OSU Needs to Heal During Bye Week

Originally Published: Sep 30, 2009 7:35 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – Three of Oklahoma State’s stars didn’t dress for the home game against Grambling State last weekend. The Cowboys did just fine without Perrish Cox, Kendall Hunter and Dez Bryant, beating the Tigers soundly, 56-6.

With the beginning of conference play approaching, the Cowboys will see much tougher opponents. They will need their injured leaders back to compete for a Big 12 title.

OSU has the benefit of a bye this week and the time off could not come at a better juncture in the season. Injuries continue to creep up the depth chart, putting the conference opener two Saturdays from now at Texas A&M in jeopardy.

“I think anytime a team is banged up like we are right now with quite a few guys, it’s good to have an off week,” said OSU senior quarterback Zac Robinson. “I think it comes at a good time. It's good to kind of rest your body a little bit.”

OSU emerges from September with a 3-1 record and heads into Big12 play excited about the possibilities that awaitthe team.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” freshman kicker Quinn Sharp said of playing the Aggies in the conference opener. “I think it will be an interesting game. They’re a team coming back from a bounce back year and I think we’re ready to play. We’ve had a good week and we’ll keep progressing.”

Navigating a ruthless Big12 season unbeaten will be difficult without a full stable of horses. The Cowboys play two of three conference games on the road before getting a crack at Texas at home on Halloween. Playing road games without their best offensive weapons on the field because of lingering injuries could derail the undefeated conference showdown the Pokes are hoping for against the Longhorns.

“It will be interesting to see how everybody plays,” said OSU head coach Mike Gundy. “We’ll come back out tomorrow and continue to work on the A&M game.”