The Break Through: Oklahoma State Cowboys Dynasty

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Stillwater, OK-

Gundy leaving OSU for South Carolina

In an unexpected turn of events, Mike Gundy has decided to take the newly vacated South Carolina job. Mike Gundy is a former player/graduate of Oklahoma State University. He once referred to the OSU job as "his Yankees job." However, recent pressure from booster T.Boone Pickens and disagreements over Gundy's contract and scheduling with the Athletic Director, Mike Holder, has led to Gundy looking elsewhere for jobs.

Mike Gundy was 84-44 during his time with the Cowboys. He led them to their most successful seasons in school history (2010, 2011, 2013). In 2011, they were as close as possible to making the BCS National Championship before being snubbed by eventual champion, Alabama. They have had 8 straight winning seasons under Gundy.

Oklahoma State plays South Carolina in the 2nd week of the season.

Holder and the Board of Directors met late last night to start looking for Gundy's replacement. There will be more news coming out of Stillwater in the coming days.

-AP

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Stillwater, OK

Spencer named Interim Head Coach

Big news out of Stillwater, OK today. Mike Holder has announced Glenn Spencer as the interim Head Coach. Spencer was appointed the Defensive Coordinator two years ago and has done a fantastic job improving that side of the ball. This will be his first Head Coaching job. However, this is an interim contract. Holder states that they will re-evaluate at the end of the year depending on how well Spencer does at the helm.

"He is an incredible mentor, knows the X's and O's and loves this university," Holder said. "He is a top defensive mind and we think he has the management style and demeanor to succeed in the head coaching role."

-AP

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Stillwater, OK-


Cowboys Release 2015-2016 Season Schedule

What to Watch For: Week 2. Gundy, who abruptly left Stillwater for Columbia, SC has just started his first year with the Gamecocks. He will travel back to Oklahoma to face his former team.

ESPN Projected Record: 7-5

Oklahoma State Cowboys 2015 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Sep 3	at Texas State Bobcats
Sep 10	vs South Carolina
Sep 15	at Northwestern Wildcats
Sep 24	vs BYE WEEK
Sep 31	at Texas Longhorns
Oct 6	vs Kansas St. Wildcats
Oct 13	at West Virginia Mountaineers
Oct 20	vs Kansas Jayhawks
Oct 27	at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Nov 3	vs TCU Horned Frogs
Nov 10	at Baylor Bears
Nov 17	vs BYE WEEK
Nov 24	vs Oklahoma Sooners

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Depth Chart Breakdown


OFFENSE (projected starters in bold)

QB: Mason Rudolph (So.), J.W. Walsh (Sr.)

This spring, Rudolph picked up where he left off following a blazing finish to the 2014 season. Walsh returning to 100 percent from a foot injury has been a bonus. He gives the Cowboys an experienced backup, a respected leader and short-yardage situational quarterback alternative.

RB: Rennie Childs (Jr.), Todd Mays (Jr.) OR Chris Carson (Jr.)

In rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown, Childs did about all he could in the spring game to make the case as the starter. But he'll still have to fend off Carson once the highly touted junior college transfer arrives in Stillwater. Mays suffered a minor injury late in the spring ball but before that flashed signs he'll be able to man the multifaceted role Tyreek Hill held last year.

WR: James Washington (So.), Jhajuan Seales (Jr.) OR Chris Lacy (So.)

WR: Brandon Sheperd (Sr.), Keenen Brown (RFr.) OR Marcell Ateman (Jr.)

Slot: David Glidden (Sr.), Kameron Doolittle (Sr.) OR Austin Hays (Jr.)

The Cowboys can go 10 deep here without much drop-off. Washington had a stellar spring and could be en route to future stardom after a banner true freshman season. He should be one of the top deep threats in the Big 12. Sheperd has remained Rudolph's go-to target, while Glidden gives the Cowboys a veteran, hard-nosed underneath option. Brown could be the breakout player here. He redshirted in 2014 but turned heads in the spring.

FB/TE: Jeremy Seaton (Sr.), Blake Jarwin (Jr.) OR Jordan Frazier (RFr.) OR Zac Veatch (Jr.)

Oklahoma State is calling this group the "Cowboy Backs" and they're slated to have a greater role in the offense. Veatch started at guard last year but has slimmed down for his new position. He's a tenacious blocker and caught a touchdown in the spring game. Seaton, Jarwin and Frazier are all capable receivers.

LT: Victor Salako (Jr.), Matthew Mucha (RFr.)

LG: Michael Wilson (Jr.), Lemaefe Galea'i (RFr.)

C: Brad Lundblade (So.) OR Paul Lewis (Jr.)

RG: Jesse Robinson (So.), Jaxon Salinas (So.)

RT: Zachary Crabtree (So.), Brandon Pertile (So.)

Oklahoma State's season will probably go as this group goes. The Cowboys were a train wreck up front last year, but there's reason to believe they'll be much improved. One reason is what they now have in place at tackle. Crabtree is an All-Big 12 caliber talent who was banged up much of last year. He and Salako, who transferred in after starting the last two years for UAB, give the Cowboys a pair of reliable bookends.

DEFENSE

DE: Emmanuel Ogbah (Jr.), Trace Clark (Sr.)

DT: Vincent Taylor (So.), Vili Leveni (So.)

DT: Motekiai Maile (Jr.), Eric Davis (Jr.)

DE: Jimmy Bean (Sr.), Jarrell Owens (RFr.)

The Cowboys should be quite formidable off the edge. Ogbah is a legitimate Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year candidate; Bean will be a three-year starter. Tackle is the defense's biggest question, but Taylor has been one of the team's most improved players since last season and shined in the spring game. Maile had a noteworthy camp as well. Incoming freshmen Darrion Daniels and Taaj Bakari will have a chance to jump in the rotation once they arrive.

WLB: Seth Jacobs (Jr.), Devante Averette (Jr.)

MLB: Ryan Simmons (Sr.), Chad Whitener (So.)

Star: Jordan Burton (Jr.), Justin Phillips (So.)

Mike Gundy has indicated this will be the deepest linebacking corps he's had. Jacobs and Simmons are proven performers, while Whitener and Burton showed over the spring they can be counted on. Talented second-year players Josh Mabin, Gyasi Akem and Kirk Tucker may not even crack the two-deep, but all three will contribute.

CB: Kevin Peterson (Sr.), Darius Curry (So.)

CB: Ramon Richards (So.) OR Ashton Lampkin (Jr.)

FS: Jordan Sterns (Jr.), Deric Robertson (Jr.) OR Dylan Harding (So.)

SS: Tre Flowers (So.), Jerel Morrow (So.)

The Cowboys might be even deeper at cornerback than they are at linebacker. Peterson, Richards and Lampkin all have starting experience, and they'll soon be joined by transfer Michael Hunter, who started the previous two seasons for Indiana. Sterns will vie for All-Big 12 honors after leading all conference defensive backs in tackles last year; but someone will need to emerge alongside him at the other safety spot.