that it is an unfair recruiting tool, but it was recently announced that Texas could not show high school games.
There's nothing left after that. Texas A&M has basically gone rogue status.
What the Aggies are trying to do is break away from their big brother in Austin and form their own path, and the only way they see that happening is by leaving Texas' conference and going to their own.
Seems like a good idea on paper, but the Aggies are forgetting one fact- You've gotten your butt handed to you just about every year since 1996 (The creation of the Big 12).
"Well, it's hard to win the conference with Texas and OU in your division." You won the conference in 1998, and that's it. Yes, it's tough to play both of those schools, but it isn't impossible. Why can Mizzou always seem to pull off the OU upset? Why did you not take advantage of Texas' down year last year and win the division?
And if they say "Well, if we got out we'd do better." Wrong again. Look at your bowl record since 1996. There is a great win over TCU in 2001, but other than that? NINE losses.
Four of those nine losses are at the hands of SEC teams (Mississippi State, Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU), and the latter three were complete routs. Even in the regular season, A&M hasn't defeated an SEC team since 1995, the year before the Big 12 was created.
The other five losses came at the hands of known power house teams such as UCLA, Penn State (2), Ohio State, and Cal. Those teams are just as good as the teams in the SEC today, and you want to go up against that every year? The total score from all five of those games are 189-64.
All in all, I've changed my way of thinking on this situation. A&M will fall into the great abyss of College Football if they leave the Big 12. It doesn't matter what they do in the next two years if they end up joining, because those years will be losing. I love Texas A&M, but it's gonna be hard to watch.
And for all of you who are saying "Why doesn't Texas just join the SEC too, if they're the best then they should play in the best conference!"
Nonsense. Why would Texas leave? They're a school that can stand on their own. They have the whole Big 12 Conference in the palm of their hand. If the Big 12 falls apart, they're one of very few teams in the nation that could go independent and STILL compile one of the hardest schedules in the nation, simply by their prestige alone.
Yes, Texas is very good at football, and all sports for that matter, but they don't need to leave. They're the premiere team in their conference, and consistently go to top bowls just about every year.
Which reminds me what my grandpa always says: "Don't fix it if it ain't broken."
Thursday, August 11, 2011
5 Reasons To Watch The Cowboys Game
Preseason football kicks off at the Death Star (Cowboys Stadium) in Arlington tonight, marking my favorite part of the year.
Football Season is here.
Now if most of you are like I am, you usually set your TiVo to record about the first half of the game, watch it in fast forward, and you're done with it. It's preseason for crying out loud.
But tonight, I will most likely be watching the game in it's entirety. Not only because I did not think I'd be in this situation a few months ago while the Lockout was still around, but also because there will be former Oklahoma State players everywhere.
That, among other reasons, is why I will be in front of my couch for most, if not all, of the game tonight. Here are my top 5 reasons:
Number 5: What will the defense look like under Rob Ryan?
Coach Ryan has done a lot of talking this off-season, which is why I like him. Not only does he keep the spotlight around, but he gives the players motivation to have his back on what he's talking about. The Ryan brothers are evil geniuses (His twin brother is Rex Ryan, Head Coach of the NY Jets), and I'm very excited to see what Rob does with the Dallas D.
Number 4: Dan Bailey's Position Battle
I've always loved Dan. The first thing I noticed about him during my first Oklahoma State game was his bright orange shoes he wore. I love that. Could we see some bright blue shoes tonight from him? Eh, probably not. But we will see an intense position battle between him and last year's kicker David Buehler. Buehler has the edge on kickoff's, but struggled on place kicking last year, area that Bailey is known for excelling it (He won the 2010 Groza Award). Coach Garrett said he'd be "Systematically" rotating them in to give each a fair shot. That doesn't mean they'll switch off every kick, but that they'll both have seen equal time when the final horn sounds.
Number 3: The Imminent Confusion That Is Bound To Take Place
The players had all summer off. The rookie's didn't have coaches running their practices, they had peers. The veterans weren't taught the new plays, formations, and schemes until two weeks ago. Even though these are the best athletes in the world, humans can only attain so much knowledge in such a little amount of time. That, combined with the fact that they spent all summer doing drills, and have only been playing true football for about two weeks, will show not only some mental confusion, but also some missed tackles and blown coverages. That could mean fireworks.
Number 2: The Kyle Orton/Tim Tebow Saga Comes To Town
Before I say anything else, I want to get out there that I'm a Tebow lover. I understand why people don't like him (He's too perfect, The media loves him, etc.), and that's fine, but he remains in the #4 spot on my "Top 5 Favorite Athletes" list. Yes, I have one of those. Anyway, this position battle is one for the ages. The Bronco's kind of been lost at QB since John Elway retired. Yes, they've had Jake Plummer, Cutler, etc, but no one has solidified themselves as a "Without A Doubt" starter. Tebow is the future, Kyle Orton the present, and I'm very interested in seeing what Denver does in this position. Team Tebow!
Number 1: The Return Of Dez Bryant
For those of you who were wondering about the rest of my "Top 5 Favorite Athletes List", 5: Brandon Weeden/Mark Ingram 4: Tebow 3: Von Miller 2: Dirk 1: Dez Bryant. He's coming back from his season-ending leg injury last year, and I'm hoping he'll pick up right where he left off. What I like about Dez is that, in terms of a football players, he's me. Not only does he work hard to be the best player on the field, but he also plays with a ton of emotion. My background on my computer will forever be the picture of him on the entrance gate at Boone Pickens, pointing to the sky with a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt. I love how pumped up he can get, and I firmly believe that if he straightens out whatever issues he has off the field, if there truly even are any, then he could not only be one of the best receivers to play in the NFL, but one of the best players to ever play in the NFL. Period.
That's all I've got! The Oklahoma State season breakdown will continue soon, as well as what I thought about the Cowboys game tonight.
Be sure to watch my twitter account (@bmorris_ocolly) for questions and discussions!
Football Season is here.
Now if most of you are like I am, you usually set your TiVo to record about the first half of the game, watch it in fast forward, and you're done with it. It's preseason for crying out loud.
But tonight, I will most likely be watching the game in it's entirety. Not only because I did not think I'd be in this situation a few months ago while the Lockout was still around, but also because there will be former Oklahoma State players everywhere.
That, among other reasons, is why I will be in front of my couch for most, if not all, of the game tonight. Here are my top 5 reasons:
Number 5: What will the defense look like under Rob Ryan?
Coach Ryan has done a lot of talking this off-season, which is why I like him. Not only does he keep the spotlight around, but he gives the players motivation to have his back on what he's talking about. The Ryan brothers are evil geniuses (His twin brother is Rex Ryan, Head Coach of the NY Jets), and I'm very excited to see what Rob does with the Dallas D.
Number 4: Dan Bailey's Position Battle
I've always loved Dan. The first thing I noticed about him during my first Oklahoma State game was his bright orange shoes he wore. I love that. Could we see some bright blue shoes tonight from him? Eh, probably not. But we will see an intense position battle between him and last year's kicker David Buehler. Buehler has the edge on kickoff's, but struggled on place kicking last year, area that Bailey is known for excelling it (He won the 2010 Groza Award). Coach Garrett said he'd be "Systematically" rotating them in to give each a fair shot. That doesn't mean they'll switch off every kick, but that they'll both have seen equal time when the final horn sounds.
Number 3: The Imminent Confusion That Is Bound To Take Place
The players had all summer off. The rookie's didn't have coaches running their practices, they had peers. The veterans weren't taught the new plays, formations, and schemes until two weeks ago. Even though these are the best athletes in the world, humans can only attain so much knowledge in such a little amount of time. That, combined with the fact that they spent all summer doing drills, and have only been playing true football for about two weeks, will show not only some mental confusion, but also some missed tackles and blown coverages. That could mean fireworks.
Number 2: The Kyle Orton/Tim Tebow Saga Comes To Town
Before I say anything else, I want to get out there that I'm a Tebow lover. I understand why people don't like him (He's too perfect, The media loves him, etc.), and that's fine, but he remains in the #4 spot on my "Top 5 Favorite Athletes" list. Yes, I have one of those. Anyway, this position battle is one for the ages. The Bronco's kind of been lost at QB since John Elway retired. Yes, they've had Jake Plummer, Cutler, etc, but no one has solidified themselves as a "Without A Doubt" starter. Tebow is the future, Kyle Orton the present, and I'm very interested in seeing what Denver does in this position. Team Tebow!
Number 1: The Return Of Dez Bryant
For those of you who were wondering about the rest of my "Top 5 Favorite Athletes List", 5: Brandon Weeden/Mark Ingram 4: Tebow 3: Von Miller 2: Dirk 1: Dez Bryant. He's coming back from his season-ending leg injury last year, and I'm hoping he'll pick up right where he left off. What I like about Dez is that, in terms of a football players, he's me. Not only does he work hard to be the best player on the field, but he also plays with a ton of emotion. My background on my computer will forever be the picture of him on the entrance gate at Boone Pickens, pointing to the sky with a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt. I love how pumped up he can get, and I firmly believe that if he straightens out whatever issues he has off the field, if there truly even are any, then he could not only be one of the best receivers to play in the NFL, but one of the best players to ever play in the NFL. Period.
That's all I've got! The Oklahoma State season breakdown will continue soon, as well as what I thought about the Cowboys game tonight.
Be sure to watch my twitter account (@bmorris_ocolly) for questions and discussions!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Texas A&M/SEC A Smart Move?; Schedule Breakdown: First Four Games; Twitter Questions
Rumors are flying, and I love it. This is the time of the year that is a reporter's dream. Just rumors and whispers, stuff that we take and run with.
The latest rumor is about yet another conference move; Texas A&M bolting to the Southeastern Conference. This is believed to be largely due to the University of Texas receiving it's own network.
I was born and raised in Maroon, and Texas A&M and College Station both hold a place near my heart. I love the tradition, the students, the teams, and the overall atmosphere (Although I hate the weather). I also love this potential move.
Think about it... Why wouldn't they move? Texas is dominating the conference (Believe it or not fellow Texans, but it's not all about football. This is something I've had a hard time grasping as well.) They'll have their own network, and when the recruiting process comes down to it, they have the edge over every other school because they can say "We put you on TV three times this past year, why wouldn't you come here?"
Seems a bit unfair right? Should have thought about that earlier. No one was complaining when UT kept the conference together, but now they realize how stupid they were for not seeing what was going on.
The Sooner network will probably happen pretty soon, and looking at the pecking order A&M would be somewhere after that. The Kansas State Wildcat network would appear around 2060.
Texas A&M moving to the SEC makes a ton of sense. That would give them a HUGE recruiting edge. "You can play in the best conference in the nation, and against the best opponents in the nation." What competitive athlete wouldn't jump at that chance?
It makes the most sense, and I'd love to see Oklahoma State go with them... But I don't see that happening. For some reason we can't separate from those weirdos down in Norman.
That being said, the 2011 season is upon us, and only a few weeks until the cannon on top of Boone Pickens goes off as the first kick goes sailing through the air.
Paddle people will be paddling, band members will be blowing/percussing, frat stars tailgating, and alumni screaming. It's almost imminent that the pregame video will include some sort of "You tell 'em I'm coming... And hell's coming with me!" cameo, and who can forget the Garth Brooks recycling commercial?
Are you ready?
I just got chills. Football season cannot get here fast enough, so I'm filling my time with all things OSU in the dead time before them. I have read every practice report, every article, every feature, everything. Time to fast forward.
But that's impossible, so instead I'll go ahead and do a Schedule breakdown to maybe make this go a little faster.
Game 1: Louisiana Lafayette: OSU 41 ULL 17 Uniform Prediction: White helmet, Orange Jersey, White Pants
The year's first home game, and it will be a big one. The Cajuns hung with us for awhile last year, but this year's squad will do what last year's team did not- Set the pace early. OSU came out flat, and that's what hurt them. This year, I see them coming out of the gates at a dead sprint.
Game 2: Arizona (ESPN): OSU 38 UA 24 Uniform Prediction: Gray Helmet, Orange Jersey, Gray Pants
The first big test of the year, but I see Oklahoma State simply overpowering them as they did in the bowl game last year. The early pace of the game is what will win ballgames for the Pokes this year, and that will show again in this game as they come out guns ablaze.
Game 3: @ Tulsa: OSU 44 Tulsa 30 Uniform Prediction: White Helmet, White Jersey, Orange Pants
The in-state rivals (do we even call them that?) will hang for awhile. Tulsa has a talented squad last year, and will again this season. This will be our first peek at the true colors of the defense. Will they stay poised when Tulsa's offense doesn't back down while OSU's offense runs the score up? Or will they crack under pressure? This game will be where the defense goes from boys to men.
Game 4: @ Texas A&M: OSU 38 A&M 28 Uniform Prediction: Black Helmet, Gray Jersey, Black Pants
The uniform prediction is my favorite. This is just mean looking and I'm excited to hopefully see this combination sometime this year. A&M has the best backfield duo in the country in Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael. Gray carried the team in the last 6 games of the year last year when Michael went down with a broken leg, and now that he's back it could be deadly. Lucky for the Pokes, our defense is usually okay with the run. It's the pass they have to worry about for some reason, and A&M's quarterback Ryan Tannehill has yet to throw a pass farther than 10 yards (exaggeration), so I'm not too worried about it. Pokes roll on!
Here stands Oklahoma State's first bye week. This is key to not only rehab the injuries, but get mentally prepared for the rough stretch ahead.
There's the first half. I stand by my statement of Texas A&M being the game of the year. If the Pokes can get past the College Station trip with a 4-0 record, the next game of the year will come on October 22nd.
Look for the next breakdown soon on the middle section of the schedule.
TWITTER QUESTIONS
Each blog post, I will answer any questions sent to my twitter account (@bmorris_ocolly).
@bleednornge72: What is your best guess right now for two deep at the DT spots?
I think the Cowboys will roll with their Pre-Spring lineup at D-Tackle. I talked to Christian Littlehead at Media Day this past week, and the guy looks REALLY good. He's lost about 50 pounds, and is built like a tank. Behind him will most likely be Maurice Hayes. Hayes has the quickest first step around, and has the strength of a bear. The only thing I worry about is his lateral quickness.
On the other side, Nigel Nicholas and Joe Okafor will likely be the rotation. Nicholas started for Jarka last year in a few games, and fared decently well. Now a junior, he's had a chance to mature and hit the weights. I think he will be a force in the middle this year. Okafor is a good change of pace to throw in there. He has a ton of potential (Three star prospect in HS, had offers from LSU, Nebraska, Arkansas). He played D-End in high school and is very fast, but the only thing I worry about is his height. He's 6'6, and those interior lineman are experts and finding leverage and driving the tall D-Tackles out of there. If he can find a way to counter that, he'll be the wild card in the middle.
That's all I've got this week, follow me on twitter (@bmorris_ocolly) to get your questions answered, and thanks for checking my blog out!
The latest rumor is about yet another conference move; Texas A&M bolting to the Southeastern Conference. This is believed to be largely due to the University of Texas receiving it's own network.
I was born and raised in Maroon, and Texas A&M and College Station both hold a place near my heart. I love the tradition, the students, the teams, and the overall atmosphere (Although I hate the weather). I also love this potential move.
Think about it... Why wouldn't they move? Texas is dominating the conference (Believe it or not fellow Texans, but it's not all about football. This is something I've had a hard time grasping as well.) They'll have their own network, and when the recruiting process comes down to it, they have the edge over every other school because they can say "We put you on TV three times this past year, why wouldn't you come here?"
Seems a bit unfair right? Should have thought about that earlier. No one was complaining when UT kept the conference together, but now they realize how stupid they were for not seeing what was going on.
The Sooner network will probably happen pretty soon, and looking at the pecking order A&M would be somewhere after that. The Kansas State Wildcat network would appear around 2060.
Texas A&M moving to the SEC makes a ton of sense. That would give them a HUGE recruiting edge. "You can play in the best conference in the nation, and against the best opponents in the nation." What competitive athlete wouldn't jump at that chance?
It makes the most sense, and I'd love to see Oklahoma State go with them... But I don't see that happening. For some reason we can't separate from those weirdos down in Norman.
That being said, the 2011 season is upon us, and only a few weeks until the cannon on top of Boone Pickens goes off as the first kick goes sailing through the air.
Paddle people will be paddling, band members will be blowing/percussing, frat stars tailgating, and alumni screaming. It's almost imminent that the pregame video will include some sort of "You tell 'em I'm coming... And hell's coming with me!" cameo, and who can forget the Garth Brooks recycling commercial?
Are you ready?
I just got chills. Football season cannot get here fast enough, so I'm filling my time with all things OSU in the dead time before them. I have read every practice report, every article, every feature, everything. Time to fast forward.
But that's impossible, so instead I'll go ahead and do a Schedule breakdown to maybe make this go a little faster.
Game 1: Louisiana Lafayette: OSU 41 ULL 17 Uniform Prediction: White helmet, Orange Jersey, White Pants
The year's first home game, and it will be a big one. The Cajuns hung with us for awhile last year, but this year's squad will do what last year's team did not- Set the pace early. OSU came out flat, and that's what hurt them. This year, I see them coming out of the gates at a dead sprint.
Game 2: Arizona (ESPN): OSU 38 UA 24 Uniform Prediction: Gray Helmet, Orange Jersey, Gray Pants
The first big test of the year, but I see Oklahoma State simply overpowering them as they did in the bowl game last year. The early pace of the game is what will win ballgames for the Pokes this year, and that will show again in this game as they come out guns ablaze.
Game 3: @ Tulsa: OSU 44 Tulsa 30 Uniform Prediction: White Helmet, White Jersey, Orange Pants
The in-state rivals (do we even call them that?) will hang for awhile. Tulsa has a talented squad last year, and will again this season. This will be our first peek at the true colors of the defense. Will they stay poised when Tulsa's offense doesn't back down while OSU's offense runs the score up? Or will they crack under pressure? This game will be where the defense goes from boys to men.
Game 4: @ Texas A&M: OSU 38 A&M 28 Uniform Prediction: Black Helmet, Gray Jersey, Black Pants
The uniform prediction is my favorite. This is just mean looking and I'm excited to hopefully see this combination sometime this year. A&M has the best backfield duo in the country in Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael. Gray carried the team in the last 6 games of the year last year when Michael went down with a broken leg, and now that he's back it could be deadly. Lucky for the Pokes, our defense is usually okay with the run. It's the pass they have to worry about for some reason, and A&M's quarterback Ryan Tannehill has yet to throw a pass farther than 10 yards (exaggeration), so I'm not too worried about it. Pokes roll on!
Here stands Oklahoma State's first bye week. This is key to not only rehab the injuries, but get mentally prepared for the rough stretch ahead.
There's the first half. I stand by my statement of Texas A&M being the game of the year. If the Pokes can get past the College Station trip with a 4-0 record, the next game of the year will come on October 22nd.
Look for the next breakdown soon on the middle section of the schedule.
TWITTER QUESTIONS
Each blog post, I will answer any questions sent to my twitter account (@bmorris_ocolly).
@bleednornge72: What is your best guess right now for two deep at the DT spots?
I think the Cowboys will roll with their Pre-Spring lineup at D-Tackle. I talked to Christian Littlehead at Media Day this past week, and the guy looks REALLY good. He's lost about 50 pounds, and is built like a tank. Behind him will most likely be Maurice Hayes. Hayes has the quickest first step around, and has the strength of a bear. The only thing I worry about is his lateral quickness.
On the other side, Nigel Nicholas and Joe Okafor will likely be the rotation. Nicholas started for Jarka last year in a few games, and fared decently well. Now a junior, he's had a chance to mature and hit the weights. I think he will be a force in the middle this year. Okafor is a good change of pace to throw in there. He has a ton of potential (Three star prospect in HS, had offers from LSU, Nebraska, Arkansas). He played D-End in high school and is very fast, but the only thing I worry about is his height. He's 6'6, and those interior lineman are experts and finding leverage and driving the tall D-Tackles out of there. If he can find a way to counter that, he'll be the wild card in the middle.
That's all I've got this week, follow me on twitter (@bmorris_ocolly) to get your questions answered, and thanks for checking my blog out!
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