Daily Bullets (August 22) – Gundy’s Winning Ways, QB Contingency Plans, Ultimate 2018 CFB Roadtrip

The Benefit of the Doubt

What Mike Gundy has accomplished with a consistent winning record is the benefit of the doubt that he’ll win. And you can bet on it.

Rudolph and Washington were iconic Cowboys, but Gundy’s built a machine that’s churned out double-digit win seasons with less. Vegas has this win total around eight, and I do think OSU is good enough to end up in the Big 12 championship game at the end of the year. [CBS Sports]

When the loss of your school’s all-time winningest quarterback is seen as a part of the machine and not an outlier to come down from, you know you’ve built a winning program.

Plus – “good enough to end up in the Big 12 championship game” after losing Rudolph and Washington? That’s a vote of confidence.

Question Behind the Question

While Taylor Cornelius will be encouraged to run away with the quarterback job, likely given the comfort knowing it’s his job to lose, a bigger question lurks in the shadows of less-than-ideal scenarios.

The bottom line: Only Mike Gundy knows the plan for if Cornelius struggles. Does he turn to true freshman Spencer Sanders first, or does graduate transfer Dru Brown get a shot as Sanders tries to redshirt? [TulsaWorld]

It’ll be hard to quantify anything after the 27′ Yankees of Missouri State and South Alabama – but what happens if he struggles against Boise State? Do you ride him or Hulk Hogan the redshirt off of Spencer Sanders? Gundy only knows but I doubt we see another Clint Chelf-vs. Mississippi State-pulling.

OSU and NCAA Notes

This dream college football roadtrip using 2018 season looks amazing….These Texas A&M allegations don’t look good, even considering the motivation for the transferring player sharing them….Is 2018 the year of the running quarterback in the Big 12?….Ohio State board meets this morning, a few possible outcomes on Urban Meyer….Former CFP committee member advocates for a move to a six-team playoff

Desmond Mason is the best.

Former Cowboy & NBA star @dmasonart returned to his hometown to bring his new talent – artwork – to his old gym. Check out this cool story from @WaxahachieNews. #c2e #okstate

➡️ https://t.co/3T4kJvN7c5 pic.twitter.com/2VLDyyZ84R

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) August 22, 2018

Woof. Tech’s bigger running back appears to be in trouble.

The charge against #TexasTech RB Da'Leon Ward is theft between $2,500 and $30,000, a state jail felony. https://t.co/TuTsyoTKqA

— Don Williams (@AJ_DonWilliams) August 21, 2018

My goodness. Give me a net the size of Gallagher-Iba and I’m still way out.

Luke Aikins, the first person to jump out of an airplane without a parachute from a 25,000 feet. Aikins eventually lands in a net. The daring stunt is now in The Guinness Book Of World Records as the first complete planned jump from an airplane without a parachute. pic.twitter.com/FVB23Z6c50

— Ken Rutkowski (@kenradio) August 20, 2018

Nice to see the former Cowboy walk-on finding a landing spot.

Another good day of practice for @UAlbanyFootball QB Nyc Burns. Could he start vs. Pitt? “He’s being considered for that right now,” said O-coordinator Joe Davis. Head coach Greg Gattuso: “I think he’s going to someday be the guy here. It’s just a matter of what day.”

— Mark Singelais (@MarkSingelais) August 21, 2018

Yesterday on PFB

• Cox weighed in with his five predictions for the season
• Cowboys get Fox’s A-team for the season opener
• Which Big 12 team is historically most overrated/underrated?
• See what Washington and Carson are up to in the latest NFL update
• Boone gives a floor and ceiling for freshman looking to contribute this fall

Stuff I’m Consuming

• Enjoyed this old read on how to best get an education in college via WSJ.com – how much experience can be gained in a university setting is unreal
• Liked this faith-based pod on how to better understand intersection your passions in pursuing a career
• What it’s like to be a Southerner in Hollywood