Season in balance
Resiliency told the story of Cornelius’ time with Cowboys
A win in the Liberty Bowl means a winning season for the OSU Cowboys.
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Taylor Cornelius leaned against a golf cart parked in a tunnel beneath TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium with a couple of ice packs strapped to his banged-up body. Asked to mentally step back from the 31-24 loss his team had just suffered on Thanksgiving weekend, and describe how he felt about his senior season as a whole, Cornelius had no hesitancy. “Worth the wait,” said the fifthyear senior and one-year starter, trying to smile through the pain of another frustrating defeat during a 6-6 season. In the minds of teammates, coaches, fans and anyone who has watched him this season, opinions of Cornelius’ lone season as Oklahoma State’s quarterback will cover a wide array. Those who best know what he endured over four-plus years just to get a chance to quarterback the
Cowboys, and then witnessed what he did with the opportunity, saw a player who will leave a legacy rooted in strength.
“Resilience,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “He’s been really tough and he’s played big in big games. I’m really proud of the young man and how he’s handled himself, for how he’s played and the toughness he’s shown. He’s not the most vocal guy, but he leads with his heart.”
Corndog’s last ride comes Monday, when Oklahoma State takes on Missouri at 2:45 p.m. in the Liberty Bowl, televised by ESPN.
A former walk-on from the tiny panhandle town of Bushland, Texas, Cornelius’ first start nearly came in November 2014, but instead arrived on the final day of August 2018.
His production has matched some of OSU’s best. Through 12 games, Cornelius has thrown for 3,642 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has completed 262 of 441 passes (59.4 percent) and averaged 303.5 yards per game.
The only statistic that seemed to elude him and his team was a few victories that appeared within their grasp.
But wins and losses alone don’t tell Cornelius’ story.
“Being a guy who could have transferred at any time and played on any
team, staying all five years and waiting until your senior year to play, I feel like that’s a rare thing,” OSU sophomore receiver Tylan Wallace said.
“That just shows how loyal he is to the program and how patient he is to wait his turn.”
Receiver Dillon Stoner, one of Cornelius’ roommates, spent his first two years catching passes from Mason Rudolph, who was more vocal in his leadership. But Stoner saw Cornelius take similar control of the team through his own method.
“His ability to work,” Stoner said. “He’s a blue-collar guy. He doesn’t slide. He’ll take the hit every time, and doesn’t think twice about it.
“He never got down on himself when things weren’t going ideally. He was always level-headed and was able to stick with it, and I think a lot of guys look up to him and admire him for that reason.”
Like any Cowboy, Cornelius wishes there were more marks in the win column this season. He rode the ups and downs of the roller-coaster season with steadfast focus on handling the next turn.
After four-plus years of waiting in line, the ride was indeed worth the wait for Cornelius and his family.
“It’s something he worked hard for,” said his mother, Phyllis Cornelius. “It warms my heart to hear Coach (Mike) Gundy and Coach Yurcich speak so highly of him.
“I think he’s the definition of Loyal and True.”