Big 12 Power Rankings: Cowboys keep focus on the field
Mike Gundy preaches focus. In games, during the week, and during the entire season.
His Oklahoma State Cowboys needed to muster more focus than ever before in Saturday's matchup with Kansas. During the homecoming parade before the game, a woman struck a crowd of Cowboys fans with her vehicle, killing four and injuring dozens more.
Not long after the tragedy, the Cowboys managed to maintain their composure and focus on the task at hand, playing one of their most complete games of the season en route to a 58-10 win over Kansas.
It wasn't the first time Oklahoma State dealt with catastrophe and personal loss.
In 2011, the Cowboys were unbeaten, ranked No. 2 in the country, and had a shot at a BCS title game appearance when a plane crash took the lives of women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna.
The next night the Pokes came out flat against a middle-of-the-road Iowa State team and lost 37-31 in overtime in front of a frenzied Jack Trice Stadium crowd. While that turned out to be their only loss that season - which they finished 12-1 - it meant they wouldn't compete for the national title.
This week's Kansas game didn't carry quite the same weight, but Gundy said he and his team handled the situation as best they could.
"It was just hard on everybody because it effected all of us," the head coach said. "We were as honest as possible with the players that the decision had been made to play the game. So you just don't have any alternative. We tried to focus as best as we can and control the things we could control."
As the OSU community continues to heal, the Cowboys must shift their focus on a tough trip to Texas Tech this week.
"We have to do the very best that we can to stay focused, have good practices and then help out the families when we can," Gundy said. "We have to come together as a group. The players' maturity, leadership and confidence are really important when it comes to playing on the road."
As TCU can attest, Lubbock, Texas, has proven to be a tough place to pull out a win. Gundy understands his team must stay sharp.
"Each week is different, predictions are so hard to make with young people," he said. "But I do like their chemistry, their work ethic and they way they've stayed focused to get better each day. If they lose focus during the week it’s extremely difficult to win on the road."
Here's a look at how the Big 12 shakes down after Week 8 with the conference power rankings:
Big 12 Power Rankings
1. Baylor (last week: 1)
Injuries. Injuries. Injuries. Not only is quarterback Seth Russell lost for the year, but nose guard Andrew Billings didn't play versus Iowa State in a game which the Bears allowed 232 rushing yards.
2. TCU (last week: 2)
If Trevone Boykin wants to pick up some more Heisman Trophy points, this week's game versus West Virginia will have him in the Thursday night spotlight.
3. Oklahoma State (last week: 3)
The Cowboys overcame tragedy and stayed focused enough to rout Kansas 58-10. They're 7-0 but have Texas Tech, TCU, Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma left. Yikes.
4. Oklahoma (last week: 5)
So there's the Samaje Perine we've been waiting for, with 201 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the 63-27 rout of Texas Tech. The Sooners look rejuvenated.
5. Texas Tech (last week: 4)
Since taking TCU to the wire on Sept. 26, the Red Raiders have been blown out badly by Baylor and Oklahoma and struggled to beat last-place Kansas.
6. West Virginia (last week: 7)
The Mountaineers really needed this bye week to recharge. Entering this week's game against TCU, they've lost three straight, giving up 139 points in the process.
7. Texas (last week: 8)
The Longhorns keep the momentum going, downing Kansas State 23-9 in the rain. Tyrone Swoopes has become a good goal-line weapon, scoring a pair of touchdown runs in the red zone.
8. Kansas State (last week: 7)
That's four straight Big 12 losses for the Purple Cats. Quarterback Joe Hubener continues to struggle in Big 12 play, going 30-for-78 with five interceptions and a touchdown in the four games.
9. Iowa State (last week: 9)
Cyclones running back Mike Warren did it again, pock-marking the Baylor defense for 145 yards in 28 carries. But four turnovers sunk the Cyclones' chances down in Waco, Texas.
10. Kansas (last week: 10)
The Jayhawks had just 221 total yards, nine first downs, 22:37 time of possession, and 10 penalties for 122 yards in the loss at Oklahoma State. A winless season is likely.