Daily Mullets (November 21)

I’m not sure I’m emotionally prepared for the two-week lead-up to Bedlam. Currently rocking a Ryan Leaf WSU jersey over my Charles Woodson Michigan jersey. Let’s do this.

Jordy Mercer talks OSU

This collected wisdom with Jordy Mercer is terrific.

Just so many great players, not only in the Hall of Fame, but who have been through the program at Oklahoma State over a number of years. To be able to put that uniform on and have a chance to play there, at a great school, and have the success I had, coaches believing in me and giving me a chance to play, and now I’m going to be in this elite group, words can’t describe it. It’s unbelievable. [NewsOK]

Mercer graduated with seven (!) people in his high school class. How did they field a high school team?! I’ve been loving these collected wisdom pieces by the Oklahoman. Very well done.

One game remains

Max Olson on what awaits the Pokes after a dominating performance in Ft. Worth.

The Cowboys’ 31-6 road win at TCU came thanks to a thoroughly dominant outing by its defense, which got stops on 11 of 12 possessions, with the one exception coming on a 6-yard touchdown drive after a turnover. The Chris Carson-Justice Hill duo keeps getting better and combined for 300 yards to keep the surging Pokes in the Big 12 title hunt with one fairly important game left. [ESPN]

Eleven of 12 possessions!

Texas is even botching the firing of Charlie Strong

The Charlie Strong era is over … sort of?

University of Texas officials determined weeks ago that football coach Charlie Strong would be allowed to coach all 12 games this season win or lose. Despite Saturday’s stunning loss to Kansas, UT President Gregory L. Fenves and Athletic Director Mike Perrin decided to stick with that plan, a source familiar with both officials’ thinking told the American-Statesman late Sunday. [Austin American-Statesman]

I mean … just fire him. By the way, Mike Gundy is going to be a candidate, isn’t he? Why wouldn’t he be? He should be their No. 1 or No. 2 guy. Doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, but he would crush there.

Maui starts today

Underwood and his boys are taking on Hawaii.

This sets up as a three-games in three-days grind that should reveal plenty about an Oklahoma State team still seeking an identity. “Let’s go strap it on and see where we’re at,” Underwood said. “I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and I know our guys are.” [NewsOK]

Get excited. Pokes-Huskies tonight at 8 p.m. Kevin Ollie providing a nice metaphor for his team’s season so far in this video, by the way.

Nothing but net! @OSUCoachBrad was lights out in today’s @MauiInv Coaches Free Throw Challenge. Check it out. #okstate pic.twitter.com/BJo3zCpeSR

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) November 21, 2016

College hoops renaissance?

Why is college hoops in decline? Jay Caspian Kang takes a look.

If the quality of the play on the court hasn’t become worse, then why do some consider the game to be in decline? One factor is simply that there is now so much more college basketball on TV, and therefore a much wider range of quality to watch and judge. [New York Times]

I disagreed with the ending, but I thought this was a smart reason for why people don’t like college basketball as much. He goes on to say bad games have always been played, but they haven’t always been readily available to watch

Film study with RA

Robert Allen breaks it down here.

The best of the Cowboys win came with primo tackling on defense, a quick study and understanding of gap responsibilities and run fits in the new 3-3-5 scheme the Cowboys are employing more and more, and some hustle and well-timed blitz calls. On offense, the blocking was excellent, Mike Yurcich made some excellent calls, and there were some good hustle examples as well. [Go Pokes]

I’m pretty interested to see if OSU makes the 3-3-5 its base defense in the future based on how well it has worked recently.

More OSU

Cowgirls beat Washington State last night in OT — that’s the last loss I want to see WSU take this week in any sport.

More PFB

Everybody at TCU says they got their butts kicked … The 13 best stats from Saturday’s game … That back door to the playoff is cracked open … Zach Sinor has been such an underrated, important part of OSU’s season … Herbie out here swinging at other OSUs! Mike Gundy still referencing CMU as a W … The OSU-TCU drive charts are gorgeous … OSU moves up in both polls … Bob Stoops also says OSU has one loss.

More Stuff I’m Reading

Why smart people don’t make to-do lists (I like the premise here).