Oklahoma State football: 5 reasons it’s frustrating to be a Cowboy fan

STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 5: Oklahoma State Cowboys fans watch the game against the Kansas State Wildcats October 5, 2013 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Wildcats 33-29. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - OCTOBER 5: Oklahoma State Cowboys fans watch the game against the Kansas State Wildcats October 5, 2013 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Wildcats 33-29. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
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STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 6: Quarterback Taylor Cornelius #14 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys talks with head coach Mike Gundy during a timeout against the Iowa State Cyclones in the third quarter on October 6, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 6: Quarterback Taylor Cornelius #14 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys talks with head coach Mike Gundy during a timeout against the Iowa State Cyclones in the third quarter on October 6, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

5. Quarterback decisions

The 2018 campaign is a continuation of a past narrative for Oklahoma State football that tends to keep repeating itself under head coach Mike Gundy. For the past five years, Gundy went nothing but conservative in deciding the quarterback in spring practice and fall camp dating all the way up to the current regular season.

Some of the best quarterbacks in program history for the Pokes came under the direction of Gundy. But, the way that each quarterback came to prominence is not how you would expect it to happen. If this narrative emerges from numerous quarterbacks with Gundy, it’s because he formed a habit that is different from most head coaches.

This is obvious with the way that Mason Rudolph came to be a statistical leader and a difference maker on the field for Oklahoma State. Rudolph was forced into action late in the 2014 season as a true freshman after injuries plagued the rest of Oklahoma State’s quarterback depth chart. The Cactus Bowl win over the Washington Huskies and the Bedlam win were largely thanks to his rise.

The way that Zac Robinson and Brandon Weeden also came to be is different than what you would expect. Oklahoma State might be going through a similar scenario with senior quarterback Taylor Cornelius as the starter for the entirety of 2018. He’ll be gone in 2019, but Gundy refused to even try something else to spark something from the signal caller.