The Sports Corner

2008 Holiday Bowl Preview

Oklahoma State 9-3 (5-3) vs. Oregon 9-3 (7-2)

Tuesday, December 30, 5 p.m. PST.

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California.

Big 12 South #4 vs. Pac 10 #2

Coaches: Mike “I’m a man! I’m 40!” Gundy (27-22) vs. Mike Bellotti (115-55)

Quarterbacks: Zac Robinson vs. Jeremiah Masoli

The line: OK St. -4

Payout: $2.3 million

Yesterday The Sports Corner spoke with Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy about this match-up. Here’s what he had to say about Oregon and the Holiday Bowl:

Gundy’s speech is in “quotations”, TSC’s questions are in italics. 

“I want to talk about this article”

Ah yes, the article in the Tulsa World on Oregon’s quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, well written. Masoli is playing great football, thrown just four interceptions this year. Very similar player to your quarterback Zac Robinson, who, I might add, managed to somehow improve on his stellar sophomore season. Between the two of them, they should put up a ton of points in the Holiday Bowl. How did you come across the article?

“It was brought to me by a mother… of children. I think it’s worth reading.”

Indeed, what Masoli has done for the Ducks this year can’t be overstated. He’s able to escape the pocket and make plays with his feet when he needs to, just like Robinson. Both are crucial parts of their respective team’s rushing attacks. What did you find so intriguing about it?

“Three-fourths of it is inaccurate, it’s fiction. It embarrasses me to be involved in athletics… tremendously.”

That’s a big accusation. You’re talking libel, slander, law suits, the whole nine… why don’t we get back to the game. I want to talk about your backfield. Much like Oregon, you run the spread offense, but tend to keep the ball on the ground. Running back Kendall Hunter has had quite the year. 1,518 yards, 14 TDs and a big part of the passing game. Oregon doesn’t have the front seven to contain him. Tell me about Mr. Hunter.

“He goes to class, he’s respectful to the media, he’s respectful to the public and he’s a good kid. He’s not a professional athlete and he doesn’t deserve to be kicked when he’s down.”

I would kick OJ Simpson if he was down, which he is, and I am. JUICE! 

“You obviously don’t have a child, I do. Your child goes down the street and somebody makes fun of him because he dropped a pass in a pickup game, or says he’s fat! And he comes home crying to his mom, then you would understand.”

Okay good points all around. How about back-up Keith Toston he’s got 658 yards rushing and 9 TDs playing in the shadow of Hunter. What’s the deal with running back Beau Johnson, coming into the year I heard rumblings he was going to be the starter but he hasn’t gotten more than 10 carries in a game since September. Shouldn’t he be producing more for all the hype that came along with him?

“If you want to go after an athlete, one of my athletes, you go after one that doesn’t do the right things! You don’t downgrade him because he does everything right and may not play as well on Saturday.”

Take it easy coach, just a question. Let’s move to the other side of the ball. Oregon’s got a great backfield duo of their own, Jeremiah Johnson, a speed-demon who spent a lot of time in Jonathan Stewart’s shadow, has run for 1,082 yards and 12 TDs. Then there’s LeGarrette Blount, the smash to Johnson’s dash (yet another Tennessee Titans rip-off! eat it LenDale!). Blount has 16 TDs and 928 yards on the ground. On the other side of the ball you’ve got two great defensive tackles in Tonga Tea and Jeray Chatham, you should stack the box to help them out at the point of attack and stop this powerful Duck running game. 

“You let us make that decision.”

Fair enough. Did you see that your opposing head coach, Mike Bellotti was named Pac 10 coach of the year by the Sporting News. It was reported by the Oregon Statesman-Journal just yesterday.

“That’s why I don’t read the newspaper, because it’s garbage! And the editor that let it come out is garbage!”

I’m sure the people at the Statesman-Journal appreciate that. But don’t you feel coach Bellotti deserves the honour after all the work he’s done at Oregon? The record of 115-55 speaks for itself. 

“Are you kidding me? Where are we at in society today? Come after me! I’m a man! I’m 40! I’m not a kid! Write something about me, or our coaches!”

Enough rambling coach, let’s get back on track. Defensively your team hasn’t stopped anybody. But then again nobody plays defense in the Big 12. Andre Sexton is a great player and he fits the safety/linebacker hybrid role to a tee. There’s some talent in the secondary with corner Jacob Lacey and safety Ricky Price, both seniors, but your line isn’t great at pressuring the quarterback. Now your team has to deal with defensive coordinator Tim Beckman leaving to become head coach at Toledo, that should be a tough adjustment, especially since when your defense is on the field you’re usually drawing up plays with the offensive players on the bench.

“That ain’t true!”

Comon coach everybody knows it. 

“That’s not true!”

99 per cent of defensive snaps you’re in the clouds talking to the offensive players. 

“Get your facts straight!”

It’s been on national television!

“I hope someday you have a child and somebody downgrades him and belittles him.”

You’re a kind man. What are your thoughts on Oregon’s defensive backfield?

“Who’s the kid here?”

Their safety, Patrick Chung, some think he’s the top safety in the upcoming NFL draft. Along with corners Walter Thurmond and Jairus Byrd, they match-up pretty well with your receiving corps. And their good people too! The kind of kids that do everything right, as you would say.

“Are you kidding me?”

Look Dez Bryant is a great receiver but he’s been known to disappear in big games. I think Byrd will be able to shut him down. And Brandon Pettigrew is a damn good tight end, but how many safeties in the Big 12 are as good as Chung? Those are two match-ups that I think favour the Ducks. Outside of Bryant and Pettigrew the passing game lacks weapons. They key for Oregon is to get their receivers involved offensively, they can’t be one dimensional. Receivers Terence Scott, Jeff Maehl and Jaison Williams along with tight end Ed Dickson must step up. If they do, the Ducks should set the pace in this game. Oregon wins this high scoring game 45-38 in overtime. 

“Makes me want to puke.”