Cowboys Simulate Gameday Routine Ahead of Season Opener
Oklahoma State is conducting a mock gameday a week before its season opener against Tulsa, simulating everything from player arrivals to pregame drills. Head coach Eric Morris believes this will help the team be fully prepared for the actual game. The Cowboys will practice the same cadence they will use throughout the season.
The mock gameday replicates the full pregame sequence, including player arrivals three hours before kickoff, locker room preparation, and padless reps before fans enter the stadium. Special teams units take the field first, followed by skill position groups and then the offensive and defensive lines, culminating in stretch work and 11-on-11 drills. Morris has also built in the waiting periods that often contribute to cramping, a recurring issue in season openers throughout his career.
Coaches are being drilled on their own routines as well, particularly their use of sideline tablets provided through the Big 12's Microsoft partnership. Morris wants them to practice processing information quickly and presenting it to players during game situations. The timing is deliberate: since every Cowboys game this season falls on Saturday, the team can replicate the same weekly cadence throughout the fall.
This meticulous preparation could signal a cultural reset for a program that has won just four games over the past two seasons. By normalizing gameday routines before the opener, Morris may reduce first-game anxiety and execution errors that often plague rebuilding teams. The approach could also influence how other struggling programs structure their fall camps, particularly regarding coach-player communication and sideline efficiency. Fans and alumni may view this as evidence of a disciplined new direction, though its true impact will only be measured by on-field results against Tulsa.