JimBob
12-03-2007, 08:50 AM
Teams are hungry for bowl win
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
12/3/2007
Hoosiers play for late coach, and Cowboys seek success.
STILLWATER -- Motivation will not be a problem for Oklahoma State as it prepares for the Insight Bowl later this month against Indiana.
That's a comforting thought for Cowboys coach Mike Gundy, because motivation will not be an issue at all for the Hoosiers, either.
Indiana's slogan of "Let's play 13" was not just a simple motto or catch phrase. It was a mind-set and lasting tribute to its former coach Terry Hoeppner, who died on June 19 after an 18-month bout with a brain tumor.
"Everything we do is based on the foundation Hep laid," said Hoeppner's replacement, Bill Lynch, earlier this year. "Our goal is 'Let's play 13.' That's what Hep always talked about."
Both the Cowboys (6-6) and Hoosiers (7-5) will play 13 games this season. The 19th Insight Bowl is 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31 in Tempe, Ariz.
Gundy said he expects Indiana will be motivated by fulfilling the goal set by their late coach and earning the program's first bowl berth in 14 years.
The OSU coach knows incentive always is a concern for teams that do not play in non-New Year's Day bowl games. Gundy and his players do not expect that issue will be a problem.
"Some teams rally and enjoy being around each other and they play better as the year goes on. Some teams don't and they don't enjoy being around each other for another week or month," Gundy said. "Those teams usually don't play well in a bowl game.
"But I sense that our team is very excited about being together and will prepare and play well in the game."
The Cowboys finished the regular season 6-6 for the second consecutive year. Last year, there was excitement about returning to bowl competition after a one-year absence. Playing a traditional name program like Alabama in the Independence Bowl helped OSU's motivation factor for that game.
OSU had hoped the 34-31 Independence Bowl win over Alabama would provide a springboard to more success this season.
But this season's 6-6 record has been viewed as disappointing in some circles.
"We had an unbelievable team this year and we had our ups and our downs," senior defensive end Marque Fountain said. "But I think people know we have a good football team. We did let some games slip away. But we have the opportunity to end on a high note and let people know we still do have a good football team."
The Insight Bowl provides one final opportunity for the Cowboys to show they have a good football team.
"These are opportunities you rarely get back," senior linebacker Jeremy Nethon said. "For the seniors, this is the end of the road for us. It's a family thing for us. You don't want to see a family member go off being unhappy."
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
12/3/2007
Hoosiers play for late coach, and Cowboys seek success.
STILLWATER -- Motivation will not be a problem for Oklahoma State as it prepares for the Insight Bowl later this month against Indiana.
That's a comforting thought for Cowboys coach Mike Gundy, because motivation will not be an issue at all for the Hoosiers, either.
Indiana's slogan of "Let's play 13" was not just a simple motto or catch phrase. It was a mind-set and lasting tribute to its former coach Terry Hoeppner, who died on June 19 after an 18-month bout with a brain tumor.
"Everything we do is based on the foundation Hep laid," said Hoeppner's replacement, Bill Lynch, earlier this year. "Our goal is 'Let's play 13.' That's what Hep always talked about."
Both the Cowboys (6-6) and Hoosiers (7-5) will play 13 games this season. The 19th Insight Bowl is 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31 in Tempe, Ariz.
Gundy said he expects Indiana will be motivated by fulfilling the goal set by their late coach and earning the program's first bowl berth in 14 years.
The OSU coach knows incentive always is a concern for teams that do not play in non-New Year's Day bowl games. Gundy and his players do not expect that issue will be a problem.
"Some teams rally and enjoy being around each other and they play better as the year goes on. Some teams don't and they don't enjoy being around each other for another week or month," Gundy said. "Those teams usually don't play well in a bowl game.
"But I sense that our team is very excited about being together and will prepare and play well in the game."
The Cowboys finished the regular season 6-6 for the second consecutive year. Last year, there was excitement about returning to bowl competition after a one-year absence. Playing a traditional name program like Alabama in the Independence Bowl helped OSU's motivation factor for that game.
OSU had hoped the 34-31 Independence Bowl win over Alabama would provide a springboard to more success this season.
But this season's 6-6 record has been viewed as disappointing in some circles.
"We had an unbelievable team this year and we had our ups and our downs," senior defensive end Marque Fountain said. "But I think people know we have a good football team. We did let some games slip away. But we have the opportunity to end on a high note and let people know we still do have a good football team."
The Insight Bowl provides one final opportunity for the Cowboys to show they have a good football team.
"These are opportunities you rarely get back," senior linebacker Jeremy Nethon said. "For the seniors, this is the end of the road for us. It's a family thing for us. You don't want to see a family member go off being unhappy."