'I Think It's Going to Work Immediately': Andy Staples Discusses Why He Has the Pokes as a Preseason Top 25 Team

[PistolsFiring]

Originally published at: https://pistolsfiringblog.com/i-think-its-going-to-work-immediately-andy-staples-discusses-why-he-has-the-pokes-as-a-preseason-top-25-team/

Staples has OSU as the No. 23 team in the country entering the season.

[bill18]

“Ari and I’s jaws just dropped when he’s like, ‘Yeah, I didn’t believe in it. I thought NIL was a flash in the pan and was gonna go away.’ And I’m like, ‘Excuse me?’ So, Oklahoma State’s donors obviously knew that long ago, and they were basically starving him out. They didn’t give him any resources.”

He had resources before NIL even became a thing. He got one Big 12 title and two wins against his biggest rival in 16 years before NIL started. What they knew is that he wasn’t the coach you needed to hand a bunch of money to, and watch your best QB sit on the bench. The evidence was already there for them to look at . It wasn’t about starving him out. It was the recognition that Probation Pat was back.

[jarrod]

Yeah I’m glad he believes in OSU turning it around quickly. I’ve said it before, I don’t think OSU should be ranked in any preseason poll. What impressed me more was having 5 Big 12 teams ranked and they were spread out.

[michael13]

With the schedule we have and the O-line is okay we should win 4 out of first five. I don’t think Tech qb holds up, Houston could be a problem to me. I still think we finish top four

[jarrod]

For me, I see an offense with a lot of potential and a defense with a lot of ???. That’s why until I’ll see it on the field, I’m in the 5 to 7 win range.

Yeah, if Hammond at Tech doesn’t hold up, then BYU is the team to beat, but it’ll be wide open for the other spot in the Big 12 CCG.

Houston will be a problem. A lot of starters coming back from a 10 win team and a HC will a great track record. If I was doing a preseason Big 12 ranking, Houston would be a 3.

[heychamp]

@jarrod

That’s why until I’ll see it on the field, I’m in the 5 to 7 win range.

That’s what I think as well. I think 6 wins is a successful first year. Five is not what you want, but if the ball doesn’t bounce your way in a couple of close ones, it happens. The only reason I think 7 is reasonable (and an outside chance at 8) is because the league as a whole seems a bit down and more games seems in play than an average year–a game like the Iowa State game seems more favorable because of their coaching change and talent turnover, so a game where we would’ve been a solid dog turns into a game where we’re probably favored.

I see fans chalking games up as Ws like West Virginia. I don’t know if your first ever Big XII game being a cross country road trip to Morgantown is the slam dunk that everyone thinks it is. WVU also added some nice pieces in the portal. If they get it pulled together, they’re going to be better than they were last year. If we won that game and especially if we won comfortably, I’ll be snorting lines of orange Kool-Aid because that’s a great win that would show tons of early maturity and cohesion.

[bill18]

@jarrod

A lot of starters coming back from a 10 win team and a HC will a great track record.

Yea…they have the same coach I said wouldn’t be a bad hire for OSU several years ago. People like Michael13 laughed at it. Looks like it’s working out okay for Houston so far . Of course, the ones who were wrong will never admit it.

Based on what I can see from the schedule I think 6-8 wins is a good possibility based on what other teams have returning and what they’ve gotten in the portal. WV seems to be getting some praise for their activity in the portal when they essentially have only done what OSU and Gundy did in the portal last offseason. We seen how that worked out.

[aix_xpert]

I’m really interested in how we compete in the Oregon game. If its another Savanah State level debacle, then OSU’s probably in trouble. But if we can compete enough that Oregon isn’t playing the 3rd string in the 3rd quarter, then we’ll probably be highly successful in the Big 12.

[OSUgary]

We are going to have VERY GOOD barometer test(s) immediately in Week(s) 1 & 2 to assess quickly what sort of TALENT & COACHING upgrades the program achieved in the off-season. Arguably, Tulsa and Oregon will be better than their 2025 versions given they have 80% (+) of their 2025 total team production ‘back’ with more experience and sprinkled in new skilled talent from the Portal. We are about to get a great and good read on this team EARLY!

[aix_xpert]

Here’s a strange phenomenon. I actually agree with HeyChamp. West Virginia isn’t a gimme. That said, I think Rich Rod is very much like Gundy in that he has failed to adapt his offensive style to match today’s defenses that have so much more speed in the LB and Safety positions. But that’s an underrated venue and home crowd, and will be rocking for their team early in the season.

[VocPoke]

@bill18

WV seems to be getting some praise for their activity in the portal when they essentially have only done what OSU and Gundy did in the portal last offseason. We seen how that worked out.

That’s what I was thinking and along with Morris knowing the import of a first conference game and win (he’ll be dialed in and bet he’ll make make sure the team feels a sense of urgency)… hoping to win at Morgantown.

oSu

[bill18]

I mean….they got like three players or so worth noting in the portal. However, I’m not sold on Rich Rod. The guy was fired from Michigan and Arizona. Ended up at Jacksonville State. I think they could be a .500 team or so, but I don’t see anything that screams to me they’re a top 5 team in the conference or anything.

[heychamp]

@bill18

Yea…they have the same coach I said wouldn’t be a bad hire for OSU several years ago. People like Michael13 laughed at it. Looks like it’s working out okay for Houston so far . Of course, the ones who were wrong will never admit it.

Based on what I can see from the schedule I think 6-8 wins is a good possibility based on what other teams have returning and what they’ve gotten in the portal. WV seems to be getting some praise for their activity in the portal when they essentially have only done what OSU and Gundy did in the portal last offseason. We seen how that worked out.

UH OH! You just outed yourself! @michael13 come check this out.

YES, when DID you ever say this!!! Could it have been when you were… joe?!

No results for bill18 and willie fritz!!! Well, let’s check on joe…

@joe15

Does Willie Fritz have a billionaire to donate money to the school he coaches to make his football program more appealing?

@yo1

Lol it’s laughable how your still trying to defend your “we’d be better off with willie fritz” comment. But I guess I shouldn’t find it crazy of you since you believe Gundy is racist and believe all the headlines you read.

@yo1

@joe15

You guys can try to cut your point to however you want. The point I’m getting at is you are trying to compare apples to oranges. How about putting some thought into it first before posting the comment?

Your the one who should put some thought into it. I’m not the one who was trying to fire Gundy for fritz

@joe15

You all called me stupid for suggesting we get rid of Gundy. How do you feel now??? Better get Willie Fritz on the phone if you’re serious about contending.

@joe15

Do we have any other plays besides an inside run and a deep pass? Of course, we don’t!!! Because we’ve all forgotten who the head coach is. I’ve been saying it for two years now!!! Gundy had lost his ability to be a good coach!!!

It’s amazing to me that Willie Fritz can go into Norman, OK with the Tulane Green Wave and come up half a yard short of pulling off perhaps the biggest upset in CF of the year. Then we have Mediocre Mike and company sweating bullets trying not to lose a home game to Missouri State of the Missouri Valley Conference!!! Missouri State people!!!

I’m just wondering now if they have what it takes to beat Tulsa!!! Based on what I’ve seen tonight that game is 50/50. Too bad the OL and the embarrassment of riches at RB seem to suck. About the only thing I’ve seen remotely close to the hype is Tay Martin and even he got shut down.

@joe15

You also seem to forget as well. Our fans think 7-8 wins a season is a good thing. So if Willie Fritz is meeting that criteria it doesn’t necessarily mean he would be picked up anytime real soon for a bigger job.

[heychamp]

@bill18 Delete your account. Don’t come back as frank17 or jim13 or hank15 either.

[heychamp]

[jarrod]

[michael13]

I notice Bill , aka Joe hasn’t replied to you caught him with the bird in his mouth he’s such an idiot and good liar he will come up that wasn’t him. !! Good catch !!! He lies so much he can’t keep up with all of them

[heychamp]

@michael13

He lies so much he can’t keep up with all of them

My favorite part is when he’s trying to distance himself from his old account and outright says he never said he wanted to hire Willie Fritz.

[bill18]

That’s cool. You have a lot more time on your hands than I do .

[heychamp]

I don’t know. You had time to make a burner account.

@bill18

That’s cool. You have a lot more time on your hands than I do .

When did @michael13 laugh at you for suggesting Willie Fritz as the new coach for Oklahoma State, I wonder? Can you find that post? Was it after the one where you were pretending not to be your alter ego and denying that you’d ever said it?