PHOTO/Randy Renner
STILLWATER -- Despite having two of their marquee offensive players sidelined with injuries the Oklahoma State Cowboys still have perhaps their biggest gun, star running back and Doak Walker Award finalist Chuba Hubbard. The Cowboys also have a defense that has sparkled lately and an increasing confidence that comes with a four game winning streak.
“I have a great feeling about this week," cornerback A.J. Green said after Tuesday's late afternoon practice. "I feel like we have all the tools to go get it done. It means a lot to me and the team. We know it’s a big rivalry coming into town, in our place at Boone Pickens. We are ready to get rolling.”
Hubbard has been rolling all season. He continues to be the nation's leading rusher and now he's being used more in the passing game, against West Virginia last week Hubbard had eight catches for 88 yards.
"Like I've always said, I try to do my best," Hubbard said. "Whether they can pass me the ball or I run it, I just want to help my team succeed."
And he has certainly done that with 20 touchdowns this season and 2,002 total yards going into Saturday's Bedlam game against Oklahoma.
For Hubbard, who grew up in Edmonton in the western Canadian province of Alberta, the Bedlam game doesn't carry the same mystique as perhaps it does for more local players.
"It's like any other game for me. Obviously, it's a rivalry, but I'm going to prepare like any other week, go out and play hard."
Cowboys center Johnny Wilson, who grew up in Texas and is now a senior at Oklahoma State, has a little different attitude about the game coming up.
"Yeah, my two favorite games are Bedlam and Texas and Bedlam Week is just a different feeling," Wilson said. "It’s a challenge and I like it. Last year and the year before that, my best games came against OU; I hope to do the same this year. It’s going to be a game. It’s going to be hard-nosed game.”
And instead of a wild shootout, like the last couple of seasons, this year's version could be more of a defensive struggle.
The Cowboys have played some of their best defense in a few seasons in the last few weeks.
"It's really just (defensive coordinator Jim) Knowles' play calling and his genius mind," Safety Tre Sterling answered when asked what's made the difference for the Cowboy defenders.
Offensively OSU has lost All-American wide receiver Tylan Wallace and do everything quarterback Spencer Sanders but Dillon Stoner has filled in as the top receiving target and now sixth year senior Dru Brown is coming off a solid game taking over for Sanders.
"I think as a unit, we played pretty well (last week against West Virginia). There were some things we could do better but we're focusing on those this week. We watched the tape, learned from it and now we're on to the next one."
And the next one is the biggest one...Bedlam.