On Location: 2010 AT&T Cotton Bowl

By BO MARCHIONTE

The University of Mississippi Rebels accomplished something only four other teams have managed to do in 74 years of Cotton Bowl play and that’s win back-to-back bowl games by defeating Oklahoma State 21-7. Coach Houston Nutt commented on it immediately in the post game press conference saying, “It’s hard to win back-to-back bowls. It’s very difficult.”

A game that was plagued with turnovers (twelve total) and saw both teams doing their fair share of trying to give the game away, it was Ole Miss who prevailed in front of the second largest Cotton Bowl crowd and the first ever at the new Cowboys Stadium with 77,928 in attendance. The feeling might have been the same if Coach Nutt was on the losing end when Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said, “It’s hard to overcome giving one away. I think it’s tough to swallow. But, you know, we talked as a group in there. I’m not taking anything away from Ole Miss. Every time they made a mistake, we didn’t capitalize on it and take advantage of it”.

Even though both of these high-powered offenses ranked in the top 40 in scoring offense prior to today’s kickoff, the game will be remembered for the turnovers. Coach Nutt said, “It was ugly. I hate that (smiling). I hate the people in the country had to see that because we’re better than that. That infuriates you”.

With a game marred by dysfunctional quarterback play on both sides of the ball, it was Ole Miss senior running back Dexter McCluster (pictured) and now two-time Cotton Bowl MVP, who highlighted the day with 37 carries for 184 yards, along with five catches for 45 yards and two touchdowns. When asked if the heavy workload was a problem McCluster said, “I don’t have a problem with getting the ball that many times. Coach Nutt has the faith in me to take care of the ball. He knows I can make plays happen. I always dreamed about coming in and being a SEC running back”.

McCluster can definitely call himself a SEC running back, becoming the first player in conference history to rush for over 1,000 yards and catch over 500 receiving yards. Coach Nutt added, “To be the only player in the SEC to have over a thousand yards rushing and over 500 yards receiving, nobody, nobody else. Bo Jackson, I’m talking about great players in this league. He’s the only one. But this is why this is so special because this guy had done something. His heart is bigger than this stadium, I promise you”.

On te afternoon, OSU running back Keith Toston (pictured) had more touchdown passes than both teams signal callers combined, Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson and Rebels quarterback Jevan Snead. It was that kind of day. It was as if each team was allowing the other to take the momentum. When asked if this was the most frustrating win he’s ever been involved with, Snead said, “I think it was. Obviously it was frustrating. I’m disappointed with the way that I played”. After a devastating hit, which led to his second interception, Snead came out for freshman quarterback Nathan Stanley, who grew up some 90 miles from Stillwater, Oklahoma in Tahlequah. Stanley replaced Snead with 11:32 in the second quarter.

Coach Nutt commented on Stanley coming in saying, “I was just trying to find something. Jevan wasn’t having his best game. He was turning it over. Sometimes you got to make a tough move. Nathan has got a good arm, made some good plays for us. As it got tighter, I just needed the most experience I had. I had to go back with Jevan”.

As bad as the offenses played, the defenses need to be given their due for forcing those turnovers. The defensive MVP of the 2010 Cotton Bowl was Oklahoma State senior linebacker Andre Sexton, who had ten tackles and two interceptions. Sexton expressed that, “It’s a great award. But it doesn’t really mean that much; we don’t come away with a win”.

Only three offensive touchdowns by two team’s that average 30 points per game during the season. It was a game of big hits and defensive stands with two on the goal line one by each team. It’s games that sometimes go as far away from the norm that make them special and this 2010 AT&T Cotton Bowl was just that.

Photos Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard

CFI Countdown: #12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys

2008 Record: 9-4 (Big XII 5-3)
Bowl Game: Lost Holiday Bowl to Oregon 42-31
Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stadium: Boone Pickens Stadium (48,000)
Head Coach: Mike Gundy
Overall: 27-23 (5th season)
@ Oklahoma St.: 27-23 (5th season)
Link to OSU Football Page

Mike Gundy won four games as a rookie head coach in 2005, and increased that total to seven wins in 2006 and 2007 before winning nine games last year. That was the most by the Pokes since they won ten games in 1988…when some guy named Barry Sanders was running the football and Gundy—not yet a man (couldn’t resist)—was throwing it. This team has a chance to be as good, if not better, than that group of Cowboys.

When the Cowboys Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Gunter Brewer (2nd season)
Scheme: Spread Offense
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: TE Brandon Pettigrew, WR Damian Davis, C David Washington, OG Steve Denning

The well-balanced Cowboys’ attack is led by one of the most balanced quarterbacks in the nation, senior Zac Robinson. He was always dangerous as a runner and has continued to improve as a passer each season in Stillwater. Robinson doesn’t have the strongest arm, but it is strong enough to stretch the field. He excels with the ball in his hands and is the unquestioned leader in the huddle. It doesn’t hurt that he has two explosive weapons in tailback Kendall Hunter and wide receiver Dez Bryant—a pair of exciting juniors. Bryant in particular is a quarterback’s dream, with size, speed, wingspan, and tremendous hands. Throw it up anywhere in Bryant’s zip code and he’s coming down with the football. Bryant can go deep, make plays after the catch, and is nearly unstoppable in the red zone. The one weakness the Pokes have on offense is the lack of depth behind Bryant, which was evident when the Biletnikoff finalist was injured in their bowl loss. It’s unclear who it will be, but somebody needs to step up and take advantage of all the attention Bryant receives. Making that even more important is the loss of tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The running game is unquestioned. Hunter is explosive and has impressive shiftiness and footwork, making tacklers miss, not only in the open field, but in tight spaces as well. He is also stronger than he looks. Providing depth are seniors Keith Toston, who could start for a lot of teams, and Beau Johnson. The line should be solid with both tackles returning, including All-American candidate Russell Okung. Andrew Lewis will move over to take over at center, while both guards will be first-time starters.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) WR Dez Bryant (JR), 2) OT Russell Okung (SR), 3) RB Kendall Hunter (JR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Bill Young (1st season)
Scheme: 4-3
Starters Returning: Six
Key Losses: DT Tonga Tea, CB Jacob Lacey, S Ricky Price

In Derek Burton, Swanson Miller, and Shane Jarka the Cowboys have tackles who should be able to hold down the front and maybe even make some plays from the inside of the defensive line. Moving from end, Burton has excellent athleticism and could be a real force. The player with the most upside, who can be a real difference maker along the defensive line, is junior end Ugo Chinasa. He is a speed pass rusher off the edge who can make his teammates better football players. A big reason for the Cowboys’ defensive struggles in 2008 was their lack of a pass rush—Chinasa has the ability to change that. The Pokes are happy in general with their depth along the line; sophomore Jamie Blatnick is yet another player who could make strides this season. They are solid at the second line of defense with a trio of senior starters—Andre Sexton, Orie Lemon, and Patrick Lavine—returning in 2009. Lemon has good size in the middle, while Sexton, a former safety, makes plays using his speed. Their top defender likely resides in the secondary, as there are high expectations for senior cornerback Perrish Cox. He has the ability to be a lockdown corner and the ball skills to be a big time playmaker in the defensive backfield, something this defense has lacked. Outside of Cox the rest of the DBs will be new to the starting lineup, which may end up being a positive. Another fresh face is defensive coordinator Bill Young, who is aggressive and comes in with a good reputation.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) DE Ugo Chinasa (JR), 2) CB Perish Cox (SR), 3) LB Andrew Sexton (SR)

The Schedule

We will find out very quickly if the 2009 Cowboys are ready for prime time as they host the Georgia Bulldogs in week one. Week two brings a big test to the pass defense, with the prolific Houston Cougars coming to Stillwater—a nice prep for the pass-happy Big XII…as long as the Pokes survive it. In conference play the two games to circle are a home contest to Texas and the season finale in Norman against in-state rivals Oklahoma. Other intriguing conference games include visits from Texas Tech, Missouri, and Colorado, with a trip to Waco to take on the rising Baylor Bears the week before the Texas game—a very dangerous game.

Pivotal Point

It’s all about the defense in big games. Although the Stillwater faithful were happy with their nine wins, there was a sense that something was missing from the 2008 campaign—that signature big win. They lost to their three toughest conference foes in Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech—all from the Big XII South—as well as suffering a defeat in their bowl game against Oregon. For the most part, the defense was the culprit. They held their own in a 28-24 loss to the ‘Horns but allowed 56 points to the Red Raiders in Lubbock, 61 to the Sooners in Boone Pickens Stadium, and 42 to the Ducks in what could have been win number ten. This year they play Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas—it will be hard to label this season a success if they drop all three.

CFI Final Analysis

Oklahoma St.’s offense rivals any in the nation, with the triplets—Robinson, Hunter and Bryant—reminding many of another group of Cowboys (Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin), who were ironically coached by former Poke headman Jimmy Johnson. That is not say this trio will end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but at the college level they are as good as they come. OSU is on the cusp of a huge season…but until they prove it on the field against the big boys, a little skepticism is warranted.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels

Photos Courtesy of Oklahoma St. University

Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma St. vs. Oregon

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

December 30, 2008 * 8:00 * ESPN
Qualcomm Stadium * San Diego, California

This is an intriguing match-up between the second place Ducks from a mediocre Pac-10 conference, and the Cowboys, who finished fourth in the powerful Big 12 South. Oregon is looking to win back-to-back bowls after dropping four straight prior to last season’s win over USF, while Coach Mike Gundy of Oklahoma St. is looking to improve his bowl record to a perfect 3-0.

When the Ducks Have the Ball

Oregon has an incredibly prolific scoring offense, one which ranks seventh in the nation in overall scoring and fourth in the country in rushing. That rushing attack — led by a pair of studs in Jeremiah Johnson and LaGarrette Blount — is the engine that makes the offensive machine run by. Johnson, a senior, just completed his first 1,000-yard season while the junior Blount stands just 72 yards below that mark. Both have more than a dozen touchdowns to their name. They will face an equally talented run defense in the Cowboys. Oklahoma State can be stout, ranked 27th in the nation against the run. It’s the unstoppable force versus the immovable object. If the object starts winning, the Ducks will turn to sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. While Masoli doesn’t stack the yards up, he’s effective when he needs to be. While he was rarely called on to throw for more than 150 yards in a game, the last two games have required Masoli to show more and he responded, throwing for a total of 572 yards and five touchdowns. The Cowboys have a solid defensive squad but have given up more than 50 points twice in losses during the last three games. Both were to high-scoring offenses (Texas Tech and Oklahoma) and while the Ducks aren’t quite in that category, they can score and the Cowboys have shown that they can be scored on.

When the Pokes Have the Ball

As with the Ducks, the Cowboys are used to scoring at will, ranking eighth in the nation with 41.58 points per game and seventh in rushing with 256 yards per game. Sophomore Kendall Hunter has been their bell cow with 1,518 yards and 14 touchdowns to his credit this season, which put him atop the Big 12 in rushing. The Ducks could be up to the task of slowing him down as they rank 24th against the run. They will be tested though and Hunter has the talent to break a long run on occasion. When they aren’t running the ball, the Cowboys will turn to junior quarterback Zac Robinson. Robinson, like Masoli, can be called upon to throw the ball and be successful. He’s more consistent than Masoli and also capable of doing damage on the ground when called upon. Robinson’s most potent weapon is wide receiver Dez Bryant, a 6-2 210 beast who has totaled 200-plus yards twice this season. Robinson and Bryant give the Cowboys a slightly more dynamic overall offense than the Ducks. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is a force both as a pass catcher and a blocker.

Final Analysis

Oklahoma State has scored over 50 points in a game five times this season, all wins. Oregon averages just 28 points allowed though, and will do everything they can to stifle the Cowboy offense. The Ducks will be eager to show that the Beavers and the Trojans aren’t the only Pac-10 teams that can play defense.

Oklahoma St. Cowboys (9-3, 5-3)
Pass: Zac Robinson – 2,735 yards, 24 TDs
Run: Kendall Hunter – 1,518 yards, 14 TDs
Catch: Dez Bryant – 1,313 yards, 18 TDs

Oregon Ducks (9-3, 7-2)
Pass: Jeremiah Masoli – 1,486 yards, 12 TDs
Run: Jeremiah Johnson – 1,082 yards, 12 TDs
Catch: Terence Scott – 626 yards, 5 TDs

The CFI Prediction: Oregon 41, Oklahoma St. 36

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Oklahoma St. University)