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Mike Gundy had an inkling that Oklahoma State might be in for a successful season.
He just didn't have any evidence to support that belief after losing a bundle of starters who put together one of the most successful stretches in school history.
Gundy slid inexperienced players into bigger roles, brought in Dana Holgorsen to run what would become the nation's most productive offense and the No. 16 Cowboys turned a rebuilding year into their first 11-win season.
''These guys overachieved this year. We had some key players that were very good and could make some plays, but this team overachieved because of the inexperience we had on the defense,'' Gundy said. ''We're in a great situation. We've got a number of players returning; we're recruiting very well.''
Among the keys to next year's success will be whether Weeden and Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon are among the players returning. Both had breakout seasons - Weeden with a school-record 4,277 yards passing and 34 touchdowns, and Blackmon setting OSU records and leading the nation with 1,782 yards receiving and 20 TDs - but could decide to enter the NFL draft.
Gundy is encouraging both to return, believing they'll elevate their draft status with another year of college. Surrounding them would be a firm foundation, with all-Big 12 selections Kendall Hunter at running back and Orie Lemon at linebacker plus Lou Groza Award winner Dan Bailey among the few seniors on their way out.
''If we keep our coaches intact and continue with our system, then we're going to do good,'' Gundy said. ''We've got things up and going right now. But one thing that I will mention to the team is the importance of maintaining a high level compared to building the team and getting to that level.
''It takes a lot of work to get to this level, but our offseason will be really important this year because everybody's going to think we're going to have a really good team. Last year, we could just kind of fly under the radar and do the best we could and everybody got excited because we won a bunch of football games.''
Gundy already has lost Holgorsen, who is leaving to become West Virginia's head coach.
A former offensive coordinator, Gundy had been heavily involved in the game-planning until this season. Once he stepped away, he found himself better able to focus on the big-picture needs of his program and ended up being named the Big 12 coach of the year.
Gundy has said he could choose a new offensive coordinator as early as next week, and he doesn't think he'll revert to the way he was involved prior to this year.
''I think it's a very small chance that I would do that. I liked the role that I played this year and I think it helped our team, so I just don't see that happening,'' Gundy said. ''I hate to ever rule out anything, but I just don't see that happening.''
Who could blame him after as well as this season went for the Cowboys?
Oklahoma State lost starting quarterback Zac Robinson, who set a school record for total offense in his career, along with four starters on the offensive line and nine on defense. Offensive tackle Russell Okung became the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft, with Dez Bryant - who missed most of last season due to an NCAA suspension - also going in the first round.
So when Weeden suggested at the start of the season that Oklahoma State's goal was to improve on last year's nine wins, it seemed like blind optimism.
Turns out, he was right on the money.
Oklahoma State won at Texas and Texas Tech, each for the first time since 1944, and snapped a six-game losing streak at Kansas State on its way to sharing the Big 12 South title for the first time.
Instead of taking a step back, the Cowboys figure to finish with their highest ranking in The Associated Press' poll since they were No. 11 following Barry Sanders' Heisman Trophy season in 1988.
''I don't think anybody would question that we've had a tremendous amount of success,'' Gundy said. ''So, I'm not going to blow up my own tires, but I'm very happy with where we're at.
