Cowboys, Gundy will find Media Days spotlight
FRISCO, TEXAS — Oklahoma State heads to Big 12 Media Days as a serious contender for the league championship, perhaps more.
The Cowboys representatives — quarterback Mason Rudolph, receiver James Washington, linebacker Chad Whitener and punter Zach Sinor — should be ready to be peppered with questions on how they can conquer the Big 12, including unseating Bedlam rival Oklahoma; the possibilities of their loaded and explosive offense; and their coach’s ongoing eccentricities when they take the stage on Tuesday.
Three other storylines:
Heisman hopefuls
OSU is pushing not one, not two, but three players for the Heisman: Rudolph, Washington and ... Sinor. OK, Sinor is just for fun, even if he is one of the nation’s most effective punters who insists he can recall his early high school quarterbacking days and fire a pass for some sublime trick play. The Ray Guy Award, now that’s within Sinor’s sights.
Rudolph and Washington are legit, especially in an offense that should fully feature their skills.
The odds favor Rudolph as OSU’s best candidate, as the triggerman of the multi-threat offense and knowing that quarterbacks have claimed six of the past seven Heismans and 15 of the last 18. Not since Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991 has a receiver struck the pose.
Still, if Rudolph is paying attention, he isn’t showing it, brushing aside all chatter about individual awards, so as not to be distracted.
“My thought process, my philosophy, is don’t buy into any of this hype,” he said. “And every single day in practice — routes on air, seven on seven, every single rep — treat it like it’s your last.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys. My job as the leader of this offense is to bring those guys in, put my wing around them and make sure they understand the offense and they have all the resources they need to be successful.”
Defensive developments
There are a lot of new faces and some old faces in new places on the defensive side of the ball.
New tackles and corners are needed, along with two linebackers and a safety replacement for top tackler Jordan Sterns. How will it all shake out, with intriguing matchups — Tulsa, at Pittsburgh, TCU and Texas Tech — greeting the Cowboys before the end of September?
Are the kids ready? How’s the health of Jordan Brailford and Vili Leveni? Will the shifts of Ramon Richards and Darius Curry from corner to safety provide major impact? Who’s ready to rise and surprise?
Whitener, the savvy and cerebral man in the middle of the defense, as well as one of the team’s primary leaders, can offer his take on the key developments from spring and throughout the offseason.
Mullet matters
It was at these Media Days a year ago that Mike Gundy’s mullet made news.
And the story grew, along with Gundy’s locks, which kept creeping beyond his collar. There have been reports —
reports! — that the mullet underwent a muchneeded trim in recent weeks.
Expect plenty of updates and snapshots of the back of Gundy’s head upon his arrival.