JimBob
10-23-2008, 09:11 AM
Osu Notebook
By MATT DOYLE, World sports writer
10/23/2008
Last Modified: 10/23/2008 2:24 AM
New style: Oklahoma State has seen rugby-style punts used against it in games against Washington State and Missouri earlier this season.
Now, the Cowboys are among the teams using that style when they are forced to punt.
Senior punter Matt Fodge had a 51-yard average on his two punts last week against Baylor. One of Fodge's boots was a 58-yarder that OSU downed inside Baylor's 20-yard line.
"Most of the teams using that are trying to eliminate punt returns and make it more difficult for the returner to catch the ball and get the return set up," OSU coach Mike Gundy said.
Punting factor: Both OSU and Texas rank in the NCAA top 10 in net punting average. OSU's Fodge is fourth at 41.3 yards per kick, and Texas' John Gold is eighth at 39.8 yards per punt.
Brown on Bryant: One of Dez Bryant's first breakout games in his 2007 freshman season came against Texas.
Bryant had four catches for 79 yards in Oklahoma State's 38-35 loss to the Longhorns last year.
Over the Cowboys' past 11 games, Bryant has had performances of at least 100 yards and two touchdowns receiving six different times.
Texas coach Mack Brown definitely has taken notice of Bryant.
"Dez is making big plays everywhere. He's big, strong, knocking people out of the way," the Texas coach said. "He's returning kickoffs, returning punts; he's changing games for them."
Cashing in opportunities: OSU has forced 12 turnovers in the past four games. The Cowboys have taken advantage of those takeaways.
OSU has scored six touchdowns and a field goal after those opponent turnovers. Two of those touchdowns were interception returns by Ugo Chinasa and Patrick Lavine against Texas A&M.
Game Day feature: ESPN's College Game Day correspondent Desmond Howard was in Stillwater on Tuesday to film a feature on Bryant and quarterback Zac Robinson. The feature will air on Saturday morning's College Game Day program between 9-11 a.m.
By MATT DOYLE, World sports writer
10/23/2008
Last Modified: 10/23/2008 2:24 AM
New style: Oklahoma State has seen rugby-style punts used against it in games against Washington State and Missouri earlier this season.
Now, the Cowboys are among the teams using that style when they are forced to punt.
Senior punter Matt Fodge had a 51-yard average on his two punts last week against Baylor. One of Fodge's boots was a 58-yarder that OSU downed inside Baylor's 20-yard line.
"Most of the teams using that are trying to eliminate punt returns and make it more difficult for the returner to catch the ball and get the return set up," OSU coach Mike Gundy said.
Punting factor: Both OSU and Texas rank in the NCAA top 10 in net punting average. OSU's Fodge is fourth at 41.3 yards per kick, and Texas' John Gold is eighth at 39.8 yards per punt.
Brown on Bryant: One of Dez Bryant's first breakout games in his 2007 freshman season came against Texas.
Bryant had four catches for 79 yards in Oklahoma State's 38-35 loss to the Longhorns last year.
Over the Cowboys' past 11 games, Bryant has had performances of at least 100 yards and two touchdowns receiving six different times.
Texas coach Mack Brown definitely has taken notice of Bryant.
"Dez is making big plays everywhere. He's big, strong, knocking people out of the way," the Texas coach said. "He's returning kickoffs, returning punts; he's changing games for them."
Cashing in opportunities: OSU has forced 12 turnovers in the past four games. The Cowboys have taken advantage of those takeaways.
OSU has scored six touchdowns and a field goal after those opponent turnovers. Two of those touchdowns were interception returns by Ugo Chinasa and Patrick Lavine against Texas A&M.
Game Day feature: ESPN's College Game Day correspondent Desmond Howard was in Stillwater on Tuesday to film a feature on Bryant and quarterback Zac Robinson. The feature will air on Saturday morning's College Game Day program between 9-11 a.m.