The Bobcat Nation

MSU01 wrote:Post it! We need something to do until 5:00 tomorrow...this work thing isn't holding my attention very well at the moment.

Notebook: Willis' status
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
9/2/2005

Following Thursday's practice in Stillwater, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy would not discuss senior fullback Shawn Willis' status for the opener against Montana State.

Earlier in the week, Gundy said he would decide on Thursday whether Willis would be allowed to play on Saturday. Last week, Willis allegedly forced his way into a trailer home occupied by his former girlfriend.

He was arrested and jailed for about three hours. He has been charged with three misdemeanors -- entering a residence with the intent to commit a crime, malicious injury to property and disturbance by threatening to fight.

Since the alleged incident, Willis has continued to practice with the team.

He started in all 12 games last season, but Willis is listed No. 2 on the current depth chart, behind redshirt freshman John Johnson.

Gundy said he made a decision, but will not release it to the public.

"I have discussed it with the team, but I feel like it would not be fair to Shawn to make it public," Gundy said.

Van Zant sidelined: Sophomore cornerback Martel Van Zant is expected to miss Saturday's game because of a sprained ankle. Junior Grant Jones, a converted safety, should get his first start at cornerback.

Three first-year freshman cornerbacks -- T.J. Bell, Calvin Mickens and Jacob Lacey -- will get playing time against Montana State.

The Cowboy training staff is hopeful that Van Zant can be ready in time for Thursday's game at Florida Atlantic.

While OSU is without a starting cornerback for Saturday's game, Montana State is without its top wide receiver.

Rick Gatewood, described by Gundy as being a Big 12-caliber receiver, has been declared academically ineligible for three games.

Better condition: When defensive end Trumain Carroll battled with leg cramps on Tuesday, it served as a reminder that OSU had a mostly injury-free August.

For the most part, the Cowboys haven't been burdened by muscle pulls and cramps.

Gundy says OSU's players "are in better condition than they've ever been" because of strength coach Rob Glass' conditioning program.

"Everybody stays hydrated and works hard on conditioning, so we've stayed healthy," defensive end Victor DeGrate said.

"I feel more fresh. I feel faster. I feel stronger. You name it, I feel it. If you want to be physically fit, that's the man (Glass) to talk to."

No-name Cowboys: Gundy has removed the names from the backs of OSU's game jerseys.

"I don't want any one person to be different than the other," Gundy said.

"There are certain things in games that single people out, and one of them is the names on the backs of the jerseys."

It's time for Gundyball

Justin Wilmeth
OState.com

After months of anticipation, the Mike Gundy era begins in earnest on the new turf at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma State takes on Montana State Saturday at 6 p.m.



Mike Gundy is ready for his first game as a head coach.
It's a welcome relief to Cowboy fans, who are ready to forget the dismal last half of the 2004 season. It included a bizarre "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" loss to Texas, a plodding and confusing clunker against Texas Tech and finished off with a blasting by Ohio State in the Alamo Bowl.

The offseason saw a lot of changes, from Les Miles going to Louisiana State to Gundy taking over and introducing a young, fresh staff with new schemes on both sides of the ball. Phase II of the stadium project is well underway and the new turf is down and ready to go.

All that's needed now is the first game to actually start. And come tomorrow evening, the 2005 season will have finally begun.

The Cowboys return a mix of youth and experience, starting only two seniors on offense (Charlie Johnson and Luke Frazier), but returning a veteran defensive set. There are notable absences at tailback (Vernand Morency, to the NFL) and in the defensive secondary (Vernon Grant, killed in a car accident in the offseason). OSU has questions at all three skill positions. While Donovan Woods was named the starter earlier this week, it's expected that Bobby Reid will have his share of snaps early in the game. At tailback, Mike Hamilton will take the field first, but backups Calvin Roberts and Julius Crosslin will see the field at different points in the game. As for wide receiver, D'Juan Woods isn't a worry, but it will be interesting to see how Frazier holds up, not to mention slot wideout Tommy Devereaux, who is back after redshirting last season.

The Div. I-AA Bobcats from the Big Sky Conference come into Stillwater with a passing attack and an iffy defense. Quarterback Travis Lulay has so much respect he's on the watch lists for both the Walter Payton and Johnny Unitas awards. Over the course of his career, he's posted 8,117 yards and 40 touchdowns. In fact, he only needs 36 yards against OSU to become the all-time leading passer in MSU history. He also scrambles well. Lulay was the second-leading rusher on the team last season, racking up 371 yards and eight scores. (It should be noted he ran for 504 yards, before accounting for negative yardage from sacks or other losses.)

"He's a really good quarterback from watching him on film," OSU safety Jamie Thompson said. "He's consistent, he's a really good runner, he's athletic and he likes to throw out of the pocket. We've just got to watch out for him."

But to get that record, he'll have to rely on two transfers from Washington State. Last year's leading receiver, Rick Gatewood, is missing the first three games of the season due to eligibility issues.

"The loss of Gatewood hinders our offense in terms of explosiveness and playmaking ability," Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer said. "It will be crucial for us to catch the ball on Saturday. When we catch the ball consistently we have a number of options that will allow us to function offensively."

Those options appear to be Trumaine Murray and Jevon Miller. Both come to Bozeman from Wazzu and are expected to contribute immediately. The running game is average. Last year's starter Justin Domineck returns, but he only rushed for 736 yards last season. He's also a threat to catch passes, as he had 260 receiving yards in 2004.

The Bobcats are one of the better teams in I-AA, hitting the preseason rankings at No. 18. Even so, Kramer realizes his team faces an uphill battle against the Cowboys. MSU, like many I-AA programs, take big-time paydays from major conference schools to help balance athletic department budgets.

"We know that this is a very talented team from one of the best conferences in the country," Kramer said. "We know there will be 50,000 fans wearing orange t-shirts and hanging over the rails screaming at us. This will be a tremendous environment, a lot of fun for our players and a tremendous challenge for everyone in our program."

Montana State at Oklahoma State
Saturday, 6 p.m.
The Daily Line: No Line


Associated Press

D'Juan Woods will be key in helping the Cowboys establish a starting quarterback.
Montana State player to watch: Quarterback Travis Lulay is not a common name to most fans, but the NCAA has recognized his talents by listing him as a candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The senior passed for nearly 3,500 yards last season and also connected for 15 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.
Oklahoma State player to watch: Whoever lines up under center each drive will have the attention of every Cowboys fan in the country. Last year's starter Donovan Woods will start the game but fans should expect to see redshirt freshman Bobby Reid on the field as well, and vying for the starting position.
The inside scoop: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has been hesitant to discuss the quarterback situation even though it is the main focus of his team. Woods will start, but Reid will see time and either quarterback could start any given game this season. Reid is the more gifted passer, but Woods has experience and maturity. The Cowboys are also seeking a replacement for Vernand Morency. Seymore Shaw was the likely replacement but is no longer with the team. Mike Hamilton will start against Montana State.
Notes: Oklahoma State has won nine consecutive home openers dating to a 1995 loss to Nebraska. ... Coach Mike Gundy is a former Cowboys quarterback. ... Gundy was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after Les Miles became the head coach at LSU.
Montana State will win if … Lulay is the second coming of Joe Montana. They will also need to pressure Oklahoma State into mistakes just to stay in the game.
Oklahoma State will win … but the question is how will they win. A new head coach, a new offensive scheme and a new defensive scheme all point to early-season struggles.
The pick: Oklahoma State 35, Montana State 17

Still Tailback U?
Justin Wilmeth
OState.com

It's been the talk of the entire summer: Who will win the top spot?



Hamilton will get the start on Saturday, but there is not a workhorse back in the group like Vernand Morency. Yet, anyway.
And it's been warranted conversation. After all, the quarterback debate has been a big one, with factions of fans behind each player for various reasons.

But that might not even be the most important battle going into the first game of the season against Montana State. After all, no matter who ends up winning the signal-calling job, at least there was a returning starter at the position.

With tailback, nothing could be further from the truth.

Which is surprising that more people aren't talking about who will start at tailback. After all, losing speedster Vernand Morency to the NFL was substantial. If he comes back for his senior season, suddenly you can make a case for the Cowboys to be a really good team and possibly challenge for a spot in the top three of the Big 12 South. Having his style, speed and experience running the ball on offense would give first-year head coach Mike Gundy one less thing to worry about. The current Houston Texan rushed for 1,474 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, helping power the Cowboys to an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. That will be tough to replace in 2005.

And even though Morency was only the No. 1 guy for a season, his experience in the program would have been much-valued this season. He could have been a mentor to the current group of runners for one more go-around. But as it stands now, the backfield race is like an enigma, wrapped in a riddle shrouded in secrecy.

Well, maybe that's too much hyperbole, but you get my drift.

Little has been said about the tailback battle. And if it has, it hasn't generated enough press. But the tailback battle will be just as big – if not bigger – than the QB battle. While it looks as if redshirt freshman Mike Hamilton has secured the starting spot, it's safe to assume that sophomores Julius Crosslin and Calvin Roberts will have their chances to get on the field as well.

Whoever ends up becoming the man in the backfield has a giant set of cleats to fill.

Since the emergence of Terry Miller in the 1970s, OSU has had a nice streak of rushers to hand off to. Ernest Anderson led the way in the early '80s. Then Thurman Thomas came along and dominated the games so much he kept future Heisman Trophy-winner Barry Sanders on the bench. And Sanders' 1988 campaign (2,628 yards, 39 touchdowns) will always be remembered as one of the top seasons in college history. While the dark storm clouds of probation followed Sanders initially, Gerald Hudson still managed to lead the nation in rushing (1,642 yards) on a team which went 4-7 in 1990. He was followed by David Thompson, who had two top-flight seasons in '95 and '96 (3,033 yards combined).

Crosslin definitely has the lead for short yardage situations, and is contention for No. 1 back status.


After a dip in the late '90s, the emergence of current Denver Bronco Tatum Bell brought honor back to the OSU nickname of "Tailback U." Along with Josh Fields and Rashaun Woods, Bell ran roughshod over opponents and drove the team to a 9-4 record and a Cotton Bowl appearance in the 2003 season. That brings us back to Morency's exploits, which were impressive.

So flash forward to the present. The Cowboys have a seemingly-solid top three at tailback, each with his own strengths. Because of each runner's varying styles, offensive coordinator Larry Fedora could choose to mix'n match his backfield like he was eating lunch at Arby's. Hamilton seems like the best-overall package with the most upside, but Roberts has a speedy streak to him and Crosslin could be the between-the-tackles, tough-yards guy.

While platooning at QB is potentially counterproductive, doing so at tailback isn't nearly as dangerous. Doing so with this position would keep defenses guessing and give linemen and linebackers more homework to prepare for each guy.

Will that happen? Yes, but not to the point where there's no real No. 1 guy. At this point, it certainly looks like Hamilton is the man here, which is the right move. But that won't stop the other two from getting handoffs at different points.

The biggest question here is, can Hamilton pick up where Bell and Morency left off? His youth would make the answer lean toward saying no, but his ability and upside make starting him too much to pass up. Crosslin, the main competition for Hamilton most of the spring and summer, is a converted fullback and won't always be the best fit, especially in a one-back shotgun set. As for Roberts, he just came on too late in the competition. He has impressed, but the coaches likely opted for Hamilton because of his overall performance since the spring.

The running game is an important aspect of every college team. And even though the Cowboys are moving to a more high-octane offense, don't think for a second that OSU will abandon its rushing roots.

And now it's up to Hamilton - with help from Crosslin and Roberts - to tie on those cleats and back up the legacy of Sanders and Thomas.

August 31, 2005
The First Challenge
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Jayme Ross
OState.com

It's no secret that the secondary is a weak spot for the Cowboy defense where they will depend on as many as five true freshmen to play immediately. The change in scheme from a 4-2-5 to a traditional 4-3 will help with depth numbers, but it remains to be seen if it will help production. Vance Bedford is a former defensive backs coach in the NFL so the assumptions are that his teaching alone will help a Cowboy secondary that continuously got lit up by a passing offense with any kind of pulse. There are plenty of challenges ahead for this young secondary, and it will get a good test early when Travis Lulay leads his Montana State Bobcats to town Saturday night.




Thompson will anchor an inexperienced defensive backfield this fall

Lulay has been named to the early list for the Johnny Unites Golden Arm Award after passing for 3,485 yards last season and will join the likes of Matt Leinart, Reggie McNeal, and Brad Smith. After starting as a true freshman and helping his team to its first every Big Sky Conference championship, Lulay has passed for over 8,000 yards and only needs 36 more to hold the school record. The Bobcats also return an experienced receiving crew but took a big hit when earlier in the week when senior receiver Rick Gatewood was suspended for the first three games due to academics. Gatewood hauled in 995 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2004. This loss will be somewhat offset by senior Washington State transfers Tramaine Murray and Jevon Miller. Neither player saw action in 2004 but have been around a big program and should help out and the Division I-AA level. Also returning at receiver is 6 foot 2 Chaz Guinn with 591 receiving yards in 2004 and Brandon Roosevelt who grabbed eight passes for 108 yards in only four games. Justin Domineck is also a threat out of the backfield with 260 yard receiving. With a seasoned quarterback and a solid group of receivers, the Bobcat offense should look to air it out against this young and inexperienced Cowboy secondary.

The suspensions of Andrew Alexander, Thomas Wright, and the move of Jeremy Nethon and Jamar Ransom and the tragedy of losing Vernon Grant have put a damper on an already thin group of defensive backs. Mike Gundy has publicly stated the all five true freshman defensive backs will see plenty of action this fall. Jacob Lacey, Calvin Mickens, Andre Sexton, T.J. Bell and Quentin Moore will be forced into the two-deep and will be given opportunity to start. Jamie Thompson and Daniel Mclemore are the only players with significant experience and will be the leaders out of the backfield. Martel Van Zant, Grant Jones and Stephen James saw very limited action last year with the exception of Jones, who has seen two position changes in a year's time. The current starting four are Mclemore and Van Zant at the corners with Thompson and James locking down the two safety spots.



T.J. Bell will see time at corner this season
The pass defense has consistently been in the lower half of the Division I ranks and have been lit up by high octane offenses. Much of the 2004 deficiencies in pass defense have been blamed on the pass rush, and maybe rightfully so. Many Cowboy faithful wanted to see more blitzes and a change up in schemes but when the blitz was called, it was not hard to read and the opposing quarterback audibled to the appropriate check which usually resulted in a decent gain. The personnel on the defensive front looks to be improved, but defense still needs to put pressure on the quarterback from all angles and that's what Bedford's scheme is based on. Obviously the more time you give a quarterback to throw, the more likely the receivers will get open. But, this secondary has to cover better. Sure there were times when receivers eventually got open because of pass rush, but there were plenty of times when the receivers were open immediately after the snap. This will have to change or it will be a long year for the Cowboy defense.


Montana State is a good start to try and change the tide of the past few seasons as they will sling the ball all over the field and challenge this inexperienced secondary. Thompson and Mclemore will be counted on for leadership roles in the absence of Grant and help workout any kinks they may have before Big XII play. Lulay and his Bobcats will not back down so keep an eye out for this matchup on Saturday night.

Scouting Montana State
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Justin Wilmeth
OState.com

While many Oklahoma State fans will be tailgating and barbequing up brisket and pork, they'll be saving dessert for game time because the last course will be served at kickoff.



Lulay has NFL possibilities ahead of him.
That's right, cupcakes for everyone.

That's pretty much what Oklahoma State fans think about the first game of the 2005 season. And while that's pretty much true, Montana State isn't the typical Division I-AA pushover. It's not expected for the Bobcats to seriously challenge the Cowboys for a victory, but MSU has some fight in it and could make things interesting while OSU brushes away the cobwebs.

BOBCATS AT A GLANCE
Location:Bozeman, Montana
Conference: Big Sky (Div. I-AA)
Conference titles: 11 (1964, '66, '67, '68, '72, '76, '79, '82, '84, 2002, '03)
2004 record: 6-5 (4-3 Big Sky)
Top returning player: Quarterback Travis Lulay (pronounced LOO-lay). He is only 36 yards away from becoming MSU's all-time leading passer.
Current ranking: No. 18 (I-AA)
Fact of the week:The Bobcats are the only collegiate program to win national championships on three different levels: 1956 (NAIA), 1976 (NCAA Div. II), 1984 (I-AA).


THE BIG THING YOU NEED TO KNOW…

…About the Bobcat offense: This team begins and ends with quarterback Travis Lulay. Beginning his fourth season as a starter for the Bobcats, the senior has compiled 8,117 passing yards over the course of his career. He has an 18-13 overall record as starter and led MSU to Big Sky titles in 2002 and 2003. His 18 career wins tie him for third on the all-time Bobcat list, behind Paul Dennehy, who played back in the 1970s. In 2004, Lulay threw for 3,099 yards with 14 touchdowns and a 56 percent completion rate. Two former Washington State wide receivers (Jevon Miller and Tramaine Murray) enter the mix, helping offset the loss of Rick Gatewood, who has been suspended for the first three games of the season because of eligibility issues. He caught 64 passes for 995 yards and eight scores last season.Justin Domineck returns at running back, but he was only average last season, posting 736 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. As far as the line is concerned, it appears pretty solid, as only junior Joe Hirst missed considerable playing time last season. The other four big guys are all returning starters and all played in at least 10 games last season, including returning All-America and preseason AA guardJeff Bolton.

…About the Bobcat defense: Not much to worry about at all. Most of the two-deep is littered with junior college transfers or young players. The defense is headed by linebacker Mac Mollohan, who is a two-time All-Big Sky player. The backfield is led by safety Andre Fuller, who had 15 pass breakups last season. The line is a bit of a mess, with a transfer from Arizona (DE Chris Kolone), a 2004 redshirt (NG Louis Saucedo), an unseasoned backup (Aaron Papich) and broken leg victim (Nick Marudas) all coming together to start.

…About the coach: Mike Kramer enters his sixth season at MSU, with a 25-34 record in Bozeman (62-66 overall in 12 years of coaching). The Idaho alum took a team which went 0-11 in his first season in 2000 to back-to-back conference titles in 2002 and 2003. He is also a two-time conference Coach of the Year (1997, 2002).

OVERALL THOUGHTS
While the Bobcats might scare the untested OSU secondary early, that should work itself out as the game goes on. The running game looks to be of little threat, especially considering the Cowboys' front seven appear to be pretty solid coming into the season. It could get ugly for the Bobcats when they're on defense, as they'll over-focus on D'Juan Woods – leaving other receivers open – or the OSU backfield (whether it be a quarterback or tailback) to run wild. Their D-line hasn't played a game together yet, which should be a big advantage for the Cowboys.

Prediction: Cupcakes for everyone in orange as the Cowboys get off to a slow start but soon adjust to Lulay and end up cruising to a 42-17 victory.

Montana State might be OSU’s toughest non-conference game

By Mike Baldwin
The Oklahoman

STILLWATER - Oklahoma State players flunked the pop quiz.

What is Montana State’s nickname? Which conference do they play in? Name the quarterback. What city is the campus located? Who is the head coach?

Linebacker Lawrence Pinson and safety Jamie Thompson correctly guessed Bobcats. Pinson’s answer on MSU’s quarterback (Lovar) was close (Travis Lulay). Bobby Reid correctly named the Big Sky Conference. No one knew Mike Kramer was the head coach. As for the campus, one guess was Saint Helen’s. The correct response: Bozeman, Mont.

So why should fans - or players for that matter - get excited about OSU’s season opener Saturday night against a Division I-AA team?

“It’s not so much who we play, it’s how we play,” Pinson said. “We’ve changed a lot of things. Our offense is new, a no-huddle scheme. On defense, we have a new (4-3) scheme, a new style of play. The fans won’t be disappointed. They’ll see something exciting.”

OSU’s sea of orange might see something exciting from the opponent. Lulay, from Aumsville, Ore., has thrown for 8,117 yards in his career. Lulay doubles as the punter, so a fake always is a possibility.

MSU might be the Cowboys’ toughest non-conference game. The Bobcats are ranked No. 18 in I-AA.

The Sporting News ranked Florida Atlantic 119th, the worst team in I-A. The Cowboys play Florida Atlantic on Thursday in Miami. Sports Illustrated ranked Arkansas State, the Sept. 17 opponent at Boone Pickens Stadium, fourth from the bottom (115th).

“It really doesn’t matter who we play, where we play or if they’re I-AA or I-A,” Reid said. “I’m so eager to get out and play and have some fun. My mind set is they’re trying to take something away from us.”

OSU has several intriguing story lines besides the high-profile quarterback competition between Reid and Donovan Woods:

Can a revamped defensive line deliver a consistent pass rush? Will one of three tailbacks emerge? Will OSU’s inexperienced secondary be a liability? Which receivers step up to complement D’Juan Woods? Can the special teams be special again?

“We have some young kids we need to evaluate, whether they can play under fire,” said assistant head coach Joe DeForest. “This will be a good test. They’ll (Montana State) throw the ball a lot. Good or bad, we’ll find out some things on Saturday.”

MSU has played I-A schools. The Bobcats lost to Colorado State (39-14) last season and to Wyoming (21-10) in 2003. The Bobcats lost the two previous years to Washington State (45-28 and 53-28).

“It will be pretty exciting to experience Big 12 football,” Lulay said. “They have some big boys you don’t see much in the Big Sky. We know we’ll have to play sound in every phase. Hopefully, we can make a ball game out of it. We see it as a challenge, but it would be a lie if I said I didn’t think we could go in there and win.”

With OSU working on a new offense, combined with the Bobcats’ pass-happy, one-back offense, fans might witness 80 or pass attempts.

“They look a little like Texas Tech the way they throw the ball,” Thompson said. “It’s going to be a long game. I always view every opponent the same, whether it’s Montana State or Texas Tech.”

SIDEBAR:

Montana State at Oklahoma State

6 P.M. SATURDAY

# Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater

# KXXY-FM 96.1

Scouting MONTANA STATE

Coach: Mike Kramer (sixth season 25-34).

Last year’s record: 6-5

Offense: One-back, multiple.

Defense: 3-4

Players to watch: QB Travis Lulay has started 32 consecutive games, thrown for 8,117 yards and was a first-team all-conference punter (42.2 average)... LB Mac Mollohan led the team in tackles (86) and is two-time All-Big Sky... OT Jeff Bolton was named second-team All-American by AP... LB Clive Lowe moves to outside linebacker in a new 3-4 scheme... SS Ryan Force was third on the team in tackles (64)... RB Justin Domineck rushed for 736 yards and had 260 receiving yards... WR Rick Gatewood (64 catches, 995 yards) is academically ineligible the first three games, but WR Chaz Guinn had 51 catches last season and WR Tramaine Murray transferred from Washington State.

Key stat: MSU’s Travis Lulay attempted 490 passes last season, OSU’s Donovan Woods 187.

Extra points: MSU’s campus in Bozeman actually is closer to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming (81 miles) than it is to Helena (94) or Billings (141)... Actor Gary Cooper, star of Pride of the Yankees,, attended MSU... The Bobcats have three national titles - the Division II national championship in 1976; I-AA national title in 1984; the NAIA title in 1956... Late Late Show host Craig Kilborn, a former ESPN SportsCenter anchor, was a part-time starter on the MSU basketball team in 1986.

http://www.newsok.com/article/16011...late=sports/osu
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Greg Bartlett
918-527-8441
greg@gregbartlett.net