Daily Bullets (January 1)

Oklahoma Polytechnic

Post-Camping World Bowl, glowing words from the Virginia Tech side have come out about the Cowboys – and certain inferences can be drawn.

“I think we ran the ball really well,” Tech quarterback Josh Jackson said, “and we kind of snapped the ball later in the shot clock than we normally do.”

That strategy was by design and not preference. (Virginia Tech head coach Justin) Fuente wants to go, go, go, threatening opposing defenses with tempo and the specter of big plays.

Exactly like OSU does it.

With two 1,000-yard receivers — including the Biletnikoff Award winner — headlining a deep pass-catching corps, a slashing running back capable of big gains and an experienced quarterback bound for the NFL, Oklahoma State is a fine model to emulate. It would be fun to see these programs meet again in a few years, after Fuente’s had time to design his own offensive monster in that image. [Roanoke Times]

With a high flying offense in Memphis, Fuente is clearly playing to his personnel with the Hokies. But some from the Sooner State hold that the Tulsa native would be a good fit back in these parts someday – and the preferred style of offense appears to fit.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

We (mercilessly) tease Gundy about his affinity for quiet players (i.e. “never says a word”) but there’s a qualifier for Gundy’s prototype shy-guy that James Washington embodies.

“You know, he’s still quiet now, but the leader that he’s become over the four years and how much more vocal he is now and the way the guys listen to him and watch him in practice — he’s a practice player.

“And it’s very seldom you get a player of his ability to actually come to practice every single day and approach it like it’s a game and set the culture for the younger guys that come in and say, ‘Hey, this is a Biletnikoff receiver, and he’s not taking too many plays off from practice.’ ” [NewsOK]

So there it is – quiet players that exert significantly more effort playing hard than talking. I suppose there exists an altenative – quiet and disengaged – but the sweet spot for Gundy appears to be an implied humility via reserved nature.

OSU and NCAA Notes

Old news but was reading this Bill Connelly piece on Gundy at Oklahoma State – so good….Four factors determining who wins today’s Rose Bowl….Bama looks to turn the Tide on late season struggle….Texas Tech OC hired at Incarnate Word – how many of these calls has Yurcich turned down?….Ex-Oregon coach Mark Helfrich to Texas would be saucy

This drum can’t be beat hard enough.

“The Big 12 doesn’t play defense” is such a lazy and blatantly false narrative. Iowa St just shutdown the 2nd highest scoring offense in the nation & Texas did the same to the SEC’s highest scoring offense. Fact is, Mayfield, Rudolph & Grier will make a lot of defenses look bad.

— Alex Loeb (@SpanningTheLoeb) December 30, 2017

Boynton is impressing folks around basketball.

Impressed with Coach Boynton since day he took the job. @OSUMBB is in good hands. https://t.co/BJ1uTNlw8w

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) December 30, 2017

Jawun got his first start last night:

Tonight's Starting ?
?» @MilosTeodosic4
?» @j3vans1_
?» @C_Will21
?» @blakegriffin32
?» @deandre#ItTakesEverything pic.twitter.com/tkyfU27rf4

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 1, 2018

Kevin Peterson with two picks yesterday!

2️⃣ interceptions for @Pistol_Peterson today! ?#SFvsLA pic.twitter.com/1IsTtOuRtu

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 31, 2017

What You Missed on PFB

• Kevin Peterson had quite a day with his first start in LA
• Five year-end thoughts for Cowboy Wrestling
• Cowboy Wrestling: preview the Southern Scuffle

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• Zach Lowe’s Ten Things has an encouraging Thunder shoutout (No. 6)
• Helpful concepts on how to keep technology in it’s proper place
• NewYorker tests out the idea of loving every child as your own