Daily Bullets (Oct 24) – Stakes are High with Texas Game, Finding a Baseball Stadium Donor

Sparks Flying

Assuming the Cowboys find some motivation, Saturday could have some pretty juicy storylines.

If energy actually could be measured, it would be at a maximum level for Texas-OSU. There’s nothing better than high-stakes football.

For the first time since 2009, Texas travels to Stillwater as a legitimate presence in the national picture. If Texas can run the table on the rest of its schedule while winning the Big 12 championship, the Longhorns would wedge their way into the College Football Playoff.

For a Cowboy program that is 2-5 in its last seven Big 12 home games, an upset of Texas would be uplifting for anyone with an investment in OSU football. It could be a turning point that might result in a much better second half of the season – and it would be devastating for Herman and the Longhorns. [TulsaWorld]

Do you remember when beating Texas meant you were beating a BCS/Playoff-contender? *Gulp* that may be the case in 2018.

Odds-On Favorite

TW’s Mark Cooper unearthed an unfriendly coincidence for the Pokes.

Texas opened as a 3-point favorite over Oklahoma State Sunday, which could be a bad omen for OSU if you believe the trends. The favorite has won every game in the series for at least the last decade. It has covered in eight of the last nine — OSU’s three-point overtime win while favored by seven last year was the only one where it did not. [TulsaWorld]

Textbook AD Work

With the big baseball stadium naming announcement in the near rearview, how did Mike Holder find $35m to build the stadium?

“I met (Cecil O’Brate) in April of 2015,” (Mike) Holder answered. “It’s funny, the first day I called him up out of the blue. I told him who I was and where I worked. He said, ‘Why do you want to come see me in Garden City (Kansas, where O’Brate officed)?’

“I said, ‘Someone that’s been as successful as you, and you’re not connected to the school anymore… Someone should reach out and get you back involved and let you know we know who you are and that we care about you. We want you to be part of what’s going on on campus.’”

Holder heard O’Brate appreciated a man who took notes during meetings, so the AD filled “three or four pages” of a yellow pad that day in Garden City. He heard O’Brate could carry on four conversations at once. He was forewarned not to be deterred by that, and so he wasn’t.

It’s not surprising to learn the initial meeting was successful. [TulsaWorld]

Travis Ford’s ten-year contract keeps getting smaller and smaller in the distance, doesn’t it?

OSU and NCAA Notes

Neat story on OSU donors Mike and Anne Greenwood….Let these early season matchups get you excited for college basketball season….Meeting the baseball stadium’s namesake….It was worth the 15-year wait for GameDay to come to Pullman, WA….A quick look at the upcoming Cowboy Basketball schedule

Fun with numbers – man Weeden was a hoss.

Just for fun, #OKState QBs in their first 7 starts:

Cornelius: 134-227 (59%), 2,014 yards, 16 TD/8 INT
Rudolph: 133-210 (63.3%), 2,090, 12/7
Chelf: 112-194 (57.7%), 1,393, 14/5
Weeden: 173-260 (66.5%), 2,249, 21/9

— Mark Cooper (@mark_cooperjr) October 23, 2018

This just makes Michigan sound like the OU of the Big Ten.

Statement from MSU on Michigan pregame incident: "Both teams were distributed pregame timing sheets and were in communication earlier in the week about Michigan State's pregame tradition of walking the field upon arrival to Spartan Stadium. There has… https://t.co/lHL8HOJB2B

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 22, 2018

TCU star offensive/special teams playmaker:

TCU coach Gary Patterson has dismissed WR KaVontae Turpin from the program. #GoFrogs

— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 23, 2018

OU’s prized recruit done with high school football.

Pinnacle QB Spencer Rattler ruled ineligible for rest of season after violating school policy https://t.co/cRXnPV0hhp via @azcentral

— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) October 24, 2018

Yesterday on PFB

• Let’s take a fun look back at Spencer Sanders highlight reel
• Texas is (just) a three-point favorite over OSU
• OSU is bringing a four-star 2020 point guard to campus this weekend
• Thomas takes a look at a Spencer Sanders package
• Marcell Ateman got promoted to the 53 man roster with the recent trade

Stuff I’m Reading

• Do we really live longer than our ancestors?
• Interesting faith-based read on identity and work

3D pictures inside Hurricane Maria: