OSU Notebook: Southern comfort

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer - 11/4/2009


Unless Texas stumbles, Oklahoma State can finish no better than second place in the Big 12's South Division.

But if the Cowboys were in the Big 12 North - where every team already has at least two league losses - they might win the division.

"I know," OSU defensive tackle Shane Jarka said. "I feel that way too."

The Cowboys own a four-game winning streak against North Division teams and are 8-2 against the division since 2006.

But, if granted the power to relocate OSU to the North Division, Jarka wouldn't pull the trigger.

"Being in the south is a great challenge," he said. "I like being in the south better anyway because I'm from Texas, so we get to play all the Texas schools and, being from the south, I am more familiar with these teams than the northern teams."

Ball security: Holding onto the ball should be high on OSU's priority list this week. The Cowboys play a road game at Iowa State, which has a knack for forcing turnovers. The Cyclones rank second nationally in turnovers gained (26) behind Ohio.

"They are a very opportunistic team and we're going to have to hold on to the ball," OSU co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said. "Something that enables us to be successful is not turning it over and don't penalize yourself. That's something we didn't do very well the other night (against Texas)."

Texas hangover: Guard Lane Taylor wishes OSU had beaten Texas. "There's nothing we can do about it except just move on," he said.

History says OSU shouldn't be concerned about Texas hangover. Since 2003, the Cowboys are 5-1 in post-Texas games.

Geography lesson: The three most important things in the OSU-ISU series are location, location and location. The Cowboys outscored the Cyclones 95-24 the last two meetings in Stillwater. The Cyclones outscored the Cowboys 65-24 the last two meetings in Ames.





2009 OSU SCHEDULE

Sept. 5: Georgia W, 24-10

Sept. 12: Houston L, 45-35

Sept. 19: Rice W, 41-24

Sept. 26: Grambling W, 56-6

Oct. 10: at Texas A&M W, 36-31

Oct. 17: Missouri W, 33-17

Oct. 24: at Baylor W, 34-7

Oct. 31: Texas L, 41-14

Nov. 7: at Iowa State KTUL-8 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 14: Texas Tech TBA

Nov. 19: Colorado ESPN-25 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 28: at Oklahoma TBA

Dec. 5: Big 12 Championship KTUL-8 7 p.m.



_________________________________________________

Tulsa World Reader Comments
_________________________________________________

PIRANA, Tulsa (11/4/2009 1:43:36 PM)
Go Pokes!!! Beat Iowa State!!!



Email to a Friend
Main Menu