Sept. 5, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Troy at Oklahoma State
Sat., Sept. 11, 2010 :: 6:05 p.m. :: Boone Pickens Stadium (60,218)
TV - None
Radio - Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb and Robert Allen)
Internet - okstate.com
Satellite Radio - Sirius Channel 154
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Week 2
The Oklahoma State Cowboys will try to improve to 2-0 in 2010 when they host the Troy Trojans (1-0) Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. There is no live television of the contest, although OSU will produce a highlight feed that will be available via satellite and on the school's ftp site. Contact OSU's media relations office for more details.
Starting On A Streak
Oklahoma State is trying to start a season 2-0 for the fourth time in six years under Mike Gundy. Since 1983, the final year for head coach Jimmy Johnson, Oklahoma State has had 13 seasons open with two straight victories. Nine of those teams ended the season in a bowl game.
The Non-Conference Approach
Oklahoma State is now 16-4 in regular-season non-conference games under Mike Gundy. The Cowboys are 8-1 in those games since the start of the 2008 season. Pre-dating Mike Gundy, OSU is now 24-4 in its last 28 non-league games. That stretch of games spans back to the 2002 season.
Cowboys And Trojans
Oklahoma State and Troy have played just twice before, splitting a pair of games. Both meetings are recent. The Cowboys dropped a 41-23 decision at Troy in 2007 in a Friday night contest. That game marked the first career start of quarterback Zac Robinson. In 2008, Troy visited Stillwater with OSU claiming a 55-24 victory.
Last Meeting
Zac Robinson tossed three touchdown passes to Dez Bryant in OSU's 55-24 victory on Sept. 27, 2008. That win marked the third straight game in which OSU topped the 50-point mark. OSU registered 612 yards of total offense for the eighth highest total in school history. The offensive explosion was surprising based on Troy allowing just 309 yards of offense the week before in a close loss at Ohio State.
Scouting The Trojans
Michael Taylor kicked a 34-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to give Troy a season-opening 30-27 win over Bowling Green on Saturday night. The Trojans won the total offense battle, 475 to 329, and accumulated 29 first downs. Troy quarterback Corey Robinson completed 25 of 37 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Current Cowboys Against Troy
Kendall Hunter is the most experienced Cowboy when it comes to Troy. In two career games against the Trojans, Hunter has rushed for 294 yards on 40 carries for an average of 7.35 yards per attempt with two touchdowns. Hunter's 125-yard effort at Troy in 2007 was the first significant playing time of his career when he came off the bench in relief of Keith Toston. Hunter ran for 169 yards on 24 carries in the second meeting with Troy. Other Cowboys with a history against Troy:
• Receiver Bo Bowling has one career reception for 13 yards
• Linebacker Orie Lemon was credited with five tackles and a pass break-up in the 2008 game.
• Also in 2008, defensive end Ugo Chinasa had two tackles with Markelle Martin, Richetti Jones and Shane Jarka all credited with one stop each.
The Sun Belt Side
Oklahoma State is 21-2 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference. OSU will face another member of the league when it travels to Lafayette, La., for an Oct. 8 meeting with Louisiana. The 2007 loss at Troy and a 1978 setback against North Texas are the only two Sun Belt losses in OSU history.
Week One
The Cowboys strolled to a 65-17 win over Washington State in the season opener. With Kendall Hunter and many of the starters playing just the first half plus one possession, it was a night of many firsts. There were 29 players who saw their first varsity action, including 12 true freshmen. The Cowboys used 71 players in the win and that total included 13 first-time starters and of OSU's starting 22 position players, 16 were making their first or second career start. For a complete recap of the win over the Cougars, see page 21 of this update.
Revolutionary 60s
Oklahoma State's 65-point barrage against Washington State is one of the highest scoring games in OSU history and the highest scoring season opener in modern history (OSU surpassed the mark several times in season openers prior to 1920). Some notes on big numbers:
• Under Mike Gundy, OSU has reached the 40-point mark 17 times in the last 53 games.
• Gundy's Cowboys have cracked 50 points nine times and 60 twice.
• OSU has scored 60 points just six times since 1920.
• The 65 points represent the third highest point total for an OSU team since 1920.
• It is the second highest point total for an OSU home game since 1916.
60-Point Games Since 1920
2010 OSU 65, Washington State 17
2006 OSU 66, Baylor 24
2002 OSU 63, Baylor 28
1988 OSU 62, Wyoming 14 (Holiday Bowl)
1988 OSU 63, Kansas 24
1973 OSU 70, Southern Illinois 7
Air Holgorsen?
First-year offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen's link to record-setting passing totals led many to question OSU's ground game in 2010. Those questions may have been answered Saturday night when OSU rushed for 291 yards and passed for 253 yards. That ratio came from 37 pass attempts and 44 rushing attempts.
Speaking Of Offense
The debut of Holgorsen, starting quarterback Brandon Weeden, four new starters in the offensive line and seven new starters overall were managed effectively by the Cowboy offense Saturday night.
• OSU averaged 6.7 yards per snap. In the first three quarters, before the flip card was really put to the test, OSU averaged 7.52 yards per play.
• Ten Cowboys caught passes vs. Wazzou.
• OSU had six scoring drives of less than two minutes and five of those drives were in five plays or less.
• OSU had two players score four touchdown each (Kendall Hunter and Justin Blackmon)
• OSU's 65 points was its most in a season opener in the modern era. OSU last surpassed 65 points in a season opener in pre-1920s.
• It was highest point total in a game since the Cowboys scored 66 in a 2006 win over Baylor.
• The Cowboys surpassed 500 yards in total offense for the first time since Sept. 26, 2009 vs. Grambling State.
• Zero turnovers for OSU in a season opener and just four penalties.
• OSU enters the second week of the season No. 11 nationally in total offense (544 ypg).
• OSU is tied with many others for the national lead in red zone average with five scores on five opportunities.
Line Play
The Pokes unveiled a new-look offensive line Saturday. Only guard Lane Taylor had ever started a college game. The new Cowboys came to play and the numbers back it up. OSU averaged 6.6 yards per rush while allowing just one sack with three different quarterbacks behind center for 37 pass attempts. The new unit included juniors Nick Martinez and Levy Adcock at tackle, junior Jonathan Rush and sophomore Taylor at guards and junior Grant Garner at center.
The Forgotten All-American
Quiet Kendall Hunter prefers to remain anonymous and most of the college football media have seemed happy to oblige him. Hunter, a 2008 first-team All-American (as voted by the FWAA) and the Big 12's leading rusher that season, was all but forgotten in the hype leading up to the 2010 season opener. The 2010 debut may have served as a reminder of his talents. Against Washington State:
• Hunter had six carries of at least 17 yards, including a 39-yard TD run and another 66-yard jaunt en route to his career-best 257 rushing yards. It was his first 200-yard effort since he ran for 210 yards against Houston in 2008.
• His rushing total was impressive, how it was attained borders on staggering. Hunter played just one half plus one possession.
• He ran for 208 yards in the first half alone. It was the first 200-yard half by a Cowboy since Barry Sanders ran for 217 vs. Kansas in 1988.
• Hunter averaged 12.2 yards per rush against Washington State.
• His four rushing touchdowns against the Cougars were just one shy of Sanders' school record (which Barry set three times in 1988).
Kendall Modern Day
Kendall Hunter enters the second week of the season as the nation's leading rusher. He is third nationally in scoring and second nationally in all-purpose yards (276).
Hunter And History
At a university steeped in tailback tradition with the aura of perhaps the greatest runner in college football history setting the standard, Kendall Hunter has already carved place for himself in Cowboy backfield lore.
• He is the nation's fifth active leading rusher with 2,890 yards, despite averaging just 13.5 carries per game.
• Hunter averages an impressive 6.31 yards per rush for his career, second only to Barry Sanders among OSU's top 10 all-time runners.
• Hunter's 257-yard effort vs. Washington State was the 12th best game in OSU history.
• He has 12 career 100 yard rushing games and two 200-yard games.
More Perspective
To get a true appreciation on Kendall Hunter, consider the following:
• Hunter has 122 more rushing yards in his career than Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers, on 92 FEWER carries.
• Hunter's career average per rush (6.31) betters Oklahoma standout DeMarco Murray (5.25) by a full yard. In fact, Hunter's average is fifth among all NCAA players with at least 15 games to their credit.
• Hunter is No. 8 all-time at OSU with 2,890 rushing yards.
• His 25 rushing touchdowns rank fifth all-time at OSU.
• He is now No. 17 all-time at OSU with 162 career points.
Good Company
A quick recap of the handful of names that remain ahead of Kendall Hunter on OSU's all-time rushing chart:
1. Thurman Thomas: the school's all-time rushing leader, an All-American and NFL Hall of Famer
2. Terry Miller: Heisman Trophy runner-up and two-time All-American
3. David Thompson: More than 4,000 yards and an all-league performer in the Big Eight and Big 12
4. Barry Sanders: Heisman winner and multiple Hall of Famer
5. Ernest Anderson: Another All-American and an NCAA rushing champion
6. Tatum Bell: 14 career 100-yard rushing games with two of the seven longest runs in school history
7. Gerald Hudson: A backup to Barry Sanders who also became an NCAA rushing champion
Classy Kendall
Kendall Hunter is one of 30 NCAA football bowl subdivision nominees for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition. Hunter has received several distinctions for his classroom work, including second-team academic all-Big 12 in 2009, a spot on the President's Honor Roll for a 4.0 GPA and honorable-mention Scholar-Baller in 2009 and 2008. Hunter is also a two-time recipient of the Oklahoma State Academic Achievement Award and a member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Hunter has helped with the Harvest II Food Drive, made numerous visits to pediatric cancer patients in Tulsa and Oklahoma City and he's also been a guest speaker on leadership and hard work at local high schools in Oklahoma and Texas.
Walker Watchers
Kendall Hunter is one of the preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award, the Pricewaterhouse Coopers SMU Athletic Forum announced on Aug. 25. The Walker Award is presented annually to the nation's top running back.
Justin Served
Another breakout performance was turned in against Washington State by sophomore receiver Justin Blackmon. After entering the WSU game with two career touchdown receptions and 260 receiving yards, Blackmon hit the jackpot against the Cougars with eight catches for 125 yards and three scores (covering 42, 1, and 24 yards). He added a fourth touchdown when he returned a blocked punt seven yards for a touchdown. Blackmon will enter the second week of the season No. 16 nationally in receiving yards, in a tie for first with three touchdown catches and third nationally (tied with Kendall Hunter) in scoring.
Bailey Chasing Barry, Too
Kendall Hunter is not the only Cowboy on a career list with Barry Sanders. Senior placekicker Dan Bailey enters the Troy game with 232 career points. Sanders is OSU's all-time leader in that category with 330 points. Bailey is already ninth in OSU history in that category and is No. 12 among all active NCAA players. Bailey has averaged 97.5 points over the last two years. A 98-point senior season would put him just 11 points behind Sanders and No. 2 all-time at Oklahoma State. In his career, Bailey has converted on all 139 of his extra point attempts to establish a new OSU record.
Sharp Still Sharp
Sophomore Quinn Sharp has taken up where he left off in 2009. One year after leading the nation in touchbacks on kickoffs with 35, he put nine more in the end zone (on 10 tries) against Washington State. He also averaged 45.7 yards on seven punts one season after averaging 45.1 per punt. Included in Saturday's total was another punt in excess of 60 yards (61). It was the sixth 60-yard-plus punt of Sharp's career. He also tacked on two more punts inside the 20 giving him 26 on his career with just four touchbacks.
The Weeden Debut
Brandon Weeden, who last started a football game in the fall of 2001, had a strong debut in the season opener. Weeden's efficient 22-of-30 effort included 218 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers. He enters the week as the nation's No. 24 ranked passer.
Green Peace
Despite a wealth of new starters, including six players making their first career starts and two more making just their second, OSU's new-look defense passed its first exam with flying colors:
• Washington State had 17 possessions and the results included 12 drives of four plays or less with two turnovers.
• Late in the second period, Washington State had three consecutive drives that resulted in 10 points and 148 yards. The other 14 drives gained a total of 166 yards.
• The Cowboys had three quarterback sacks and seven tackles for loss to go with two forced turnovers.
• OSU allowed 324 yards of total offense. Last year OSU was No. 31 nationally in that category, allowing 332 yards per game.
First Timers
How did some of OSU's defenders answer the bell in their first start? Defensive end Richetti Jones had two quarterback sacks and is sixth nationally in that category. He finished the game with five tackles. Senior linebacker Justin Gent, in his first career start, led OSU with seven tackles and had a quarterback hurry.
New Faces
A couple of other new faces showed up as well. True freshman Shaun Lewis had five tackles, including one for a loss. In Orie Lemon's first game back from injury, the senior in the middle had five tackles, a half-sack, two tackles for loss and he broke up a pass. Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Anthony Rogers had three tackles and a sack in a reserve roll.
The Gundy Years
Oklahoma State alum Mike Gundy has brought stability and an impressive list of accomplishments in his tenure as head coach at OSU. The former OSU quarterback is in his sixth season with a 37-27 record at his alma mater. Some of OSU's achievements under Gundy:
• Four straight bowl appearances (over the last four years) for the first time in school history. Overall, OSU has a school-best seven bowl appearances in eight seasons.
• A preseason AP top 10 ranking for the first time ever (2009)
• A return to the AP top five (2009) for the first time since 1985
• A school-record six conference wins in 2009 with a second-place finish in the rugged Big 12 South
• Four straight Big 12 rushing titles. OSU had never led its conference in rushing
• OSU has made two appearances on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
• An improved conference win total every year (from one to six in five years)
• Four straight seasons with at least seven wins for the first time in school history
• Three of the top seven offenses in OSU history have come under Gundy (and he quarterbacked the best offense in OSU history)
Gundy By The Numbers
Mike Gundy's 37-27 record is perhaps deceiving.
• The Cowboys were 12-15 after 27 games under Gundy, but have gone 25-12 over the last 37 games and 20-8 over the last 28 games.
• Four of the losses came to teams ranked in the top five of the AP poll at game time.
• OSU is 19-21 under Gundy in Big 12 play. However, OSU is 15-9 in league play over the last three seasons and 11-5 against conference foes in the last two years.
Gundy In Perspective
Mike Gundy is now the eighth man in school history to coach into his sixth season. The longest tenured football coaches at OSU are Jim Lookabaugh and Pat Jones, who spent 11 seasons each at the helm of the program. Jones also leads OSU with 62 all-time victories while Gundy, who played quarterback for Jones, is third with 37 wins. Gundy's .578 winning percentage is fourth best on the school list. College Football Hall of Famer Pappy Waldorf won at a .735 clip during his five seasons in Stillwater before he headed for Berkeley and the University of California. Gundy and Jones top all of OSU's head coaches with four bowl teams each. Gundy is OSU's only coach to earn a bowl bid in four straight seasons.
The Next Wave
On paper, and in real life, Oklahoma State has a much different look than it has the past two years. Regardless of how the wins and losses shake out, 2010 can be tagged at the very least as a transition year. Consider:
• OSU lost 471 career starts from last year's team and returned 126 career starts. Of those starts, 13 were by Orie Lemon, who is returning at middle linebacker after losing a year to injury, and 16 were by Wilson Youman. However, all of Youman's starts were at tight end and he is now a defensive end.
• OSU's cornerbacks entered the season with two career starts (one each by Andrew McGee and Brodrick Brown).
• Prior to the opener, running back Kendall Hunter and offensive lineman Lane Taylor combined for 27 career starts while the rest of the offense had a total of 27 career starts.
• Defensive end Ugo Chinasa is far and away OSU's current leader with 27 career starts.
• Chinasa also leads OSU with 27 consecutive starts. The next player on that list is offensive lineman Lane Taylor and safety Markelle Martin with 12 each.
• The Cowboys returned just one starter in the offensive line and no starters are back from 2010 at linebacker, cornerback or quarterback.
• Three of OSU's front four defensive linemen made their first career starts vs. Washington State.
• OSU lost three of its top four rushers from a year ago, its all-time leader in total yards, passing yards and touchdown passes, the Big 12 Conference's all-time leader in kickoff return yardage, and six of its top seven tacklers.
Young's Guns
Second-year defensive coordinator Bill Young attained hero status in Stillwater when his first Cowboy defensive unit (2009) was one of the most improved in the country last season. Consider:
• A year ago the Cowboys jumped to No. 31 in total defense (allowing 332.5 yards per game) from No. 93 in 2008 (when they allowed 405.5 ypg).
• The improvement marked the 11th biggest turnaround in the country last season.
• In scoring defense, OSU allowed 21.7 points per game last year as compared to 28.1 in 2008. That was a jump from No. 76 to No. 31 nationally.
Rushing To Judgment
OSU set a school record last season by allowing just 95.8 rushing yards per game. The Cowboys were No. 11 nationally a year ago in rushing defense. The previous school record-low was the 99.2 rushing yards per game allowed by the Leslie O'Neal-led Cowboys of 1983.
Brains And Brawn
Oklahoma State has a pair of starting defensive linemen who have already obtained their undergraduate degrees. Defensive tackle Shane Jarka has already earned a degree in marketing and is pursuing his MBA. Defensive end Ugo Chinasa has completed work on his degree in sports management.
It's All Academic
Three Cowboy defensive linemen, Shane Jarka, Chris Donaldson and Jamie Blatnick, were academic all-Big 12 selections in 2009. While Jarka is already an OSU graduate, Donaldson is just four hours shy of his degree in secondary education.
Attack Mode
Some numbers worth noting on the offensive side of ball:
• The first-time starters on offense include linemen Nick Martinez, Jonathan Rush, Grant Garner, Levy Adcock and Brandon Weeden.
• Receiver Isaiah Anderson has been recognized by the coaching staff as one of OSU's most improved players. He enters the season with one career reception.
• Junior Josh Cooper is coming off his best season with 22 catches a year ago, despite missing four games to injury.
• The biggest returning big-play threat among the receivers is Tulsa Union sophomore Tracy Moore, who averaged 16.6 yards per reception as a true freshman in 2009. Three of his 11 receptions went for scores.
• A pair of freshmen, redshirt Jeremy Smith and true freshman Joseph Randle, enter the season as Kendall Hunter's understudies.
Walking On Full Speed
OSU has another former professional baseball player on its roster this fall. Freshman linebacker Tyler Johnson, a native of Haskell, Okla., and a former University of Tulsa football signee, joined the Cowboys in August. Johnson, who is on the depth chart at middle linebacker, was rated as the No. 11 player in Oklahoma coming out of high school after starting four years at linebacker and three at running back. Instead, he chose professional baseball and signed with Angels out of high school and spent six years with the organization as an outfielder/first baseman.
Honoring The Blond Bomber
Oklahoma State players will be sporting a decal on their helmets this fall to honor the Blond Bomber. Bob Fenimore, OSU's first All-American and one of the most dominating players of his era, died this summer. His jersey number of 55 is not in use at OSU. He was a two-time All-American, the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft and No. 3 in the Heisman balloting. Fenimore led the nation in total offense, and was third in rushing, eighth in passing, ninth in scoring and 13th in punting in 1944. He still holds the OSU career record with 18 interceptions as a defensive back. OSU was 17-1 during his sophomore and junior seasons with wins in the Cotton and Sugar Bowls. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.
