The Daily O’Collegian

OSU’s week of homecoming festivities is often labeled as the biggest and best homecoming celebration in America.

For Oklahoma State football players, Homecoming brings back slightly more unpleasant memories.

Although no one needs to be reminded, last year’s Homecoming resulted in a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Texas A&M Aggies.

The Cowboys failed to convert on two extra point attempts, resulting in a 34-33 defeat.

In 2005, the Cowboys’ homecoming game got off to a miraculous start before collapsing at the hands of Texas quarterback Vince Young.

OSU jumped out to an early 19-point lead, only to witness Young rack up 267 rushing yards and 239 passing yards to lead the Longhorns to a 47-28 win.

Although the Cowboys have struggled in homecoming games recently, offensive linemen Brady Bond said all slumps must come to an end.

“We had a slump at Nebraska, but we overcame that,” Bond said. “I think that’s just our team’s attitude, you know? We can do whatever we want if we set our minds to it, and we’ve been doing that lately.”

Oklahoma State has lost three straight homecoming games as well as seven of the past nine.

However, the Cowboys have experienced more success against the Wildcats than any other homecoming opponent.

OSU is 9-4 against Kansas State in the Wildcats’ 13 homecoming appearances in Stillwater, which is the most of any opposing team.

Bond said he thinks the winning trend will continue this year and that the team has finally turned a corner.

“We’ve been saying, ‘We can do it,’ and just the team unity is so close right now it’s unbelievable,” Bond said.

The Cowboys will experience a Homecoming in every sense of the word as they are back in Stillwater for nearly an entire month, spanning the course of three games and a bye week.

Players and coaches all agree there is an added benefit of undergoing practices and games in familiar territory.

“Everybody’s glad to be home because obviously we enjoy playing here, and there’s generally a comfort zone because you’re not traveling; not in airplanes and not in hotels,” coach Mike Gundy said.

Sophomore defensive end Derek Burton said the time at home is important because it translates into more practice time for game day.

“You don’t have to worry about traveling and making sure you have everything that you need,” Burton said. “And the preparation will be better because we have more time, and we’ll have extra days that we’re not on the plane. That will be time that we’ll be preparing for the games.”

With three straight home games followed by trips to Baylor and OU, the Cowboys are now in control of their own destiny.

With the offense and defense both clicking at the right time, the outlook is positive.

“If we just keep doing what we’re doing, we have a chance just like anybody else in the Big 12 right now,” Burton said.