Bowl Prep Takes a Holiday with Christmas for both Pokes and Miami

STILLWATER – The Cheez-It Bowl between No. 21 Oklahoma State and No. 18 Miami, Fla. kicks off on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. central time, but this is Christmas Dec. 25 and a time for family, food, and celebration. As a result not a football blocking dummy was stirring, not even one. Practice fields in Stillwater and Miami were quiet on Christmas Day. 

“We're letting our team go home for three days for Christmas. We'll get back together for a day (actually two with practices on Saturday and Sunday) and then we'll take off and, and it will play at the bowl so this will be more like a traditional week for us, which is about three practices, “ Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said earlier in the week.

Somethings have happened with the holidays at home as receiver Dillon Stoner, pictured at the top of the story making a touchdown catch the last time the Pokes were in Orlando playing in the Camping World Bowl, got engaged Christmas Eve. The time off made a difference in many ways.

“We made the decision to, to let our players go home and spend time with their families over Christmas,” added Gundy. “We thought that was more important than the extra practice days during this time of year with all the players have dealt with because of the virus.”

That news was very well received by the players and a happy motivated team is better in bowl games. We know that.

In Miami, the Hurricanes had last weekend off and this week was prep for the Cowboys and the bowl, but Miami head coach Manny Diaz said on radio this week that they were going to take Christmas Eve and Christmas off. 

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Diaz greets his QB King in a game earlier this season.

“We will take some time on Thursday and Friday for Christmas,” Diaz said on WQAM Radio in a weekly interview. “What helps us is we have so many of our players here locally. Imagine if you’re from far away. School has been out in most of these places since December so you’ve got a group of kids sitting in their dorms or apartments or some foreign place that they really would rather not be in the winter time, and that stinks also. Sometimes they’ve been sitting around waiting three or four extra weeks for a bowl game, so you can see where that becomes very difficult. Our guys will be more excited to get the bowl game played sooner rather than later so they can get a break. They need some time off, because nothing has been easy.” 

Gundy has been consistent in the face of media questions sugesting the Cowboys might not be  as interested in playing in a bowl game after a season where they were thought to be a Big 12 contender and suffered not so much trouble with COVID-19 but massive offensive line issues in the form of injuries and off the field trouble as two offensive linemen, including starter Bryce Bray were dismissed off the team.

Rod Adelotte

Mike Gundy with his team at Baylor.

“Well, our team made the decision to move forward and play and we were excited about that,” Gundy said. “I'm a strong believer that we finish what we start, so I was happy that the team wanted to stay together and get three or four more practices to get, and then have an opportunity to play in the bowl game.”

One of the match-ups that is getting early attention is the Miami offense, featuring Houston trasfer dual threat quarterback D’Eriq King and his 3,093-yards of total offense, 309-yards a game and the veteran laden Oklahoma State defense. 

“We have a very mature defense with a lot of experience. We feel like we run really well,” Gundy said. “That's why this game will be interesting. I have seen Miami play some -- not a lot, maybe a game, a game and a half, I can't remember, but I know they have tremendous speed.”

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Brock Martin has been a monster pass rusher in the last month of the season.

“They’ve been impressive this year defensively,” Diaz, a defensive coach by trade, said of the Cowboys defense. “Most defenses struggle with dual-threat quarterbacks, so there's a reason why those guys are a problem D’Eriq has given a lot of people problems, but again it comes back to balance. You’ve got to be able to run the football and you got to be able to complete the passes that are there because Oklahoma State does like to challenge and get in your face on their pass defense. I think our offense will really have to play well to be able to move the ball on Oklahoma State. “

With Trace Ford out injured that will put even more of a premium on Brock Martin, who has been brilliant in the past month. Martin is up to 2.5 sacks and 6tackles for loss along with a scoop and score with a fumble at TCU. Most of those number have come recently. Adding to it in Orlando would be nice.