Yurcich’s future with Cowboys uncertain
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Mike
Yurcich grinned wide as he spun his young son around and around amid the postgame celebration.
It might be the last time we see him as the Oklahoma State offensive coordinator.
A report from 247sports. com Monday night said that Yurcich will be leaving the Cowboys, though it did not indicate where he would be going. It has been reported that Yurcich is a candidate for the offensive coordinator positions at both Tennessee and Ohio State.
Yurcich declined to speak with the media after the Liberty Bowl.
The 247sports report indicated that Yurich’s office in Stillwater was already cleaned out. Asked about that, OSU coach
Mike Gundy reverted to his famous fart-noise response.
“I got no idea what his office looks like, to be honest with you,” Gundy said. “Let’s just stick to the bowl right now and these guys that played a great game.”
As he said Sunday and reiterated Monday, Gundy expects there will come a day when Yurcich will leave. Numerous schools as well as several NFL teams have called about him over the past few years.
“At some point, he’ll have to make a decision on his career,” Gundy said.
Yurcich calls plays from sideline
Yurich had a unique view Monday night.
Or at least a view he’s never had as Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator.
Yurcich called plays from the sideline after OSU realized in set up for the game over the weekend that their line of communication from the press box to the sideline was not operational. The Cowboys’ equipment was working, but the wiring was faulty somewhere between.
Because OSU’s communication was limited, it was decided before the game that Missouri would limit their communication as well.
OSU wasn’t the only one to have communication issues. The ESPN broadcast reported that the on-field replay screen was not operational either. Officials had to depend on the replay center to look at replays and determine the call.
Bundage, Woods out with injury
Oklahoma State was without starting linebacker
Calvin Bundage and starting Cowboy back Jelani
Woods because of injuries Monday.
While Woods was injured in the first half against West Virginia and did not play in the regular-season finale at TCU, Bundage’s absence was unexpected. When he was hurt was not immediately clear.
Both players made the trip to Memphis for the bowl but were not in uniform for the game.
Kevin Henry started at outside linebacker in Bundage’s absence. Woods was replaced by walk-on Logan Carter in tight-end situations while fullback-style Cowboy backs Britton Abbott and Sione Finefeuiaki handled blocking roles.
The Cowboys also lost safety Malcolm Rodriguez in the second quarter to a lower body injury. He was seen after the game using crutches.
Umpire pick play
OSU got a big assist on its first touchdown when umpire Mike Pilarski collided with Missouri defender Tyree Gillespie.
The pick knocked both the official and the defender to the turf and sprung Cowboy receiver
Dillon Stoner for a 30-yard touchdown. Stoner looked to be headed for a first down, but Gillespie looked to have a bead on Stoner. Once Pilarski knocked Gillespie down, Stoner ran into the end zone unimpeded.
Extra points
•Dru Brown got his first snap at quarterback as a Cowboy after Taylor Cornelius lost his helmet on the last play of the first quarter and had to sit out a play.
•OSU quarterback Taylor Cornelius was named MVP of the Liberty Bowl while
Tyron Johnson was selected as OSU’s offensive MVP and Enoch Smith Jr. was selected as OSU’s defensive MVP.
•Two high school students did a chin-up challenge during one of the TV timeouts, and impressively, they tied with 20 chin-ups in 30 seconds.
•OSU had two players ejected for targeting Monday. The Cowboys had only two the rest of the season.
•Only 13 of the 22 players who started the season opener for OSU started the Liberty Bowl. The nine starters who didn’t were