Daily Bullets (August 24) – Barry Sanders Features, Dru Brown Developments

Gundy on the GOAT

Mike Gundy was quoted in the middle of a fantastic piece by ESPN’s Jake Trotter about college football’s greatest player.

“You can argue about a lot of different people, who’s the best ever in whatever sport,” said Mike Gundy, who before becoming OSU’s head coach was Sanders’ college quarterback. “LeBron James and Michael Jordan in the NBA. Jim Brown and whoever else in pro football. But college football? There’s nobody that can touch the guy. Just can’t.

“There’s nobody that compares to him.”

In ’88, Sanders didn’t rewrite the records books, he incinerated them. He rushed for 2,850 yards, scored 44 touchdowns and broke 34 NCAA records.

In the years since, offense has exploded in the college game, while the pace has quickened.

And yet, most of Sanders’ FBS records remain intact.

“If he were playing in today’s offenses, he very well could’ve rushed for 4,000 yards, easy,” Gundy said. “Look at the number of plays that we have on offense today compared to back then. We huddled up, we were slow. And the majority of the games very seldom was he ever touching the field in the fourth quarter because we were blowing teams out.” [ESPN]

A conversation on the topic of best-ever amongst unbiased third parties would be fascinating but there’s no doubt Sanders would be a part of the conversation (obviously).

There’s Always Next Year

Dru Brown left an FBS-level starting gig at Hawaii for a shot at being a Power Five QB1… and apparently, he’s willing to wait a year to accomplish that if necessary.

“And I think he still believes he’s gonna have that opportunity, and he’ll be ready whenever that opportunity comes, whether that’s game 1 or game 6 or the year after, if he redshirts.” [NewsOK]

There are multiple ways this could go but from an Oklahoma State-perspective, having back-t0-back fifth-year senior quarterbacks win the job then handing off to the supremely talented redshirt sophomore in 2020 would be nice. It’d be like when Baylor replaced RG3 with Nick Florence then Bryce Petty and on and on… always having a mature quarterback.

But could you fathom the depth of disappointment for Brown if he redshirts this year then Sanders wins it in 2019? What a bummer.

OSU and NCAA Notes

SB Nation has CFB teams ranked 1-130, has the Pokes ranked well in a good tier of teams….How Charlie Weis’ son became the offensive coordinator at FAU….To prevent Texas A&M transfer situations more prevalently, let players transfer where they want….Alabama apartment owners might be requiring renters to not watch practice on their balconies….Texas A&M big timing out on Texas is weak….Details of the Urban Meyer report

This stat on Barry’s best season is incredible.

Amazing stat from @ESPNStatsInfo. The best game by a Power 5 RB each week last year still didn’t outrush Barry Sanders in 1988. pic.twitter.com/oLLMhNQASk

— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) August 23, 2018

For a team with Michael Weathers being a potentially ball dominant figure and grad transfer Mike Cunningham, Likekele seems like a wealth of riches.

Oklahoma State’s Mike Boynton on the revelation from team’s trip to Italy/Greece:

“Isaac Likekele. He came with little fanfare. He’s a jack of all trades guy, 6-foot-4, can defend and play multiple positions. He’s got leadership, confidence, he’s tough and makes winning plays.”

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 23, 2018

Really enjoyed these best of Bill Teegins highlights:

Yesterday on PFB

• Looking at storylines – which wide receiver is going to emerge?
• Rare Barry Sanders footage surfaced
• OSU may have killed the RPI
• Where Oklahoma State ranks in wins over the last ten years
• Cox previewed the safety position

Stuff I’m Consuming

• How TripAdvisor changed travel
• Talking with (not at) people seemed like a good PSA
• Aerial shots of economic division in cities are stunning
• A Holocaust camp guard was deported to Germany at age 95