STILLWATER – The last question that Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy said he asks recruits before he accepts a commitment from them is “how much do you love football?” Gundy says the answer is important and it has to be adequate because a college football player at the Power Five level has a commitment of time and effort that is only filled if that person really loves football. I see that on a daily basis every time I’m inside the West End Zone or the Sherman Smith Training Center.
My guess is that Gundy heard exactly what he needed to and what the media heard Wednesday evening from the younger of the two Harper brothers that play on the Oklahoma State team. The answer was emphatic and I’m not sure it was what the reporter asking the question wanted to hear.
“As for me, I love to play football and I could play year-round. I love to play the game,” exclaimed “strike” safety Thomas Harper. Harper, a sophomore, had his first career interception in the third quarter at TCU last week. He is the younger brother of linebacker Devin Harper and was quite the playmaker in high school as he played both ways and returned kicks and punts.
In fact, later I asked him about returning kicks. Harper was pretty good at it back at Karns High School in Knoxville, Tenn. I asked him if he is still in the mix to returning kicks, maybe even punts at Oklahoma State.
“I’m still doing that here and I hope to move up the depth chart next season and return kickoffs with Brennen (Presley), he added. I cover him in practice everyday and I can tell you 80 is a great player.”
Yes, Harper loves football and his response about playing year-round came out of a question from Tulsa World reporter Guerin Emig, who was looking into the hardship and strife players have had to deal with, the sacrifices in the pandemic season. Harper wasn’t the best subject for that topic.
“It will be a relief (season ending) with all the testing and meetings, hectic schedule,” added Harper. “But as far as the game, I wish we could play the game year-round. As far as the testing and other stuff outside of football, yeah that will be good (the end).”
Desire is a strong emotion, Harper has it and so does the other interview subject the media had a chance to speak to on Wednesday.
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Amen Ogbongbemiga is a leader to younger players like Thomas Harper.
I spoke to linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and the new record holder for most fumbles caused in a game with three at TCU said the experience has encouraged him to go for it more, striping the ball and working for the fumble. He explained the reasoning behind it was to
"I just try to make as many impact plays as I can and try to change the game,” the senior inside linebacker from Canada said. “That's kind of the mindset of everybody on the defensive side of the ball, change the game, put it into your hands. During the game I had no idea, I was just like, let me keep giving the offense a chance to score. I even tried to score. Brock (Martin) scored. If we've got to do it, that's what we've got to do. It's obviously a great accomplishment. I'm happy to be in that position, but everybody's just got the mentality to just take over the game and you never know who it's going to be. Luckily, it was me that game."
Not as many fumbles likely at Baylor as the Bears aren’t running the ball much these days, but there could be interceptions and Harper said the secondary is all worked up about the challenge of making plays for Saturday night in Waco. It helps if you love football.
