Rare Saturday Work Day Because in the Cowboy Football World It's Tuesday
STILLWATER – There was some pep in Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy’s step on Saturday as the head coach had been at Pioneer Stadium on Friday night watching his youngest son account for three touchdowns (two rushing and one passing) in Stillwater’s 41-27 win over Arkansas prep powerhouse Greenwood.
First Cowboy Darren Shrum was also there on Friday as he is a football alum of Greenwood. Shrum and Oklahoma State President Dr. Kasey Shrum, her sister, and some of her good friends were also special visitors at the Saturday practice. Gundy used his spectator role on Friday night on his team after the two-and-a-half-hour practice.
“Guys, I was at a game last night, two good teams, but the most physical team won,” Gundy told the Cowboys. “It is always that way in this sport, at every level, the most physical team wins. You need to be the most physical team at the line of scrimmage. If you do that then you have a great chance of winning.”
It is important to remember because Central Michigan is a physical football team. They may not have the speed Oklahoma State has, but they will be tough, and they will play physical.
"I see a tough football team. They've had a few transfers. Just watching last year, they're highly competitive; very physical up front,” Gundy said on Thursday at his first weekly news conference. “They are exactly what, from a distance, I see with that conference. They're physical up front. They're tough. Their back is physical. He's part of what they are. Head coach (Jim McElwain) is a good offensive guy. He's a good play caller. From the outside looking in, they believe in toughness."
The Cowboys had a physical practice on Saturday as in full pads, this was a Tuesday type practice. They will double up on Sunday with a lighter version of a Tuesday practice. Monday the game plan is close to finalized and the Wednesday practice is reflective of that. Tuesday is Thursday on the game week routine and a run through practice of offense, defense, and special teams. Wednesday is a call out and walk through. Spend the night in The Atherton Hotel and Thursday is game day and kickoff at 6 p.m.
Gundy told his players that the schedule at practice lightens up really significantly after tomorrow. The goal is to get the players legs fresh and ready.
Mike Gundy told me on Thursday that one of the positions he is eager to watch is linebacker where our NIL Journal presenter Xavier Benson will start likely with Provo, Utah junior Mason Cobb. Expect tosee plenty of Lamont Bishop and a player that even his teammates and coaches are all anxious to see Nick Martin. Martin has had a strong camp and preseason. I would also keep an eye out for Louisiana native Na’Drian Dizadare, who has had a strong last two weeks in practice.
"(Linebacker) will be an interesting position,” Gundy said in answering the eager question. “Those guys haven't played. You have the same with a couple of safeties and the running back position. Those will be the positions that I'm sure you guys will watch, like myself, to see how mature we are at those positions at this stage in the game."
"I mean we're all new. We're all learning at the same time,” Defensive coordinator Derek Mason said of the linebackers. “Here's the thing. I think it is by committee. I think everybody has stepped into their roles and like there's guys that are playing extremely well, there's guys that are getting better as we go through the process."
Again, the Pokes have a practice early Sunday afternoon and lighter Monday before things really taper down for the Thursday game.