Oklahoma State Players Focused on Accountability, Hard Work After Loss at Houston

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HOUSTON — Last week, Oklahoma State players talked about Saturday night’s top 20 showdown as an opportunity for the Cowboys to prove they are good, no context needed.

That was nearly the case as the then-18th ranked Cowboys couldn’t quite complete the comeback at then-No. 20 Houston on Saturday night.

“We have a gritty group and that’s what I told them in the locker room,” coach Eric Morris said. “We’re building this program up right now and you put yourself in these chances to win these games on the road.”

The Cowboys head coach also expressed a general sense of uncertainty when it comes to OSU’s inability to assert itself in the first half. Oklahoma State trailed Houston 14-3 at the half, then managed to outscore the Cougars 29-21 in the second.

“We’re two different teams first half, second half right now,” Morris said. “And (that) blows my mind to be honest with you.”

Oklahoma State broke open a 21-21 first-half shoot out last week thanks to a dominant 21-7 second half effort. The Cowboys also blew out West Virginia 28-10 in the second half after trailing 14-13 at the break.

“Once we start rolling, feels real easy on offense,” quarterback Drew Mestemaker said. “We just can’t get into those lulls, and if we do, we gotta snap out of it real quick.”

The last time Oklahoma State lost a game, the team responded by shocking the world against Oregon. The Ducks don’t look quite as good these days, losing your starting quarterback will have that effect, but there’s no question that the performance against Oregon was a huge lift from the one at Tulsa.

Now Oklahoma State must find a way to respond once again.

“We just got to keep our head down and keep working,” safety Quinton Hammonds said. “Because we know we can beat any team in the country, and just off night, we just didn’t execute well enough to beat a good team like Houston.”

Hammond was one of several Cowboy leaders who spent most of their time talking to reporters focused on personal mistakes and how they could get better in the days ahead.

“There has got to be some growth in this,” Morris said. “But our kids got to stick together right now, this coaching staff and this locker room. Our culture is growing in a positive way overall in our program. … I know what kind of group we have: Tough guys, good leadership and so we’re going to have to bounce back a big way next week for homecoming.”

When asked if he felt better about the team’s direction now than he did after Tulsa, running back Caleb Hawkins said every loss feels the same to him, but he was arguably the most positive player who spoke to reporters following the loss.

“When you take a hard loss the only direction is up,” Hawkins said. “So we just got to keep moving forward.”

Morris was asked if he expects a similar bounce back week from his players.

“We don’t have any choice,” he said. “We don’t have any time to feel sorry for ourselves and no one is going to feel sorry for us. I feel like we have a really good ball club … There’s going to be a lot of good things on that tape, but it’s our job to correct a lot of these mistakes. And there’s going to be some glaring ones on all three sides of the ball. All three sides of the ball made mistakes today when there’s plays to be had.”