Stephenville, Texas, quarterback Kody Spano, Oklahoma State's first commitment in the 2008 class, said on Wednesday he doesn't expect OSU to have an early entry scholarship available for him, and his top two choices are now Nebraska and Tulsa.
Advertisement
"Coach Gundy called and left a message for me on Christmas Eve,” Spano said. "I didn't want to call on Christmas. And I haven't had a chance to call him back (Wednesday). I don't think they can get me (a scholarship) for the spring (semester).”
Spano, the only quarterback in OSU's 2008 class, committed to the Cowboys 10 months ago. Last week coach Mike Gundy called Spano's father to inform the family a scholarship might not be available until June.
The unexpected problem occurred when two seniors on the roster failed to graduate early in December as projected and OSU signed seven junior-college players. As a result, only one high school player will be allowed to enroll early and participate in spring ball. That offer reportedly will be made to Wichita Falls, Texas, safety Markelle Martin.
Spano graduated high school early and planned to report to Stillwater in January. He said he has not talked with former OSU offensive coordinator Larry Fedora, now head coach at Southern Mississippi.
If Gundy finds a scholarship would Spano still consider OSU?
"I'm not sure after all that's happened,” Spano said. "Nothing probably will happen the next couple of days. I probably will reach a decision the next week to 10 days. I'll definitely enroll somewhere early so I can go through spring practice.”
•Late arrival: The Cowboys arrived in Tempe, Ariz., a few hours later than planned. They were supposed to fly directly to Arizona from Stillwater. OSU officials changed those plans Tuesday night after forecasts called for snow in Oklahoma.
Approximately half the team, and members of OSU's traveling party, rode a bus from Stillwater to Oklahoma City on Wednesday morning. After waiting for their chartered plane to be de-iced, the Cowboys left Will Rogers World Airport at 11:45 a.m.
Numerous players arrived in Tempe on their own after being given four days off for the holidays. A few players were delayed, but OSU officials confirmed 106 out of 107 players reported for the first practice Wednesday night at Corona del Sol High School. The only person who missed was redshirt freshman Adrian Moore, who will not play in the game.
Indiana doesn't arrive until today. The Cowboys will practice from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. today.
•Climate change: The high temperature in Phoenix on Wednesday was 66 degrees, a stark contrast to snow in Oklahoma.
"My three sons have short sleeves on,” Gundy said after OSU's chartered flight landed. "It's nice to be here. My 11-year-old son Gavin has checked out the weather. He sees upper 50s and low 60s, so that's swimming weather and short sleeves for those guys.”
•Underrated defense? Since Indiana is ranked 68th nationally in total defense, 76th against the pass, and OSU is ranked ninth nationally in total offense, many expect the Cowboys to score a lot of points.
"I don't think their defense gets enough credit,” Gundy said. "I'm more of an offensive coach, so I watch more tape on that side of the ball. They've done a great job of being in the right spot. They play hard. They run to the football and they tackle. We have a lot of respect for what they've accomplished.”
•Healthy squad: Other than senior cornerback Martel Van Zant, out with torn ankle ligaments, OSU should be healthy for Monday's Insight Bowl. That includes wide receiver Adarius Bowman, who missed the final two regular-season games with a sprained knee.
"He's been doing very well,” Gundy said. "We're a healthy football team right now.”
By Mike Baldwin
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Mr. Common Sense,
Yes Collins should be allowed to keep the scholarship. He made a mistake before he came to OSU and the Texas Judicial System has addressed that situation. By all accounts Mr. Collins was a model student-athlete while at OSU unlike many other scholarship athletes. Let the penal system handle the prior situation. But since he has been a model student athlete at OSU and OSU offered the scholarship after the incident, in my opinion he should be allowed to stay on the team as well as keep the scholarship.
Mr. Common Sense, you never answered the question. If you are going to get on this topic and bash OSU, tell us why Dusty Dvorchek was able to stay on scholarship and rejoin the team after he had numerous alcohol related incidents, culminating with him almost killing one of his best friends?
OK, Scotty, let's break out my kid's alphabet blocks (you know, that whole A-B-C thing) out of the attic so that I can spell it out for you. Gundy contacts Spano and says, "Hey son, we want you to be a Cowboy." Spano says, "Cool! I want to help you fight for the fourth or fifth spot in the South, so I've been taking summer classes to be able to graduate early and participate in spring practice. If you have a scholarship for me then, I'm your man!" "It's a deal, son, we've got plenty of scholarships," says Gundy. "We've got two guys set to graduate in December, and at least seven more scholarships beyond that." Flash forward 10 months later to Christmas Eve. Spano, now a high school graduate, is celebrating the holidays with his family. The phone rings and his dad answers it. "Hi Coach! Merry Christmas!" says Mr. Spano. "What do you mean, 'not so merry?' What? You've got to be kidding me! Why you lyin' sack of #&@%! Scott, you are so freakin' stupid -- it's not a free education without a scholarship. One that they promised him, then pulled back. Fine, that stuff happens. But don't start this crap that even though OSU broke it off in him, he ought to stick around and "take one for the team." And who's the lOSUr? If OU buys talent, they make darned sure they get their money's worth. What does it get you?
MartzMimic, Oklahoma City - Dec 27, 2007 at 7:11 pm
There are way too many people who don't know the facts that are commenting on this. It hasn't been said anwhere that he was offered an early entry scholarship so we don't know that. Second, Spano has a right to change his mind if he wants until he signs. This is his future and he needs to look out for himself on this one. Third Christopher, you have no right to name names in the public eye like this, particularly since you should be loyal to your own school. We have no knowledge if you are trustworthy. Fourth, you CAN compare Dusty to Chris Collins. Dusty showed that even once he was no longer a teenager, he still couldn't control his actions and was a threat to people. Chris Collins was much younger AND didn't know the girl was 12. What he did was wrong but it was not brutal rape.
Show me where they asked him to show up and participate in spring ball without a scholarship! And you can't compare it to taking a job you LOUser, he isn't having to make money to support a family. OSU is giving this guy a FREE education! Only an OU fan, where they pay the players top money and a national championship means an NCAA investigaion and probabation is on the way, would compare it to a job.
So let's see, if you were recruited to come to work for a company and agreed you were to start on January 15, then got a call from the CEO saying, "I'm sorry, we want you to come, but we can't compensate you for the first six months you work here." Yeah, Scott, you ought to suck it up for the team. A lousy, 6-6 team that lied to me. What a freakin' Aggie...
MartzMimic, Oklahoma City - Dec 27, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Good bye Spano! Obviously, by your comments, in the media, you are not a team player. You are asked to wait 6 months to show up, and to get your scholarship. Instead, you are thinking of one thing, and one thing only, yourself. OSU wants to get a signature from a guy on the bottom line that has reversed his committment, and could again, and all you can think about is yourself. Take your ball and go play on someone else's playground.
As a student at OSU and having been in class with many football players I have to say that I am not surprised that the players did not graduate. Star players rarely show for class and get by with it. The GA's come to check if they are in class but never record the players being gone. What does surprise me is the fact that some players were actually expected to graduate. Normally the only players that get degrees are ones that walked on. Parrish Cox came to a class this past semester less than 5 times and the attendance was required. Yet, I do not see his name on academic probation. I salute OU and how they have handled the Holmes situation. To bad M. Middlebrook cannot keep the players in class and on schedule to graduate in 5 years.
Jonathon, you are an uninformed, moronic, untruthful, bitter sack of crap. Had you read the paper, today for instance, you would know that no one will believe your lies about "control" over academics. You are a disgrace to the state.
If M. Middlebrook was at OU, this kind of thing would happen all the time at OU. But, OU has more shall we say "control" over the academic side of their student athletes.
Jay in Moore, you are an idiot! Dusty Dvorcheck got into a fight with another adult male. Chris Collins brutally gang raped a 12 year old girl. How some OSU fans can still defend Collins and his scholarship is beyond reasonable explanation. I also find it pathetic to try to counter the defense of a convicted gang rapist of a 12 year old girl with someone from OU that got into a fight or stole gas...
That's interesting, because the "fact is" that Spano had an early entry scholarship offer on the table from OSU and now he doesn't. The "fact is" that OSU played on Spano's long-time verbal commitment (10 months) as the only QB in the class to make room for former OU verbal Markelle Martin. OSU doesn't want to risk losing Martin, and they guessed (incorrectly) that Spano's commitment was strong enough to accept the change. It wasn't, now he's mad, and OSU has egg on their face. When you add the fact that Collins is still on athletic scholarship it makes for another publicity gaffe for the university during Gundy's tenure. This isn't anyone's spin, but another breach of trust that those competing against OSU will use to their advantage. I believe that Mike is better than that.
It may happen at ou but Gundy cannot control who and who does not pass classes. Stoops or his cronies may may have handled this internally. Two guys did not graduate as planned. This is out of Gundy's and anyone else's control now. I fail to see why this is so hard for many to understand. Fact is, it is being spun negatively by this paper, opposing fans and Texas high school coaches because they are biased. This happens all of the time in Austin, Norman, College Station...everywhere...but that is okay because everybody should kiss their butts. Spano still has a scholarship to go to Oklahoma State. He is choosing not to take it.
I find it funny how most OSU fans cannot see that what Gundy doing is wrong and this has nothing to do with OU/OSU but has everything to do with a potential recruit leaving because Gundy has dropped the ball on this situation. I guess only the intelligent OSU fan can see this and those are the ones in agreement that Collins' scholarship should be recinded and given to this young man who is, most likely, not a rapist and watns to help OSU. The rest of you think I am mearly trying to poke fun at a former OSU player so you try to bring in OU players. Can any of you who bash my comments honestly say that OSU should keep Collins on scholarship instead of pulling it and giving it to this kid?
I thought this article was about OSU? Why the OU red herring? Fact is, this kind of stunt will not play well with Texas High School coaches, let alone other conference schools. Jerking around high school early commits is not going to end well for OSU. Just hide and watch.
Sooner fans want to talk about guys that should not be on scholarship? Thats hilarious. Your beloved teams in the 80's terrorized the OU campus, selling drugs, raping, or shooting anyone that opposed them. Did OSU have their starting QB on the cover of Sports Illustrated waering an orange jump suit and handcuffs? Oh yea, then you later hired Charles Thompson on the Sooner Sports Network, classy! And last, but not least, your beloved "king" Barry Switzer. The guy is nothing more than a common criminal. You people are hypocrites
I'm a Cowboy fan, but I agree that Collins scholarship should be pulled! He was given a chance, and apparently lied to the coaches and university about what happened. He's off the team, why does he get a free ride?? I was a normal student, who didn't commit any crimes and I had to pay my own way. Why not him??
I agree with Mr. Common Sense--why in the world does Chris Collins keep a scholarship when it could be used on this kid? In fact, why was he ever even given one? This was the type of decision that has obviously affected many areas--DUMB! And by the way--Collins never helped the team anyway.
Buying a Car
Visit NewsOK's latest Know it and get tips on buying the perfect vehicle.
More Info
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, left, speaks with Seth Newton during practice at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Ariz., on Wednesday. BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Related to this story
Articles
Cowboys' secondary faces tall task in Hoosiers'... 12/27/2007 TEMPE, Ariz. — Indiana wide receiver James Hardy, a towering threat at 6-foot-7, has his own way of sizing up enemy defensive backs. "I like to go to the...
Meacham may have his dream job come true OSU tight... 12/27/2007 TEMPE, Ariz. — After years toiling at smaller colleges, Doug Meacham became emotional when Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, his former teammate, called to...
Gundy says he'll have final vote on play-calling in... 12/27/2007 TEMPE, Ariz. — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said play-calling will be a group effort but he will have the final vote when the Cowboys play Indiana on...
23
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
Yes Collins should be allowed to keep the scholarship. He made a mistake before he came to OSU and the Texas Judicial System has addressed that situation. By all accounts Mr. Collins was a model student-athlete while at OSU unlike many other scholarship athletes. Let the penal system handle the prior situation. But since he has been a model student athlete at OSU and OSU offered the scholarship after the incident, in my opinion he should be allowed to stay on the team as well as keep the scholarship.