Credit Gundy for gambling on Robinson

By Berry Tramel

Published: September 27, 2008

STILLWATER — The biggest difference between Oklahoma State-Troy 2008 and OSU-Troy 2007 is location. This game is played not in the Alabama wilderness, but on the Oklahoma frontier.

But the next-biggest difference is the Cowboy quarterback. Same person, different player.

Zac Robinson has gone from shaky starter at Troy, where the Trojans pistol-whipped OSU 41-23, to steady star today.

In a league of quarterback excellence, the Cowboys hold their own. Robinson is not a Heisman contender but inhabits the nightmares of Big 12 defensive coordinators, just like Chase Daniel, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Graham Harrell.

Which means it's time to salute Mike Gundy. His gamble of last September — benching Bobby Reid in favor of Robinson — has proven to be a master stroke.

"It's always difficult,” Gundy said of changing quarterbacks. "It's a pretty prideful position. I think there's always a gamble and a risk.”

Reid was a good player and more. He was the face of the franchise; the most ballyhooed Cowboy recruit since Hart Lee Dykes. Benching Bobby Reid took guts.

But OSU's offensive coaches eventually decided Robinson was better.

One OSU source said then-offensive coordinator Larry Fedora wanted to make the move at halftime of the 2007 season opener at Georgia. Gundy denies that but claims Fedora and Co. asked for a switch the week of Troy.

"The offensive guys came to me and thought it needed to be done,” Gundy said. "In most cases, I'm going to listen to what they say.”

Gundy stood by his coaches and then stood by Robinson after the discouraging debut, in which Troy took a 41-10 lead and dominated the game.

"I wasn't convinced at all coming out of that game,” Gundy said. "But the staff felt like, give him another chance to prove himself before we start playing musical chairs.”

Excellent decision. Robinson's ascension to stardom began the next week, in a 49-45 victory over Texas Tech, and now the Cowboys have a polished quarterback who can run and pass and lead. They have a quarterback who can challenge Gundy himself for the title of best in school history.

State co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said he became sold on Robinson in the week of practice after Troy.

"His demeanor, the way he handled the press, the way he handled the players, the way he handled himself,” Brewer said. "Thank goodness he proved everybody correct.”

Robinson at Troy in 2007 was the typical rookie quarterback. He looked like he was trying to figure out the position. Was he at the right depth? Was he correctly reading the signs from the sidelines? What's the down and distance?

"Zac was just trying to take care of Zac,” Brewer said.

Now, that stuff is second nature and is processed in a split second, along with the dozens of other pre-snap decisions a quarterback must make.

"When you're the backup, you're just trying to gain guys' respect,” Robinson said. "Get the guys to have faith in you.”

That was then. Now, "this team's confident in what I can do,” Robinson said. "They look to me to make plays. It's a whole lot different.”

It will be a lot different today. The Cowboys are playing at home and playing with a star quarterback. OSU 35-22.

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