STILLWATER —
Ranked No. 19 in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll released earlier this afternoon, the Oklahoma State football team reported to Boone Pickens Stadium for fall camp today and all of the Cowboy players are accounted for.
Members of the team filled out paperwork dealing with everything from NCAA compliance to campus parking permits, insurance, academics, financial aid and more. They also reported for testing in the weight room and the training room and got some of their equipment for the season.
As is custom for the Cowboys, the players were all sized for championship rings.
"It was about the same as always," Running back Jeremy Smith said when asked if the ring-sizing held any extra significance after he and his teammates won the Big 12 last season.
"Just trying to get another one. Looking back on last year, things worked out for us and we won the league and got our championship rings. We're back here this season working to get another."
Smith was a key figure on the 2011 Big 12-champion squad, carrying the ball 91 times for 646 yards (7.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. He said his mindset this year is to work harder than ever and for the team to build on the workmanlike attitude it forged away from the spotlight during summer workouts.
He also identified some of the Cowboys who this summer filled the leadership void created by the departure of Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon, Jamie Blatnick and others who graduated through the program.
"There were so many who stepped up this summer. Cooper Bassett, Calvin Barnett, Nigel Nicholas - I could go on," Smith said. "There were so many to choose from."
When asked about the personality of the team through the summer, Smith harkened back to when he first reported as a freshman.
"We're all close. I remember Coach Gundy telling us this my freshman year when we first reported - he said that the freshmen need to stick together because that helps you to become a better team," Smith said. "It really has and hopefully it's the same this year.
"I'm ready. I've been waiting all summer for this and now the day is here when we're all back," Smith said. "I'm ready to start new."
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OSU Cowboys report to football camp
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