TW:OSU Notebook

[JimBob]

OSU Notebook

By BILL HAISTEN, World sports writer
Published: 12/26/2008 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 12/26/2008 3:05 AM

Wet workout: The Oklahoma State football team arrived in San Diego on Wednesday night. On Thursday night, the Cowboys were in full pads for a two-hour practice session at the University of San Diego.

During most of the session, the Cowboys were soaked by steady rain. Coach Mike Gundy called it a driving rainstorm.

On Tuesday, 13th-ranked OSU faces 15th-ranked Oregon in the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. The Cowboys will practice each day before the game, but team activities also are scheduled for Friday (a tour of the San Diego Zoo), Saturday (a trip to SeaWorld) and Sunday (lunch aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard).

"I think (the Cowboys) are a mentally tough team," Gundy said. "We practiced three times (in Stillwater) before we came out here, and the wind chill was about 10 degrees.

"During a bowl practice, at times it can be difficult to get results from a team, but these guys understand that there is work that has to be done."

Not involved: Terrance Anderson, used as a nickel back in the secondary, is one of three OSU players who did not make the trip to San Diego. Also remaining in Stillwater were backup offensive lineman Trent Perkins and freshman cornerback Markelle Martin.

Gundy would not elaborate on any reason why the players did not travel to the bowl game.

Cole update: Gundy confirmed that sophomore wide receiver William Cole, who had been a highly regarded recruit from Cedar Hill, Texas, was dismissed from the program during the regular season.

Cole sustained a serious knee injury during the preseason and did not play this year. Academically, he finished the semester at OSU while recovering from the injury. Gundy said he does not know whether Cole intends to transfer and resume his career elsewhere.

[snuffy]

"Not involved: Terrance Anderson, used as a nickel back in the secondary, is one of three OSU players who did not make the trip to San Diego. Also remaining in Stillwater were backup offensive lineman Trent Perkins and freshman cornerback Markelle Martin.

Gundy would not elaborate on any reason why the players did not travel to the bowl game.

Cole update: Gundy confirmed that sophomore wide receiver William Cole, who had been a highly regarded recruit from Cedar Hill, Texas, was dismissed from the program during the regular season."

Can anyone shed light on what happened to these guys?

[osufireman]

I'm pretty sure the term "student-athlete" has something to do with it.

Especially the STUDENT part.

[jbug]

With Cole one might also add 'attitude'...as in P-poor!!
We are getting some very good prospects but we are
not holding on to about 20 % of the ones that are
highly regarded/recruited. This seems a little HIGH to
moi. Anyone else have input on this subject?

[MemphisPoke]

With Cole one might also add 'attitude'...as in P-poor!!
We are getting some very good prospects but we are
not holding on to about 20 % of the ones that are
highly regarded/recruited. This seems a little HIGH to
moi. Anyone else have input on this subject?

The transition from high school to college is a huge step. You have those players that understand that they are not the big man on campus anymore and you have those that don't. You also have those that think that they will be passed simply because they are a football player.

Now is this the case for these young men? I don't know. I am just saying that this scenario would not be the first time it has happened and will not be the last.

[osufireman]

With Cole one might also add 'attitude'...as in P-poor!!
We are getting some very good prospects but we are
not holding on to about 20 % of the ones that are
highly regarded/recruited. This seems a little HIGH to
moi. Anyone else have input on this subject?

It's not quite that high jbug.... depending on what you consider "highly regarded/recruited". If you only want to talk about 4 to 5 star players (like Cole was) we've signed 14 of those since Gundy took over and Cole is the only one we've lost.

If you extend it to include highly rated 3 star players (Rivals ranking 5.6 - 5.7) we've signed 43 of those since Gundy took over and have lost 6. And that's including DuPree (who never made it to campus) and Broadway (who made it 4 years).

I would venture to guess that OSU's retention rate for recruits is no worse than any other program and maybe even a little better. Players get hurt, get homesick or flunk out of every program and we're not different.

The difference is what is the quality of the backup that is put into that spot when it becomes open.

[Verb]

I often wonder how the numbers would look if you compared the number of athletes who quit school to the general college population. I'll bet it's comparable. Some people just don't adjust well to college, whether it's socially, academically or for other reasons.

[cactusjack]

Its hard to take care of football and academics, even with all the help that they are offered. When you are 18 and you had no study habits to begin with, and all of these girls and bars everywhere.....we are really lucky we don't lose more kids to academics.

[jakeman]

I often wonder how the numbers would look if you compared the number of athletes who quit school to the general college population. I'll bet it's comparable. Some people just don't adjust well to college, whether it's socially, academically or for other reasons.

I'd bet it's higher for the general college population. Lots of things in place to keep these athletes "in the fold". Not so much for Joe/Jane Schmuck just making their way around college life. Of the freshman guys I knew when I was a freshman, I'd bet less than half ever graduated from oSu. I know of at least a couple that got their degrees elsewhere, the others just left and were never heard from again.

I don't think I would have wanted to try to juggle being an athlete with school. It's gotta be hard. But lots and lots of kids do it somewhere every day.