Eric Bailey
Tulsa World OSU Sports Reporter
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Daniel Shular
Tulsa World Photojournalist
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STILLWATER – Oklahoma State is still a little bruised from the Oregon loss.
The healing process was aided by a bye week and a locker room of leaders who won’t allow fractures this early in the football season.
“With 60 new players, that’s the main thing – keeping everybody together,” OSU linebacker Brandon Rawls said. “I think the older guys have done a good job of trying to keep the team morale high. I think the coaches have done a better job of making sure everybody stays together.”
OSU will look for its first win against an FBS opponent in more than a calendar year when it faces visiting Tulsa. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Friday for the ESPN contest.
The Cowboys’ only win since defeating Tulsa on Sept. 14, 2024 was in this year’s season opener against FCS foe UT Martin in the season opener. The program has lost 10 of 11 games.
That stretch brings pessimism within a fan base, which cannot be allowed inside the football building.
Mike Gundy was asked during his weekly press conference if leaders have begun to emerge after two games.
His answer sounded like a menu list of veterans.
“(Iman) Oates has done a good job. Aden Kelley’s come in, done a great job. (Bryan) McCoy, (Brandon) Rawls, I’m just scanning down guys that have come in,” Gundy said. “(David) Kabongo. The Smith brothers (Cam and Dylan Smith). Parker Robertson’s been in there. Noah McKinney. There’s a bunch of them that have come by and – Josh Ford – bunch of them that have come by and sit down and talk about stuff like that.”
Those players have worked hard to make sure things can get turned around after the 69-3 loss to Oregon.
“It’s very important,” wide receiver Shamar Rigby said. “It’s the start of the season so we can’t start to dismember. Everybody has to take accountability.
“That was unacceptable what happened (at Oregon). But we shouldn’t get discouraged just because of that game. One game doesn’t define us. We just have to lock in everybody. Just execute and do what we’re supposed to do, coach how they’re supposed to be coaching and then I feel like we’ll definitely do better than Oregon.”
It’s a balancing act for the coaching staff as well. Did they work on encouraging the team or stress the team harder in practices?
“I wouldn’t say they’re bashing us, but they are coaching us harder for sure,” Rigby said. “They want us to succeed this season. They want us to be great and I don’t blame them for that.”
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com
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Eric Bailey
Tulsa World OSU Sports Reporter
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Daniel Shular
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