The Cowboys are training for the next season and are keeping orange bands around their wrist to remind them of their goal to be Big 12 champions this season.
By Jeff Latzke
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — The orange band around quarterback Zac Robinson’s left wrist was inside out, so he had to twist it around to reveal the message inside.
Printed in black letters was Oklahoma State’s preferred ending for this season: Big 12 Champs.
It was with those hopes that the Cowboys opened fall camp this week before meeting Saturday with reporters at the team’s annual media day. Following back-to-back 7-6 seasons that were capped by bowl victories, Oklahoma State wants to make some more noise this season.
“That’s our goal is to be in that Big 12 championship game, and we know first we’ve got to take care of the South,” said Robinson, who is embarking on his first full season as Oklahoma State’s quarterback after replacing Bobby Reid early last year.
“If we take care of the South, anything can happen in that one game.”
The Cowboys have some ground to make up before they can boast their first conference title since they shared the Big Eight crown in 1976, but the gap seems to be closing. Oklahoma State lost by a single point at Texas A&M last season and had a 21-point lead against Texas before a second-half collapse. Those close calls have players believing they can take the next step as a true Big 12 contender.
And they’re wearing it — if not on their sleeve, then on their arm.
“Big 12 Champs. It’s just something we’re trying to keep on our brain around here. As long as we’ve got it in our brain, that’s just going to keep the drive in us, keep us going,” said tight end Brandon Pettigrew, an all-Big 12 selection by league coaches last season.
Players said the wristbands — which also feature Dec. 6, the date of the Big 12 championship game in Kansas City, Mo. — were handed out by the coaching staff, although head coach Mike Gundy isn’t taking any of the credit.
“I’m not a big jewelry guy. I don’t wear rings or bracelets or anything, but they put one of those on my desk. I think it’s more of a commitment to team and a goal,” Gundy said.
“One thing that we had mentioned as a unit, and as coaches and players, is we don’t talk enough around here about winning a championship and I think that that’s something that maybe has evolved over 50 years around here and that our players felt like they needed to talk more about winning a championship.”
A large poster showing the Big 12 championship trophy was hung in the team’s meeting room, featuring the words loyalty, attitude, effort and finish — the last one a reference to the two games that slipped away, along with the team’s chances at winning the South Division.
“We just know that we’ve been in the mix the last couple years. We know that we’ve been right there and it’s just a matter of finishing games,” Robinson said.
There are a number of question marks on both sides of the ball, too. Robinson returns after setting the school’s season record for total offense last season, but the Cowboys will be without leading rusher Dantrell Savage and top receiver Adarius Bowman.
Running back Kendall Hunter and receiver Dez Bryant, who showed flashes of brilliance as freshmen last season, will be expected to take on a bigger load while Pettigrew could become an even bigger focal point.
Defensive coordinator Tim Beckman, in his second season at Oklahoma State, hopes to dramatically improve a unit that gave up 29.5 points per game and ranked 101st in the nation in total yardage allowed.
“We’re hungry because we want to prove to everybody that we’re a good defense and we want to earn the respect that our offense got from everybody,” said Andre Sexton, who moved from safety to linebacker this spring to help speed up the defense.
“We don’t believe we’re 101st. We’re better than that, so we have to go out and prove it now.”
Oklahoma State opens its season Aug. 30 in Seattle against Washington State and then plays three nonconference home games before the wristband goal comes into focus when Big 12 play starts Oct. 4 against Texas A&M.
If all goes well, the Cowboys hope to be trading the bands on their wrists for rings on their fingers about two months later.
“I think the difference is we’re talking about winning a championship. Last year, we would say it but this year guys really do believe,” Robinson said. “There’s a whole different attitude to this team. I think some of the guys that maybe didn’t have such good attitudes are now gone.
“It’s a whole lot different with this team. They’re willing to come out every day and try to get better.”
Loading ...
All Articles