20 BIG 12
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Cowboys' new punter lives up to expectations
By Corinne Meyerson Daily O'Collegian
STILLWATER, Okla. — Of the toughest positions in football to replace, punter isn't often the first that comes to mind.
However, when your duty is to succeed the nation's top punter and Ray Guy Award winner Matt Fodge, the expectations are a bit different.
Four games into the season, Oklahoma State freshman Quinn Sharp seems to be handling it with ease.
Entering college, Sharp was ranked No. 1 in the country by Rivals.com and No. 2 by Scout.com.
At any other school, Sharp likely would have been a starter but, at Oklahoma State, Sharp would have to gracefully wait his turn.
Redshirting last year and having the opportunity to mature and learn from a player like Fodge was something Sharp said he had no problem doing.
"It's always nice to learn from others."
Sharp said. "(Fodge) taught me some things punting-wise, and taught me an edge on the side of the mental game."
Whatever Fodge taught Sharp seems to be helping, as Sharp is leading the Big 12 and is second in the nation in average yards per punt with 48.9, according to ESPN.com.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said he is thrilled with Sharp's performance, both with his punting and kickoff duties but said it is his kickoffs that have been a great asset for the Cowboys.
"When you drive the ball as deep as he does it makes it much easier to cover," Gundy said. "We're very excited about having him for three and a half more years."
BAYLOR BEARS
Sharp's teammates could not agree more. Freshman tight end Cooper Bassett said he feels lucky to have a punting unit and kickoff team centered on a talent like Sharp.
"We're so blessed and lucky to have Quinn, or Quinny, as I like to call him," Bassett said. "He's proving that everything that was said about him in high school was true."
Bears defeat Kent State behind backup's effort
By David Jimenez Associated Press
WACO, Texas — Third-string quarterback Nick Florence rushed for two touchdowns in his first career start and Baylor won its first game without standout Robert Griffin, beating Kent State 31-15 Saturday night.
Blake Szymanski, who was expected to start at quarterback, did not play after missing significant practice time this week because of a bruised shoulder. He got hurt last week in relief of Griffin, who is expected to miss most of the season with an isolated tear to the ACL of his right knee.
Florence was 20-of-27 passing for 216 yards and added 60 yards rushing. He gave Baylor (3-1) the lead for good with a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Jacquise Terry had 109 yards rushing for Kent State (2-3), including a 61-yard scoring run in the third.
Baylor's Kendall Wright caught nine passes for 125 yards, and Jarred Salabi
rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown in support of the freshman Florence.
Griffin, who passed for 2,091 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman in 2008, spent the first half on the sidelines wearing a headset. During pregame warmups, Griffin gingerly walked around while encouraging some of his teammates and even lobbed a couple of soft tosses while playing catch in the end zone.
The star quarterback wasn't the only offensive starter in street clothes for Baylor. Starting running back Jay Finley missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.
Even with most of its starting backfield missing, the Bears had 374 yards of offense.
The score came three plays after he hit Wright on a screen pass, which the speedy receiver turned into a 44-yard gain.
Florence capped an 89-yard drive with a 6-yard run that finished by diving into the end zone. This gave the Bears a 14-7 lead with 13:02 left in the first half.
Salubi's 45-yard touchdown run gave the Bears a 21-7 halftime lead.
THE WAVE OCTOBER 9,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN