OSU’s Gundy formed coaching bond with late OU coach Tubbs
STILLWATER — Before his death last year, Billy Tubbs made a few extra trips to Stillwater for football.
The legendary OU basketball coach watched a few football practices last year to watch his grandson Cale Cabbiness, a freshman walk-on receiver for the Cowboys at the time.
Tubbs also formed a relationship with OSU coach Mike Gundy.
Their conversations ranged from coaching to young people to changing over a career.
“I enjoyed my conversations with him,” Gundy said. “Obviously, he’s got a really good personality, which we all know. He’s not scared to speak his mind, which we all know. He plays an exciting brand of basketball, kind of what we’ve done here in football starting 15 years ago.
“So, I enjoyed my time with Coach.” That made Saturday night’s 21-20 win at Boise State even more special for Gundy and the Tubbs family.
Cabbiness, who had just made the traveling roster Wednesday after a plethora of injuries to receivers, made the game-sealing catch. He was lifted onto his teammates’ shoulders on the field afterward and was even able to dance in the locker room with Gundy.
Gundy pushed Cabbiness to break it down, a moment caught in photos.
“His dancing skills are not good at all,” Gundy said. “Very stiff when it comes to that and really shy. But a great moment. I wanted him to be able to enjoy that.”
Gundy’s relationship with Cabbiness goes way back, too. Cabbiness was on Gunnar Gundy’s Little League Baseball team before he became a star at Norman North High School.
“He’s a good kid,” Gundy said. “He works hard, does it every day and just kept going. It’s a perfect example of when a coach says you never know when you might get your chance.”
Gundy: Refs ‘missed’ call against Martin
Gundy reviewed the film of the roughing-the-passer penalty against Brock Martin that erased a sack late in the game and still disagreed with the call.
“Yeah, they missed the call,” Gundy said.
Martin dove and sacked Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier on the Broncos’ final drive, but instead drew the flag.
Asked what Gundy could tell players in that situation, his answer was short.
“Bad breaks and crooked refs,” Gundy said.
Warren, Taylor honored by Big 12
Running back Jaylen Warren’s big week resulted in two conference awards — Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week — while Jason Taylor II’s heroics earned him Special Teams Player of the Week.
Warren, a transfer from Utah State, had a career-high 32 carries and 218 yards in the win over Boise State. He also scored two touchdowns, including a 75-yard run that was the longest Cowboys rush since Chuba Hubbard’s 92yard score against TCU in 2019.
Taylor, a Carl Albert graduate, blocked the go-ahead field goal with 2:09 remaining. Moving into a starting role, he also had four tackles and a quarterback hurry.
OSU has won five weekly awards this season.
Baylor kickoff set
Make it three straight weeks of a primetime kickoff. OSU will host Baylor at 6 p.m. Oct. 2, it was announced Monday. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
The Cowboys have had night games in all but one week this season, with the Tulsa kickoff being at 11 a.m. earlier this month.