Daily Bullets (June 6)

Getting Warmer

When you consider what his predecessor was able to do as a motivator of men and on-field performance, expectations for Jim Knowles can be set.

After ranking 53rd, 93rd, 100th, 92nd and, last season, 79th in total defense, Gundy made a change at coordinator, bringing in Jim Knowles to incorporate his 4-2-5 scheme. Knowles, successful in the same challenging position at Duke, inherits seven starters, including all-conference candidates in defensive end Jordan Brailford, linebackers Justin Phillips and Calvin Bundage and cornerbacks A.J. Green and Rodarius Williams. [AthlonSports]

While Spencer’s teams had their moments, the message to Knowles is to take a team from “ok” to “better than ok”. The roster is full of athletes – now go shut down opponents.

Take Your Pick

TulsaWorld columnist Guerin Emig spoke with the Stillwater Rotary Club who had the quarterback battle figured out.

When Oklahoma State football came up, I asked the Rotarians a question: Who’s your starting quarterback for the opener?

The only name I heard in response: Taylor Cornelius.

Interesting. I have always pegged Cornelius as more underdog than “Corn Dog,” the youngster’s nickname. Rotarians tend to be on the wise side.

Perhaps I should reconsider. [TulsaWorld]

Cornelius knows exactly where McCleskey likes his passes, what days of the week you can get steak at the Training Table and how Mike Yurcich likes his quarterbacks to carry themselves. He doesn’t know what it’s like to win a starting job (Dru Brown) or wake up dripping with talent (Spencer Sanders).

OSU and NCAA Notes

See which World Cup soccer team most resembles Oklahoma State….The FBI probe hasn’t changed college basketball (yet)….Did Texas A&M make a mistake going to the SEC?….Former West Virginia AD -turned NCAA exec named commissioner of XFL….George Schroeder breaks down the Kyler Murray situation

What a catch.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!

JESSIE WARREN. #WCWS pic.twitter.com/LQwH3JR47A

— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) June 5, 2018

Rockstar status.

Who doesn’t want their forehead signed by @matthew_wolff5? Life as a national champion! #okstate #GolfSchool pic.twitter.com/Smtq5xxqSu

— Oklahoma State Golf (@OSUCowboyGolf) June 5, 2018

Hoping Carroll turns heads on one of these visits.

Oklahoma State’s Jeff Carroll and Arizona’s Allonzo Trier are among the players scheduled to participate in a group workout for the Knicks on Wednesday, per league sources.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 5, 2018

Congrats to the former Poke thriving in the minors.

#Royals No. 2 prospect Nick Pratto, #WhiteSox RHP Blake Battenfield headline South Atlantic League All-Star rosters: https://t.co/yNb5MkW3fW pic.twitter.com/8BIN6RIrke

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 5, 2018

What You Missed on PFB

• OSU to stripe the stadium for final non-con game of 2018
• OU landed an interior lineman said to be leaning orange
• Boone updates on the latest on basketball scholarships for 2019
• See where OSU’s national title odds land amongst Big 12 teams
• See how TCU Football looks for the fall

Other Stuff I’m Reading

• Is efficiency more important than productivity?
• Zach Lowe looks at how the Warriors are dismantling the Cavs
• Liked this piece on PBS star Mr. Rogers