It may still be a sweltering 104 degrees outside, but the 2023 college football season is quickly upon us. I don't know about you, but I am quickly getting the "itch" and not just from the swamp ass because it is SO HOT OUTSIDE. Every year towards the end of summer and start of fall, I start to read updates about fall camp and all the positivity from Gundy & CO and I can feel the optimism about the team rising inside me. Typically, by kickoff for the season opener I am ready to claim the Cowboys as a title contender and this year is no different. In this article, I will be giving you three reasons to empty your piggy banks and put it all on the pokes.
- Low expectations for Gundy typically equals over-achieving
The Cowboys enter the 2023 season massively slept on coming in unranked in both the AP and Coaches preseason polls. Honestly, that's okay by me because that is when Gundy seems to be at his best. Going back over Mike's career there is example after example of the Pokes not being considered a threat in the conference much less the country. He always seems to shock the world, especially following a mediocre year before. One season that really seems to compare to this is 2015. Coming off an underwhelming 7-6 season in 2014, led by the one and only Daxx Garman, the cowboys were not considered a contender in 2015. However, Mason Rudolph, James Washington etc... comes bursting onto scene and they rattle off 3 consecutive 10 win seasons vaulting the Cowboys back into the national conversation. Watch out for the bounce back cowboys this year.
2. Allen Bowman
With fall camp well under way I have been inhaling OSU content like a true addict. One thing that I keep hearing on every podcast and reading in every article is that everyone loves Allen Bowman. Bowman started his Oklahoma State career by taking his receivers to San Diego this summer to train and build the chemistry that is needed, especially for a transfer quarterback that does not have three years of practice with his teammates to rely on. The last two seasons Bowman has spent riding the pine and fighting injuries at Michigan, however, in his three years at Texas Tech, Bowman boasted a better than 65% and 1500+ yards passing per season. If Bowman can recapture the magic he found at Tech and stay healthy, with a loaded receiving corp, the sky is the limit for this offense.
3. Talented Playmakers on Defense
With brand new Defensive Coordinator Bryan Nardo coming to Stillwater with a brand new defense, growing pains are to be expected this season. While the defensive scheme may have some questions, the playmakers on that side of the ball do not. Star linebacker Collin Oliver returns and seems to be on every available watchlist for end of the season awards at his position. Oliver looks to continue to build on an already impressive career. Rumblings of the absolutely huge nose tackle transfer Justin Kirkland keep coming from fall camp and I can not wait to watch the 6 foot 4 inch, 345 pound monster push opposing O-lines around. Not to mention that Kendal Daniels is coming into his sophomore season and I believe could find himself as the Big 12 defensive player of the year when it's all said and done. Long story short, this defense has explosive playmakers every you look and if Coach Nardo can put together a scheme that these guys can mesh with, Big 12 offenses better look out.
While this may not be the most talked about Pokes team in recent memory, don't sleep on these cowboys because when the smoke clears, I could see this team making another trip to Arlington for a Big12 title. ALL ABOARD THE HYPE TRAIN!
Go Pokes!
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