JimBob
01-01-2008, 08:54 AM
OSU offense too good for Hoosiers
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
1/1/2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -- There were times this season when Oklahoma State looked almost unstoppable.
It seemed that way for the first 30 minutes of the Insight Bowl.
The Cowboys, with all of their offensive pieces in place for one of the few times this year, simply overwhelmed Indiana.
"The story of the game is Oklahoma State is very good," said Indiana coach Bill Lynch.
Quarterback Zac Robinson was nearly perfect, and OSU could do no wrong in the first half of a 49-33 victory over the Hoosiers on Monday night at Sun Devil Stadium.
"Obviously, we got off to a fast start," said OSU coach Mike Gundy.
No kidding. Oklahoma State's wealth of offensive talent was on full display, including future stars Robinson and wide receiver Dez Bryant (nine catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns).
Five Cowboys scored touchdowns.
It was the first game since offensive coordinator Larry Fedora left the Cowboys to take the head coaching job at Southern Mississippi. OSU didn't seem to miss a beat.
"Our offensive staff put together a good game plan and our players went out and executed it," said Gundy.
After O-State blitzed the Hoosiers with three first-quarter touchdowns, Indiana never got closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
"Their (Cowboys) offense was just outstanding," said Lynch. "(Dantrell) Savage is awfully good. Their quarterback is awfully good. Their offensive line is awfully good."
It was the kind of offensive punch State had shown often this year.
The Cowboys hammered Indiana for 513 yards, the seventh time this season OSU has gained more than 500 yards in a game.
However, on this night, the Cowboys played enough defense to get away from the Hoosiers and stay safely in the lead.
"Those defensive stops in the first half allowed us to get three scores ahead," said Gundy.
That lack of defense was a season-killer earlier this year in losses to Texas and Texas A&M.
Not in this game. Indiana trailed 42-17 before scoring 16 points in the final seven minutes of the game.
By that time, the Cowboys had punched in plenty of points to salvage some good feelings from a season that could have been so much more.
O-State reminded its fans just how good it could be at times during the first half of this game.
"I'm so impressed with their offense, because they are so balanced," said Lynch. "They have a very good running game, and when you account for that, their quarterback is a very good passer.
"And, really, all of their receivers are very good."
OSU scored touchdowns the first five times it got the ball. It was nearly a sixth, if Robinson had not been picked off as the clock wound down to halftime.
Up to that point, the Hoosiers simply could not stop OSU. Actually, Indiana had been unable to even slow down the Cowboys as State rolled to a 35-10 halftime lead.
Then, early in the second half, Oklahoma State answered Indiana's quick score with one of its own for a 42-17 lead.
That was six touchdowns in eight tries for the Cowboys.
"We got beat by a better team with a great offense," said Lynch.
From that point, early in the second half, Oklahoma State played conservatively.
"We got somewhat conservative," said Gundy. "We just wanted to run clock and be smart."
It allowed the Cowboys to get to seven victories on the season and at a bowl game for the second straight year.
The way Oklahoma State romped past the Hoosiers will serve to remind OSU fans of what could have been.
The Cowboys, who had one of the nation's most lethal offenses, were on the verge of much more this season.
However, a leaky defense and second-half collapses kept the Cowboys from contending in the Big 12 Conference.
On this night, the defense was just good enough to allow O-State to get away to the big lead and cruise home with the easy victory.
O-State scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, without any help (turnovers) from Indiana.
The Cowboys simply went down the field with ease three times.
In the first quarter alone, OSU had 169 yards and 10 first downs.
By halftime, and another pair of long drives, the Cowboys were up to 20 first downs and 322 yards.
The first five times OSU had the ball, it went 67, 53, 54, 57 and 63 yards for touchdowns.
"I did feel like we were faster if we could get our guys out in space," said Gundy.
Four OSU players scored in the first half, including a couple of short runs by Robinson.
Robinson also threw for a couple of touchdowns, one to a wide open Adarius Bowman and a great 24-yard diving catch by Bryant.
It was Oklahoma State's most dominant first-half performance since it led 38-0 at Nebraska.
Just like at Lincoln, the Cowboys showed they had learned their lessons of this season.
They played enough defense to make another great offensive night turn into a victory.
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
1/1/2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -- There were times this season when Oklahoma State looked almost unstoppable.
It seemed that way for the first 30 minutes of the Insight Bowl.
The Cowboys, with all of their offensive pieces in place for one of the few times this year, simply overwhelmed Indiana.
"The story of the game is Oklahoma State is very good," said Indiana coach Bill Lynch.
Quarterback Zac Robinson was nearly perfect, and OSU could do no wrong in the first half of a 49-33 victory over the Hoosiers on Monday night at Sun Devil Stadium.
"Obviously, we got off to a fast start," said OSU coach Mike Gundy.
No kidding. Oklahoma State's wealth of offensive talent was on full display, including future stars Robinson and wide receiver Dez Bryant (nine catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns).
Five Cowboys scored touchdowns.
It was the first game since offensive coordinator Larry Fedora left the Cowboys to take the head coaching job at Southern Mississippi. OSU didn't seem to miss a beat.
"Our offensive staff put together a good game plan and our players went out and executed it," said Gundy.
After O-State blitzed the Hoosiers with three first-quarter touchdowns, Indiana never got closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
"Their (Cowboys) offense was just outstanding," said Lynch. "(Dantrell) Savage is awfully good. Their quarterback is awfully good. Their offensive line is awfully good."
It was the kind of offensive punch State had shown often this year.
The Cowboys hammered Indiana for 513 yards, the seventh time this season OSU has gained more than 500 yards in a game.
However, on this night, the Cowboys played enough defense to get away from the Hoosiers and stay safely in the lead.
"Those defensive stops in the first half allowed us to get three scores ahead," said Gundy.
That lack of defense was a season-killer earlier this year in losses to Texas and Texas A&M.
Not in this game. Indiana trailed 42-17 before scoring 16 points in the final seven minutes of the game.
By that time, the Cowboys had punched in plenty of points to salvage some good feelings from a season that could have been so much more.
O-State reminded its fans just how good it could be at times during the first half of this game.
"I'm so impressed with their offense, because they are so balanced," said Lynch. "They have a very good running game, and when you account for that, their quarterback is a very good passer.
"And, really, all of their receivers are very good."
OSU scored touchdowns the first five times it got the ball. It was nearly a sixth, if Robinson had not been picked off as the clock wound down to halftime.
Up to that point, the Hoosiers simply could not stop OSU. Actually, Indiana had been unable to even slow down the Cowboys as State rolled to a 35-10 halftime lead.
Then, early in the second half, Oklahoma State answered Indiana's quick score with one of its own for a 42-17 lead.
That was six touchdowns in eight tries for the Cowboys.
"We got beat by a better team with a great offense," said Lynch.
From that point, early in the second half, Oklahoma State played conservatively.
"We got somewhat conservative," said Gundy. "We just wanted to run clock and be smart."
It allowed the Cowboys to get to seven victories on the season and at a bowl game for the second straight year.
The way Oklahoma State romped past the Hoosiers will serve to remind OSU fans of what could have been.
The Cowboys, who had one of the nation's most lethal offenses, were on the verge of much more this season.
However, a leaky defense and second-half collapses kept the Cowboys from contending in the Big 12 Conference.
On this night, the defense was just good enough to allow O-State to get away to the big lead and cruise home with the easy victory.
O-State scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, without any help (turnovers) from Indiana.
The Cowboys simply went down the field with ease three times.
In the first quarter alone, OSU had 169 yards and 10 first downs.
By halftime, and another pair of long drives, the Cowboys were up to 20 first downs and 322 yards.
The first five times OSU had the ball, it went 67, 53, 54, 57 and 63 yards for touchdowns.
"I did feel like we were faster if we could get our guys out in space," said Gundy.
Four OSU players scored in the first half, including a couple of short runs by Robinson.
Robinson also threw for a couple of touchdowns, one to a wide open Adarius Bowman and a great 24-yard diving catch by Bryant.
It was Oklahoma State's most dominant first-half performance since it led 38-0 at Nebraska.
Just like at Lincoln, the Cowboys showed they had learned their lessons of this season.
They played enough defense to make another great offensive night turn into a victory.