STILLWATER -- So you're mad. That came through loud and clear on my daily radio show on Monday morning. Honestly, it's been awhile since that much venom spewed after a loss. I understand it. Oklahoma State lost a football game they were favored to win for the eighth time in the past three seasons. There were losses to TCU and Kansas State at home in the 2017 season, both games where the Cowboys were favored. Then last season there were losses to Texas Tech and Iowa State at home and then on the road to Kansas State, Baylor, and TCU. Fans get as frustrated with losses to team they expect their team to beat as they get excited about the upsets over teams favored to beat their school.

Oklahoma State's coaches and players knew the mistakes, many of them before even reviewing the video. Quarterback Spencer Sanders, a talented red-shirt freshman that may be cursed by having a near perfect performance in his debut in the win to open the season at Oregon State, had a poor game at Texas Tech. He fell on his sword and took all the blame, but all the blame is not on him. The offensive line had issues, the running backs missed blocks in protection, and the receivers had issues too. All-American Tylan Wallace is outstanding but his two major penalties brought back potential first downs that moved the chains.

I can guarantee that every player that touched the field in Lubbock has remorse. The coaches pointed at themselves as well. Head coach Mike Gundy said his staff was outcoached by Texas Tech and I agree with him. Gundy, despite fans thinking otherwise, has been more engaged by far than last year after taking most of the blame for the 7-6 campaign. Gundy and the staff including defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who blamed himself for not getting more pressure on Texas Tech quarterback Jett Duffey, who threw for 424-yards and four touchdowns.

The Cowboys were back at practice on Sunday night and they got started with a near three hour practice at 1:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. There will be another long practice on Tuesday afternoon and Mike Gundy will meet with the media after practice on Tuesday. The team will not practice again until Sunday, getting four striaght days off to rest up physically and heal up some.

Injuries are still a concern with the latest being an undisclosed injury that looked like muscle strain of some sort that kept safety Kolby Harvel-Peel out of the second hal last Saturday after he was helped off in the second quarter of the game.

The chances of another loss are out there. First, Sanders has more to learn and more to progress. The defense needs to get healthy and find a pass rush with a defensive line and front that struggles in getting to the passer. The most effective pass rusher at this point may be true freshman defensive end Trace Ford. He is still learning and took a bad rush lane to Duffy on Saturday and missed getting in front of the Texas Tech quarterback when he threw the 21-yard touchdown to T.J. Vasher.

I will agree with disgruntled fans that there needs to be some more imagination to cure problems. Two obvious are getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and alleviating the pressure on Sanders. The coaches know that and they are working on it.

My issue is the negativity. It doesn't help the program. I can't think it makes the messengers feel good, but then maybe it does. I can assure you the coaches and players do hear it, not directy, but they hear it from friends, family, on the street.

I hate to see Oklahoma State lose, but I also know I won't call any plays, won't assist in anybody coming up with schemes, and I am not allowed to give pep talks. I guess my outlet is the broadcasting, but a lose is frustrating for me. I also know it is about 1/10th of frustrating or less than it is for coaches and players.

This program has hit a bump. It has the ability to get over the bump and back to beating teams they are favored to beat and beyond. this recruiting class is going well. I know the negative talk doesn't help the program, doesn't motivate the players, but it may make the fans feel better.

Mike Gundy on the Open Week

Gundy meets with the media tomorrow as the Cowboys will wrap up their short week of practice. Go Pokes got a jump on the open week and asked Gundy about it in Lubbock after the loss to Texas Tech.

"It is what it is and we look at it as coaches and players and see what the issues were and what we need to do to correct it," Gundy said. "It's college football, we put a plan in place and we go to work. What you're saying is right, we would have loved to won the game and say, 'we're going to go enjoy this time,' but we didn't. Now we have to go back to work. We'll practice a couple of times this week. Put in a good plan and get ready to win the next game."

Gundy hinted that he knew many of the issues from watching the game and was ready to attack those starting with Sunday night's practice, Monday and then on Tuesday before the players get some needed time off after going straight through since reporting in late July and starting practice on Aug. 1.

Homecoming at 3 p.m.

The Big 12 Conference announced that Oklahoma State and currently unbeaten Baylor will play at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 for Homecoming in Stillwater. Oklahoma State and all the Homecoming groups can rest easy as the parade can go off at a decent time. Retailers and restaurants can celebrate with a 3 p.m. kickoff that will drum up plenty of business on the most attended football weekend of the season. Maybe, Oklahoma State got a little grace and a nudge by the Big 12 to FOX to take the Cowboys and Bears at the 3 p.m. spot after OSU willingly went on ESPN + a second time. Who knows?

Open Week Means Recruiting

The Oklahoma State football staff, full-time assistants and Mike Gundy will be on the road starting on Wednesday to see committed players and prospects. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sean Gleeson will be heading to California to see Shane Illingworth, who was 8-for-8 for 146-yards and two touchdowns before coming out just before halftime with Norco leading King 49-6. Norco went on to win 56-6 and Gleeson will see Illingworth go against Corona Santiago this Friday on the road in Corona, Calf.

Most of the coachng staff is fanning out to catch as many players as they can and will be making multiple stops on Thursday, Friday, and even Saturday for some junior college action including a recent offer in Independence C.C. offensive tackle Jeremy Flax (6-6, 320). I also believe that offensive line coach Charlie Dickey will be checking in on Scottsdale (Notre Dame Prep), Ariz., offensive line commitment Cade Bennett (6-5, 295).

You can count on all of the full-time coaches being out on the road this week.