Second-Half Adjustments Key for Oklahoma State

The Cowboys have struggled in the first half of games this season, but halftime coaching has OSU undefeated after five games.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:59 am

By: News On 6

Second-Half Adjustments Key for Oklahoma State

Originally Published: Oct 11, 2010 5:4 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- For the third time this season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys headed into the locker room at halftime with a deficit. However, this time they were in unfriendly confines in a situation where many inexperienced teams would have folded.

"There wasn't a panic,” said running back Kendall Hunter. “We started slow and we knew going into halftime that we needed to make an adjustment and come back out and start fast."

The Cowboys list 83 freshmen and sophomores on their roster, which was seen as a weakness for OSU heading into the season.

Halftime adjustments and communication have been key to overcoming the early struggles. In third quarters this season, the Cowboys are averaging 17.8 points – including 44 points in their last two games.

“During the game I think our coaches do a good job in between series at correcting mistakes or talking about continuing what they were able to accomplish in the series before,” said Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy. “I think they do a good job at halftime as well talking about what was good and what was bad. And they talk about the solution for the second half and not worry about the first half because you can’t go back and change it whether it was good or bad.”

Heading into Lubbock, where the Cowboys have not won in nearly six decades and facing a Red Raider team that averages nearly 37 points per game, players feel like they can buck the recent trend.

"We all feel confident. Obviously, we need to start off fast and we want to start off fast, but we're not going to get down if we start off slow,” said sophomore receiver Justin Blackmon. “We're going to keep playing and keep trying to execute our plays."

The biggest reason for Oklahoma State’s second-half comebacks has been its third-quarter defense.

Through three games this season, the Cowboys have allowed a total of 17 points, averaging out to a little more than a field goal – including two shutout third quarters. For the defensive players, the key to their second-half performance falls on experienced coaches.

“Coach [Bill] Young is a veteran in the game so when it comes to hard times he is not the kind of coach that is going to put you down,” said defensive end Richetti Jones. “He is going to talk to you and tell you that we have done this all week and we are going to run our plays. He is going to motivate you and tell you what to do. He made those corrections at halftime and we executed it."

However, it’s not just the coaches making adjustments at halftime for Oklahoma State. The experienced players have been key for Oklahoma State’s comebacks and their 5-0 start.

"[The halftime adjustments] have been great,” said junior safety Markelle Martin. “We have a good senior class and they come in and beat the coaches to telling us what we need to do and accomplish so we have great halftime adjustments."