Without a doubt, the ending of the game last Saturday was heartbreaking. Overcoming mistakes and misfortune to come back from a deficit only to wind up inches from a championship leaves room for lots of second guessing at many levels. No play call or individual player was ever guaranteed to make a difference, but we can spend hours, days, weeks, and years speculating. Every little change has a ripple effect, and you never quite know how it will unfold.
Sure, Jaylen Warren's speed and ability to be a more violent one-cut runner, give him a better chance to get in the endzone on the goal-line, but does he make the same catch that Dez did to put us in position? Would Dez had even been in the game at that point if Warren could have gone? Would the narrative change from blaming the inability to run the ball in a critical situation to not being able to pass the ball? The run game struggles could be passed along to offensive line issues or vanilla play-calling, while the passing game shortfalls to Spencer Sanders, the inability of the receivers to separate, or the officials reluctance to call Baylor DBs for holding.
The point is that even games that come down to one play could have had dozens of little things that if changed at some point during the game could have impacted the outcome. You could argue that the official initially granting a timeout to a disorganized defense when we tried to go tempo on the last play independently impacted the outcome. Baylor got to get set, we were knocked off our rhythm. Some believe that a defensive delay of game penalty should have been called. Would half the distance to the goal made a difference on the next play if it covered the same amount of ground? What about Jackson's toes, on replay you can clearly see the pellets kicked up from the turf when the toes of his right foot drag on the ground. If he lifts his shoe one inch, does the same play with the same back, offensive line, play call, and officiating still get the job done? Probably. If that's the case, why do we as fans torture ourselves over the very unpredictable nature of sport. More than a cliche, "football is a game of inches". Unfortunately in Dallas, we just needed one or two more.
Oklahoma State stared down adversity: missing their top two running backs, starting center and outside receiver, four interceptions, balls bouncing off players into the hands of Baylor Bears, and more. With 3 minutes remaining, the Cowboy offense had the opportunity to go 89 yards for the win. 17 plays and 89 yards later, we were lacking 1-2 inches. The team came so close, but even in the final moments of that championship game, we see before our eyes how small the margin was for this team all year long. This Cowboys team played to and above its potential this year. Preseason expectations, NFL draft projections, and the progression of the team throughout the season bear witness to this fact. Despite the small margin this team found a way to win, overcoming challenges time after time.
This year was not supposed to be that way. The offense was supposed to be more explosive. Brayden Johnson possessed the pure speed to take the top off the defense. He was going to provide a vertical stretch that would allow Brennan Pressley room underneath and force safeties to stay over the top which would lighten the box for the run game. LD Brown had breakaway speed out of the backfield, the kind of speed on the edge where we could incorporate more option and screens. The staff was looking at ways to get multiple running backs in the game at the same time to utilize that group of playmakers. Langston Anderson was there to provide rotational depth behind Tay Martin to keep him fresh. This offense moved the ball explosively against our defense (1s vs 1s). It was supposed to be explosive. When the season started and injuries ravaged the receiving corps, necessity created an opportunity, and our team and coaching staff made an improvisational adjustment that will have this team long remembered for their grit, leadership, and defense.
It is always disappointing to be that close to something to fall just short, but the other way to look at this is to remember how much this team achieved when even many of our fans had counted them out. Finishing with a New Year's Day 6 bowl game against #5 ranked Notre Dame is much more than a consolation prize. Oklahoma State has never played Notre Dame, and seldom gets the opportunity to play blue blood programs outside of this conference. On a national stage, this team can send the seniors out with a legacy win, while laying the groundwork for an even better season in 2022.
In the coming weeks, we can look at the Notre Dame game, discuss recruiting, and bask in the misery of rival schools, but don't miss the opportunity over the next few weeks to enjoy what this group of young men has accomplished and the refreshing renewal of championship dreams that they have brought back to the Cowboy fandom. If ever a team deserved our praise, adulation, and butts in the stands, it is this group. There is no substitute for heart and leadership. Enjoy the final game of Malcolm Rodriguez, Devin Harper, Josh Sills, and their senior classmates. Celebrate what they have done and the bar they have established for upcoming seasons. The future may be closer than you think!
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