Gundy: Violent hits the norm now

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Bone-rattling, head-jarring hits are nothing new, but Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy says he's seeing more of them these days in college football.

Gundy witnessed firsthand a cringe-inducing wallop when quarterback Zac Robinson was laid out by Texas Tech safety Jamar Wall late in the Cowboys' 24-17 win last week.

Gundy said during a coaches conference call Monday that bigger and faster defenders are tackling higher and harder. Gundy says that years ago there might be three or four memorable hits in a season. Nowadays, it might be three or four in a game.

Wall crashed into Robinson helmet-to-helmet. Both sprawled on the field for several minutes.

Tech coach Mike Leach says the violent high hits are caused by poor tackling fundamentals.

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