Final Notes and Thoughts on the Oklahoma State-Kansas State Game

I pubbed my 10 thoughts on Saturday evening, and I don’t have a ton of leftover notes and thoughts because I was mostly working on a “yep, this season was a disappointment” column throughout the third and fourth quarters, but here’s what I have left from one of the worst losses of the Gundy era.

• Darrion Daniels was in a sling, which was obviously an issue. But OSU also held Kansas State to 4.4 yards per carry. It wasn’t necessarily the running game that sunk the Pokes.

Darrion Daniels runs out of the tunnel in a sling. #okstate

— Jason Elmquist (@jelmquistSW) November 18, 2017

• Oklahoma State chunk plays (passes of 15+ yards, rushes of 10+): 8. Kansas State chunk plays: 11. On what planet should that happen?

• Calvin Bundage likely eats Thanksgiving dinner and opens Christmas presents in the neutral zone.

• I loved OSU getting James involved on the first play of the game after what went down in Ames last week. Ride your horses.

• Gundy said at beginning of the week that in the Big 12 you play close games and that he wouldn’t expect this week to be any different. Then after the game he said he told his team something like, how about you get up 20 on a team for once. The part that I’m curious about is what the message is on Tuesday-Friday.

• This was … an interesting way to start the game.

• Why are people in love with Darnold? The announcers on OSU’s game were talking about it. I just don’t really get it.

• KSU’s playcalling makes Bob Simmons look innovative.

• Also of note: OSU did what all of you want them to do all the time. They played tight on receivers in single coverage. I guess we saw why they don’t do that more often.

• OSU averaged just 2.7 yards per carry. Also, I think Justice might be wearing out. It’s unfortunate that OSU doesn’t have a powerful backup RB who can spell him when he’s tired in big games.

• Why are first drives so bad on defense? Also, will never understand the “best offense in the country” not taking the ball first at home. Set the tone. Be who you are.

• My man.

Not good. pic.twitter.com/vmD07vQnDG

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 18, 2017

• I did not like the uniform combination. One of our guys said in Slack after the game that he hopes this is the death knell for Big Chrome Orange Pete, and I could not agree more.

• Gundy apparently told the announcers that they look for skill players mostly in the area, but that their QB search is national. That felt like an odd statement, but then I remembered where Zac Robinson, Wes Lunt and Mason Rudolph are from. Sometimes I think of Rudolph as the only out-of-state guy.

• Kansas State had 38 non-Byron Pringle yards.

• I saw a lot of “Gundy can cut his stupid mullet now” chatter on Twitter after the game. Never. Never cut the mullet.

Fall weather = Football weather = Mullet weather. #okstate #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/DAaqxy4vgV

— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) November 18, 2017

• Justice turns 0-yard runs into 5-yard gains. The problem on Saturday for OSU is that he didn’t turn 5-yard gains into 15-yard first downs.

• I love the Stoner underneath route. I also love the Ateman bubble screen. It feels like he falls forward for six yards automatically.

• Ahmad Brooks’ bowtie game was immense.

• Kansas State came in with No. 128 pass defense. And Rudolph made them look like Alabama in the first half even though it felt like he had a ton of time from his line.

• I love playing the “remember when so and so was at School X” game, and Kansas State might be one of the more fun teams for that game. Ell Roberson, Michael Bishop, Darren Sproles, all the Locketts. They’ve been fun.

• This was awesome.

Dying. This kid is the man. Not all heroes wear capes. pic.twitter.com/bWBuRoPZgM

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 18, 2017

• Kansas State has 112 non-offensive TDs since 1999 and 45 kick/punt return TDs. Since 2005 (nobody else has 30). Feels like we overlooked the special teams aspect of this game!

• ESPN showed Georgia highlights at halftime and what the hell Nick Chubb is still in school?!

• This was probably not a good sign in retrospect.

• A real thing I wrote during this game: Did Mason go to Murphy’s before the game?

• Tre Flowers first play back resulted in a penalty. Sounds about right for the way the defense has gone over the last three weeks.

• OSU receivers get a lot of flags they probably shouldn’t. They won’t next year.

• For the second week in a row a team played its fourth-string QB against Oklahoma State. For the second week in a row, Oklahoma State gave up 40+ to an (at best!) mediocre offense.

• Love Stoner.

Life!! pic.twitter.com/nSpC6Q9Nhu

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 18, 2017

• Ateman had the quietest 113-yard game ever.

• We almost got an all-time comeback. Like a “best in school history and is it even that close?” comeback.