For the second consecutive week, the Cowboy football team has three active cases of COVID-19.

Oklahoma State released new data Monday of tests done through Sunday, showing that the athletic department had seven active cases as a whole. Three of those came from the football program, and one was on the men’s basketball team.

OSU started releasing basketball numbers last week, where the Cowboy basketball team had zero. Positive tests on a basketball team are likely more significant than that on a football team because basketball teams have 13 scholarship players while football has 85.

The Cowboys are set to play at Marquette on Tuesday, and a source told PFB the one positive shouldn’t affect that game being played.

The football team was on a five-week spree where there were no active cases, but that changed last week. It’s uncertain whether the three this week are the same people who tested positively last week.

The post OSU Reports Three Active COVID Cases on Football Team, One in Hoops appeared first on Pistols Firing.

Carson Cunningham and Colby Powell discuss OSU’s 50-44 win over Texas Tech, including Dezmon Jackson’s career day and Tylan Wallace’s place in history.

You know what helps the show and helps us make more shows? When you rate us on Apple Podcasts or subscribe to our pod: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | SoundCloud | Overcast

As always, we appreciate our sponsor Chris’ University Spirit.

The post PFB Podcast Ep. 341: OSU Wins Shootout vs. Texas Tech appeared first on Pistols Firing.

Oklahoma State’s regular-season finale on Dec. 12 against Baylor will take place in primetime, though it will not likely have a primetime-like audience. The program announced Monday that the game will air at 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

The game is a make-up of one that was originally scheduled for Oct. 17 but had to be moved because of COVID-19 issues on Baylor’s side.

The rescheduled date takes place in what could be a pivotal Saturday for the Big 12. It’s exactly a week before the conference title game, and on a day where OU faces West Virginia on the road, Texas takes on Kansas on the road, and OSU takes on Baylor on the road. OSU needs help to play in the game, but as Marshall Scott pointed out over the weekend, it’s not totally impossible yet!

Baylor is 2-5 on the season with wins over Kansas and Kansas State bookending what has otherwise been a dreadful first season for Dave Aranda and the Bears. They lost five-straight before squeaking out a win over Kansas State on Saturday, and face OU this weekend before the OSU showdown.

OSU, meanwhile, is coming off a 50-44 win over Texas Tech and faces TCU this weekend in Fort Worth before traveling to Waco on Dec. 12.

The post OSU’s Regular-Season Finale vs. Baylor Set for Night Kickoff appeared first on Pistols Firing.

Mike Gundy’s Cowboys are bowl eligible for the 15th straight season.

Gundy met with reporters over Zoom on Monday to discuss his team’s upcoming game against TCU and the fallout from a win against Texas Tech

Opening Statement

“[The Texas Tech game] was a good game for us. Made a lot of plays on offense, and some young guys got a little bit better. Obviously we were able to rally enough defensively late to make some plays. Had a good day yesterday and just back at it. Another week, day off today and back at practice tomorrow.”

On Chuba Hubbard’s and LD Brown’s health, and if Dez Jackson has earned more snaps regardless if Hubbard and Brown return

“Both of those guys will try to get into practice on Tuesday. Monday is their big day where they get examined. We always try to find out more about them. But as of now, Dez is our starter.”

On Spencer Sanders’ performance from Saturday

“He played very well. His composure was good and graded really high in his reads and took care of the football, so we were pleased with his game Saturday.”

On if he expects a similar performance from Sanders against TCU

“I hope so. He should get a little bit better each week, so hopefully he’ll play as consistent as he did in the last game.”

On what it would do for the program to get to the Big 12 Championship game

“Our goal every year is to win the conference championship, and you gotta get there to do that. Long term, I’m not sure. It’d be hard for me, I haven’t thought about that. But, that’s our goal anyway, to try to find a way to get in that game and try to find a way to win it.”

On if this season is a season of attrition

“I think we felt that way to start the season, but our medical people and our plan from June has been as good as anybody in the country. We’ve been very fortunate. We haven’t had issues with COVID. The majority of our guys have practiced and been consistent. Other than just uncertainty mentally with players, and I guess everybody, COVID hasn’t really been an issue with our football team.”

On if the shortened preseason is to blame for injuries happening during the season

“I don’t think there’s any question that some of the nagging injuries and even some of the more serious injuries for us, I can’t speak for other teams, are related not necessarily to the virus but related to the lack of preparation to start the season because of the virus. So, when we start in August our players are in tip top condition and up and running, and it wasn’t this way this year because we didn’t have any offseason training so there’s no question that affected us and I’m guessing probably affect everybody else in the country.”

On if Dezmon Jackson’s performance surprised him

“I’m surprised that he can carry the ball 36 times and the times five and six times in a row and play over 75 plays in the game, yes. That’s hard to do for anybody. And so he did impress me from that standpoint, his ability to stay in the game and compete.”

On TCU coach Gary Patterson

Well Gary’s one of the best football coaches in college football. There’s just no question about his durability, from a standpoint of years of service and the teams that he’s had. They don’t always get what some people consider four- and five-star players. They find a way to win. He and I, when we have conference functions we always buddy up. I tease him and he teases me but we get along have a really good relationship. I enjoy competing against them. They’re really good on defense again this year. They do a nice job. They run the ball, and he has a plan. So it’ll be a real challenge for us on Saturday.”

On Tylan Wallace

“We were talking about him last night before we went home. In my opinion, he’s made our football team much, much better from his competitive leadership standpoint. Our team has followed his willingness to perform at a high level. And personally for him, he’s made himself a lot of money this year. For example, late in the game against Oklahoma when we were down to the point where it’s difficult for us to even think about coming back to win, we tried to take him out of the game, and he wouldn’t go out of the game. He wanted to finish the game. So that’s the kind of young man that you’re dealing with. And he’s been a joy to be around and joy to coach particularly this year coming back from his injury.”

On how Jackson’s performance Saturday benefitted Wallace

“We’re not good enough offensively be one dimensional. We have to stay balanced, and we have to try to keep the other team off balance. It’s been that way here for a lot of years. Two or three years where we were good enough to where we could become one dimensional, but we’re not in that position right now. We have to be able to rush the football effectively to keep the defense off balance. That allows Tylan to make some plays.”

On what makes Wallace unique compared to the other great receivers Gundy has had

“Well he’s special when it comes to taking the ball at the highest point. He’s a great leaper, but he also has a gift of going up and rebound in a football that’s unlike many players we’ve ever had here in my 16 years as the head coach.”

On Jake Springfield’s wild journey from walk-on to starting left tackle

“His competitive nature, his willingness to give up his time, his effort, his body for our organization has been tremendous. He’s been bummed up the last few weeks with an ankle and having to push through. That is not easy. He’s played OK. But he’s managed. So, where he was thrown into the fire, for lack of a better term, he’s played really, really good. But if you’re grading him on a major-college level, and his consistency at the left tackle position, he’s managed. But that’s not necessarily his fault at this time. There’s only so much you can do in his situation, but he’s a little bit healthier today than he was last week. We appreciate what he’s given us, and we see him getting a little bit better each week.”

If Chuba Hubbard’s NFL future is still as secure as it was a year ago

“I don’t know what those guys look for. I think there are some players that are called no-brainers, they’re going to be a first round pick or an early round pick. I don’t have any idea how the NFL sees Chuba right now. I’m not on those phone calls. The NFL doesn’t talk to me. They talk to academics. They talk to Rob Glass. They talk to the operations people. I don’t have conversations with NFL scouts or coaches, so I’m not really in on that. It’d be unfair for me to say one way or the other of how they see him at this particular time.

“I mean you would think so. You know I just use that quote because when we have NFL people come in and visit with our team, I’m in the room there’s 130 of us in there, and the first thing they say is there’s not anything any coach or any person can do to convince us other than putting the video on and watch it you have success. I would think that that would carry some weight. But, I mean, I’m not for sure, you know, it’s just hard for me to tell I’ve never been in any of those meetings.”

On Tracin Wallace staying around even after his injuries

“Well those guys are inseparable. Tracin wants to get into coaching, and he’s off to a good start. Gives him a chance to still be a part of the team be a part of this brother, which is important. And he’s the guy that we trust on the sidelines and communication and has a really good clear communication with his brother during games. It’s been awesome that we could help him out with his injuries and be a part of his career.”

On if he has started discussing with seniors if they want to come back with the extra year of eligibility

“No, I guess we’ll have to have those discussions after our final game. And then there’s some uncertainty, based on how the NCAA is going to handle that situation. There’s a lot up in the air right now, based on total numbers, scholarships availability and roster numbers. Until the NCAA gives us some guidance, I know at Oklahoma State, our hands are tied somewhat.”

On Rodarius Williams’ health

“I think he’ll be back out Tuesday. He had a mild foot sprain just kind of nagging him a little bit. I believe in the middle of the first quarter when he went out. Hopefully he’ll be OK this week. It’s a big difference when he’s in the game and not in the game for our defense.”

On how good Williams has been this season

“Well, you know, I mentioned Tylan Wallace has made himself a lot of money this year, so has Rodarius. Rodarius is probably the hottest guy on our team right now when it when it comes to interest from the NFL. He’s been fabulous in coverage. He’s competed and played hard. His attitudes been great. What he’s putting on tape is exactly what those guys at that level want to see, in my opinion. So, you know, you take a guy that’s potentially moved himself up maybe three or four rounds of the draft by his play on tape this year, and obviously at Oklahoma State we don’t get a lot of guys that are going to go, maybe, high in the draft. So when he’s not in it doesn’t make a difference, but hopefully he’ll be OK in the next couple days and get out there and get some reps and play TCU.”

On guys coming back instead of declaring for the NFL Draft early

“Well I’m an advocate of players coming back that are going to be high-round picks. And again, I don’t know but I’m just gonna guess the product on the tape he might have been a after last year, a late-round pick, maybe sixth-round pick or something. And so, what advantage do you get, not coming back and going to school and trying to raise your stock and somewhat protect yourself financially before you go into to make a roster. For him, I would have to ask those guys at some point after the draft that he’s probably jumped himself three or four rounds. If we had first-round picks, or even guys that early second-round picks, who can financially make themselves and their family stable for a long period of time just with the stroke of the pen, I would always recommend that those guys come out. We’ve had guys come back. [Brandon] Weeden came back. [Justin] Blackmon came back. [Russell] Okung] came back. [Brandon] Pettigrew came back. We’ve had a number of guys that have come back, based on their decision. In most cases, it’s worked out well for him. Rodarius has put himself in a really good position. I mentioned earlier what he’s done for our team, but for himself individually, if he finishes this season strong, which there’s no reason that he shouldn’t if he’s healthy, he’s made himself a bunch of money just by his play that he’s putting on video.”

On Teven Jenkins

“I think Teven is deciding to go prepare for the NFL. I hate to speak for him, but that’s what I think is going on. So, I’m gonna let him, for lack of a better term, make that decision and then if he decides to do that publicly, I’ll let him do that. But that’s the direction I see him going. I’m not sure what his status would be medically because when you have a back, tweaked back, sometimes, well a lot of times, it won’t show up on an MRI or a CAT scan. But then you still have some pain. So, I’m gonna let him make that decision and how he communicates that to us and to you guys at some point.”

On the offensive line having a full week of practice being better despite on the injuries

“What it does is it lessens their missed assignments. The best illustration would be like you getting a study guide to take a test in college, and if you have a chance to review that study guide and put your time in, you have an opportunity to score good on the test. So, when we have five guys during the week that are practicing at their particular position, they’re using that study guide. And what’s happened to us is, if we’ve had a guy go down in most cases we’ve had to move at least two people. When you do that, the guide that you use during the week, the study guide, it gets thrown out the window. That’s a huge issue with offensive line play. What you’re saying is the same thing that I’ve been saying for the last eight weeks that we’ve gone through this is, I have faith in Charlie [Dickey], I have faith in Coach [Kasey] Dunn and our staff and what we’re trying to get accomplished. We at least kept the same five guys in the same positions in this last game. It allowed us to have less missed assignments and you guys that watch the game, we didn’t have as many guys get turned loose in the backfield. So, in most cases, if you’re running back can read and hit a crease and he’ll run hard, gives you a chance to have a little success.”

On if Hubbard is in the same situation as Jenkins in regards to getting an early start on NFL Draft preparation

“I think it’s a personal decision for all of them, and things have changed so much over the last three or four or five years. We had this discussion in the media day years ago when you started seeing players that chose to not play in the bowl game. If you guys remember one of my concerns with that was I said I’m afraid it will start and then this could just grow and grow and grow and grow, where if teams weren’t in the playoffs, or maybe a New Year’s bowl, I’m not sure I don’t know how to say one way or the other. If you have multiple players from multiple teams that are leaving to prepare for the NFL, then I worry about the long-term effects of bowl games. Organizations that are sponsoring and putting lots and lots of money into bowl games, how they’ll feel about teams that are playing that might be down to three four or five players, which we all know can dramatically change a football team. So, the question you asked me is, I think it’s a personal decision for each player based on one just how he feels, and then, in most cases they’re going to get information from some sort of representative, financially, or contractually, for them to move forward. So it would be unfair for me to say one way or the other for any player. I just know that it’s kind of the moving trend right now for players to, you know, stop playing and just start working on what might be next in their career.”

On if guys getting 36 carries, like Jackson got Saturday, could return to being normal at some point

These guys can do it. They’re just not conditioned to do it. So what happens is, we hope, and I speak for Oklahoma State I don’t know about other teams, but we hope that we have at least two running backs that we, for lack of a better term, trust to put in the game. Then if you have a third you’re really in a good situation. They will share reps during the week. Then if we spread the reps out, I think as coaches now we’re in the last six, eight, 10 years years, we say well we need to keep these guys fresh. In the old days, we didn’t worry about keeping them fresh. If we had a good player and he was running back he carried the ball 30 times a game. So, earlier in this interview I said I was a little surprised that he was able to perform like that because we haven’t given him that workload in practice. There were a number of times where, well more than number of times, that he ran was really really good effort. So, I think, young men can do that. I just don’t think as coaches we put them in a position to do that.”

The post The Rundown: Gundy on Dez Jackson, Player Health and TCU appeared first on Pistols Firing.

Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins announced Monday that he will forgo the remainder of the season, ending his college career as he prepares for the 2021 NFL Draft.

“This past week has left me with a lot of difficult decisions to make for my future and family,” he said in a statement. “With that being said, I have decided to forgo the rest of the season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. I would like to say thank you to all my coaches that have been involved in developing me, coaching me, and teaching me to be where I am today. To all my teammates: I love you guys and wish you all the best. You have become a part of my family.”

Jenkins has battled injuries throughout the season and he missed this weekend’s game against Texas Tech after leaving Bedlam with what Mike Gundy called a back injury. But he emerged as a redshirt senior as one of the most dominant tackles in college football, and he regularly graded out as the team’s best offensive lineman.

“Teven is an interesting young man,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said earlier this season. “He doesn’t even know how good he is, and he doesn’t know how much he’s worth, if you just want me to call it like it is. He is uncharacteristically strong. I watched him in the weight room this summer, I think he hit 225 like 35 times [on bench press]. They weren’t even counting. He was just doing it.

“He has tremendous feet. He’s got good leverage. He’s highly intelligent. His work ethic is getting better this year.”

Jenkins has already accepted an invite to compete in the Senior Bowl and is a virtual lock to be drafted in 2021.

The post Teven Jenkins to Forgo Rest of Season to Prepare for NFL Draft appeared first on Pistols Firing.

As promised, Mondays are for Believe it or Not — a weekly column wherein we reset by sifting through the hottest takes related to OSU’s game and determine whether, well, we should believe those takes or not.

Let’s get to it.

Dezmon Jackson, RB1

Answer: Believe it

Presumably, Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown are gone after this season. That leaves the RB1 position wide open in 2021 where, up until this weekend, there was no frontrunner.

Then Dezmon Jackson casually dropped 235 on the ground for three scores in the win over Tech, and whoo boy, I think we all just saw the future.

The 5-foot-11 tailback has a rare blend of speed and power hovering around 220 pounds. He is a no-nonsense runner who hits the hole with confidence and doesn’t dance around Le’Veon Bell style in the backfield waiting for a crease to develop.

Credit in part goes to OSU’s offensive line for paving the way to that historic outing, but we’ve gotta tip our cap to Jackson, whose style and speed appear to mesh perfectly with OSU’s run-blocking scheme, too.

Jackson has a year of eligibility remaining and should be locked in as RB1 in 2021, assuming Hubbard or Brown don’t return. The big mystery will be who steps up to spell him. A year wiser and stronger, freshman Dominic Richardson has a chance to step into a major role in 2021. I’m pumped to see what this new-look backfield can accomplish, and I’m thrilled about the preview we saw of it on Saturday.

QB position could be problem in 2021 and beyond

Answer: Believe it

It’s too early to hit the panic button on Shane Illingworth; he’s a freshman who has been forced into action and by and large has performed admirably. But it’s fair to be concerned about the development of Spencer Sanders. He didn’t play as a freshman with Corndog as the starter because folks around the program believed he wasn’t ready. Then in 2019, he started, flashing brilliance alongside being turnover-prone. This year has been more of the same. OSU needs one of Sanders or Illingworth to really make a developmental leap this offseason to feel good about the future of the position.

The tough part is the turnover within the program and how it has stunted the growth of everyone on offense. Sean Gleeson’s one-and-done season followed by Kasey Dunn’s arrival as OC has forced players to learn two different offensive languages in two seasons, and the players most likely to struggle with that staff turnover are quarterbacks. Perhaps that explains why Sanders has been hot and cold. 2021 will be critical for him and for the position in general.

The real concern is that there doesn’t appear to be a fallback plan if Sanders or Illingworth don’t make huge strides. It’s Sanders or Illingworth, because OSU isn’t taking a quarterback in this recruiting class outside Gunnar Gundy, Mike’s son who is expected to be a walk-on.

I’m optimistic in Illingworth’s long-term potential, and I’m a true Spencer Sanders fanboy to my core. But, this is the least confident I’ve felt in the QB position at OSU since 2014, when the Pokes opened the season with J.W. Walsh and Daxx Garman as their top options (and then neither finished the season as QB1).

The post Believe it or Not: Dezmon Jackson’s Star Turn, QB Uncertainty appeared first on Pistols Firing.

For the second time in as many weeks, Oklahoma State will be on the gridiron early.

The Pokes are scheduled to face TCU next weekend in an 11 a.m. kickoff, the Big 12 announced Monday, one of three early-morning affairs in league play for Week 14.

Texas-Kansas State and Kansas-Texas Tech are also scheduled for 11 a.m. kicks.

OSU’s game will be carried on ESPN2.

OSU is 2-0 this season playing in the 11 a.m. slot with wins over Tulsa and Texas Tech.

OSU is 2-2 against TCU in its last four meetings with the Horned Frogs. Its last win at Amon G. Carter Stadium came in 2016, when the Pokes won 31-6 and rolled up 334 yards rushing with a balanced attack from Justice Hill (154) and Chris Carson (146).

The post Kick Time, TV Details for OSU-TCU Game in Week 14 Announced appeared first on Pistols Firing.

The Daily Bullets are brought to you by Hoboken Coffee: Get 20% off your first order.

OSU Bullets

• Marshall lays out the Cowboys’ paths to Arlington that exist (go ‘Neers), Berry T. breaks down the tiebreakers

• Pokes open as three point favorites in Fort Worth this weekend

• Jenni Carlson looks at what happened to the Cowboy defense (Steven’s take: they were on the field too much, heck, even Ray Lewis’ Ravens team got tired)

• Glad to see this tidbit that a Barry statue is coming soon

• Cowboys climbing in the AP and Coaches Polls after Saturday’s win

• This quote from Mike Holder during the Pickens’ statue ceremony got me:

“He gave us hope when there had been none. He made us believe that all things are possible. He made us believe that we could win in football. He changed (donations) to an unprecedented level, and in essence, he changed our university forever.”

[TulsaWorld]

• Dezmon Jackson and a glimpse into the future Cowboy backfield

• Cade will get you in the door but Moncrieffe will get you out of your seat:

Non-OSU Bullets

• 2020 is the year to shop small (PFB included ;))
• Ways to kill the thanksgiving impulse in your heart (faith-based)

This is one of the better stories in college sports for 2020:

The post Daily Bullets (Nov. 30): Cowboy Paths to Arlington Fading, Pokes are Favorites in Fort Worth appeared first on Pistols Firing.