Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Visits Kansas State
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Football
October 12, 1998
at
Kansas State Wildcats (5-0, 2-0)
Saturday, Oct. 17, 1998
KSU Stadium (42,000) * Manhattan, Kan.
2:30 p.m. (CDT) * TV: ABC (Regional)
Radio: Cowboy Network
COWBOYS FACE K-STATE - Oklahoma State continues its October away from home as the Cowboys travel to Manhattan, Kan., to face Kansas State. Kickoff at a sold-out KSU Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. (CDT). Oklahoma State carries an overall record of 2-3 and a Big 12 Conference record of 1-2 into Saturdays game. Kansas State, after a 16-9 win at Colorado last week, comes home with a perfect mark of 5-0 and a Big 12 record of 2-0.
RANKINGS - Kansas State comes into Saturdays game ranked third by USA Today-ESPN and fifth by the Associated Press. The Wildcats are the second top-five opponent in three weeks for Oklahoma State, and theres more on that in the next paragraph. The Pokes lost by a touchdown to second-ranked Nebraska two weeks ago. OSU continues to be unranked in the national polls but received votes in the AP poll.
SPEAKING OF THE RANKED - Kansas State represents the second top-five-ranked opponent for the Cowboys in the last three weeks. Having two opponents that highly ranked is nothing new for O-State. Including 1998, OSU has faced at least two top-five opponents in seven of the last 14 seasons and has played 14 top five teams since 1985. OSU is 0-14 in those games and has not defeated a team ranked in the top five since 1972. Since Sept. 30, 1972, when the Pokes upended third-ranked Colorado 31-6, OSU has lost 26 straight to teams ranked in the top five.
ON THE ROAD - Oklahoma States travel itinerary for this weeks game at Manhattan includes a Friday afternoon departure on chartered buses. The Cowboys will headquarter in Topeka at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and return to Stillwater immediately following Saturdays game. The Pokes are tentatively scheduled to hold a light workout at KSU Stadium, but that workout is closed to the media. Check with the OSU Media Relations Office for details of Coach Simmons availability to the media on Friday afternoon.
IN THE DAYLIGHT AGAIN - Oklahoma State will be playing in daylight for just the second time this season when the Cowboys and Wildcats kickoff at 2:30 p.m. (CDT) on Saturday. OSUs only other daylight kickoff so far this season was at Kansas in the season opener. The Pokes are scheduled to return to a nighttime start next week when the Bedlam game with Oklahoma kicks off at 6 p.m. OSU has a record of 7-11 in daylight games during the Bob Simmons era.
OSU LAST WEEK - Oklahoma State bolted to a 10-0 lead over unbeaten Texas Tech but couldnt hang on as the Red Raiders posted a 24-17 win in Lubbock. Fullback Brian Aikins scored the games first touchdown with 7:17 left in the initial quarter, and Tim Sydnes added a 38-yard field goal just before the quarter ended. Tech rallied in the second quarter with two touchdown passes from Rob Peters to Donnie Hart to take a 14-10 halftime lead. Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Tech put the game away with a 32-yard field goal and a 53-yard fumble return by Dorian Pitts. OSU scored the games final touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Chris Chaloupka to Terrance Richardson.
COWBOYS-CATS ON THE AIR - Saturdays game at Kansas State will be broadcast live on the 30-station Cowboy Network with Bill Teegins and Tom Dirato describing the action. The game will also be televised live by ABC. Terry Gannon will do play-by-play and Tim Brant the analysis for the ABC broadcast. Oklahoma State will be making its second appearance of the season on an ABC regional broadcast and its fourth TV appearance overall of the 1998 season. Including Saturdays game at Manhattan, Oklahoma State has appeared on regional or national television 16 times since Bob Simmons became head coach.
OSU on the tube ... Aug. 31, 1995 Nebraska Stillwater ESPN (National) L 21-64 Sept. 23, 1995 Wyoming Laramie ESPN 2 (National) L 25-45 Sept. 7, 1996 Texas Tech Dallas Big 12 (Regional) L 3-31 Oct. 5, 1996 Texas Austin Fox Sports Net L 14-71 Oct. 12, 1996 Colorado Boulder Fox Sports Net L 13-35 Nov. 9, 1996 Oklahoma Stillwater Big 12 (Regional) L 17-27 Aug. 30, 1997 Iowa State Ames Fox Sports Net W 21-14 Oct. 4, 1997 Texas Stillwater Big 12 (Regional) W 42-16 Oct. 12, 1997 Colorado Stillwater Fox Sports Net W 33-29 Oct. 25, 1997 Missouri Stillwater Big 12 (Regional) L 50-51 Nov. 22, 1997 Baylor Waco ABC (Regional) W 24-14 Dec. 30, 1997 Purdue San Antonio ESPN (National) L 20-33 Sept. 5, 1998 Kansas Lawrence ABC (Regional) W 38-28 Oct. 3, 1998 Nebraska Kansas City Fox Sports Net L 17-24 Oct. 10, 1998 Texas Tech Lubbock Fox Net L 17-24 Oct. 17, 1998 Kansas St. Manhattan ABC (Regional)
ROAD WARRIORS - This week will mark the fifth time in six games the Cowboys have had to pack their bags and bus or fly to a game. Including trips to Lawrence, Kan.; Tulsa, Okla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Lubbock, Texas; and Manhattan, Kan., the Pokes will have traveled 2,714 miles by the time the team returns Saturday night. Just as a comparison, its 2,821 miles from New York City to Los Angeles, Calif.
OSU Odometer ... Game Site Miles (round trip) Kansas Lawrence 558 Tulsa Tulsa 130 Nebraska Kansas City 624 Texas Tech Lubbock 900 K-State Manhattan 502 Total Miles 2,714
KC CROWD FOURTH-LARGEST - Oklahoma States game against Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium drew the fifth-largest crowd to ever watch the Cowboys play football. The 79,555 fans at Arrowhead also represented the second-highest crowd to watch OSU during the Bob Simmons era.
Top Ten Crowds to Watch OSU Football ... Date Site Attendance Date 1. at Michigan 104,253 Sept. 19, 1992 2. at Tennessee 95,319 Sept. 30, 1995 3. at Ohio State 88,670 Sept. 16, 1989 4. Gator Bowl 82,138 Dec. 28, 1984 5. Nebraska at KC 79,555 Oct. 3, 1998 6. Gator Bowl 79,417 Dec. 30, 1985 7. at Nebraska 76,432 Oct. 28, 1972 8. at Nebraska 76,432 Oct. 15, 1988 9. at Nebraska 76,426 Oct. 26, 1974 10. at Nebraska 76,368 Oct. 20, 1990
OSU OPPONENTS ... How Theyre Doing - Oklahoma States 1998 football opponents have a combined record of 38-22 going into this weekends action. In addition, six of the 11 are either ranked or receiving votes in one of the major polls.
Opponent 98 Record Notes Kansas 2-4 lost to OSU 38-28 Tulsa 2-3 0-2 since upending O-State Mississippi State 4-1 beat South Carolina after losing at OSU Nebraska 5-1 ranked number eight Texas Tech 6-0 rallied for win over OSU Kansas State 6-0 headed for North showdown Oklahoma 2-3 faces 4-1 Mizzou this week Texas A&M 5-1 defending South champs Texas 4-2 Heisman hopeful in Ricky Williams Southwestern Louisiana 0-4 lost opener to Arkansas Baylor 2-3 lost to Tech and Colorado by four points
MURDERERS ROW, PART FOUR - Although no part of the 1998 schedule is easy, Oklahoma State is coming to the close of a particularly difficult part of this years slate. Beginning with the Sept. 19 game against Mississippi State and concluding with this weeks trip to Kansas State, the Cowboys will have played four straight teams that were unbeaten at the time. Three of the teams, Mississippi State, Nebraska and Kansas State, were ranked in the top 25. In addition to the quality of opponent, three of the four were played away from Lewis Field. The schedule doesnt necessarily get easier the next three weeks, with Oklahoma and Texas A&M coming to Stillwater and the Cowboys paying a visit to Texas. Two of the three, however, will be played on the home turf.
Opponent Result Note Whats Behind ... Mississippi State W 42-23 Pokes beat 25th-ranked Bulldogs Nebraska L 24-17 Narrow miss vs. second-ranked Huskers Texas Tech L 24-17 Win over OSU propels Tech into top 25 Whos Next ... Kansas State (5-0) ranked third after 16-9 win at Colorado...
COACH BOB SIMMONS - Oklahoma States Bob Simmons is five games into his fourth season and will carry a career record of 19-21 into this weeks game against Kansas State. Simmons was named OSUs 20th head football coach on Dec. 16, 1994. Three years and four games later, he has established OSU as one of the top football programs in the Big 12 Conference. He guided the Cowboys to a 4-8 record in 1995; a 5-6 mark in 1996 and an 8-4 record a year ago. Simmons 1997 squad finished with OSUs best record in a decade and made an appearance in the Builders Square Alamo Bowl. He guided the Cowboys into the national rankings a year ago, climbing as high as No. 12 and finishing 25th.
SIMMONS TO COACH IN HULA BOWL - Oklahoma States football boss has been selected to coach in the 1998 Hula Bowl, to be played in January in Honolulu. Simmons will help guide the north squad.
1997 HONORS - OSUs football coach was the recipient of numerous awards following the Cowboys 8-4 bowl season of a year ago. He was the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, according to league coaches. He was a regional Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and was a finalist on several national coach-of-the-year lists. He was the Black Coaches Associations National Football Coach of the Year and on the receiving end of numerous in-state awards.
Simmons Record As an Assistant School Year Record Notes Bowling Green 1975 8-3 Bowling Green 1976 6-5 Toledo 1977 2-9 Toledo 1978 2-9 Toledo 1979 7-3-1 West Virginia 1980 6-6 West Virginia 1981 9-3 Peach Bowl West Virginia 1982 9-3 Gator Bowl West Virginia 1983 9-3 Hall of Fame Bowl West Virginia 1984 8-4 Bluebonnet Bowl West Virginia 1985 7-3-1 West Virginia 1986 4-7 West Virginia 1987 6-6 Sun Bowl Colorado 1988 8-4 Freedom Bowl Colorado 1989 11-1 Orange Bowl Colorado 1990 11-1 Orange Bowl Colorado 1991 8-3-1 Blockbuster Bowl Colorado 1992 9-2-1 Fiesta Bowl Colorado 1993 8-3-1 Aloha Bowl Colorado 1994 11-1 Fiesta Bowl As a Head Coach Oklahoma State 1995 4-8 Oklahoma State 1996 5-6 Oklahoma State 1997 8-4 Alamo Bowl Oklahoma State 1998 2-3 Near miss vs. Nebraska Totals 3+ years 19-21
This Weeks Opponent ... Kansas State
THE SERIES - Oklahoma State and Kansas State will meet Saturday afternoon for the first time since 1995 and for the 51st time since the series began in 1908. Despite a recent dominance by Kansas State, OSU leads the overall series by a 32-18-0 count, and the Cowboys have a 16-11 advantage in games played in Manhattan. Kansas State will come into this weeks game with a six-game winning streak over Oklahoma State, dating back to 1990. OSUs last win over KSU came in 1989, in Stillwater, by a 17-13 count.
CLOSE IS NICE, BUT ... - As K-States football fortunes have soared over the past few seasons, the Wildcats have fashioned a six-game winning streak over OSU. The six games have been extremely competitive. Kansas States average margin of victory over OSU in the past six meetings is 9.9 points. Five of the games have been decided by 10 points or less with the most lopsided KSU win a 23-6 margin in Manhattan in 1994.
RECORD AGAINST KSU THE BEST - Oklahoma States all-time record against Kansas State (32-18) gives the Cowboys a .640 winning percentage and thats the best for OSU against any Big 12 Conference opponent. Prior to Kansas State winning the first of its six straight from OSU in 1990, the Cowboys had won six straight and 16 of the previous 18 games between the two schools.
MORE ON THE WILDCATS - Kansas State is among the nations best on both sides of the football. Offensively, KSU is number two in the Big 12 and 16th nationally in total offense, averaging 442.60 yards per game. On defense, Kansas State is number one in both the league and country in total defense, allowing an average of 216.8 yards per game. The Wildcats are also number one in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 6.0 points per game through five games. Individually, KSU is paced by senior quarterback Michael Bishop, who is first in the Big 12 and 10th in the NCAA in passing efficiency. Bishop has thrown for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns while tossing just one interception through the first five games of the 1998 season.
OSU-KSU, BY THE NUMBERS - Following is a statistical comparison between Oklahoma State and Kansas State.
Oklahoma State (2-3) Kansas State (5-0)
Category Avg. Big 12 Natl Avg. Big 12 Natl
Rushing Offense 215.8 5 22 214.4 6 23
Passing Offense 162.2 9 84 228.2 3 39
Total Offense 378.0 7 47 442.6 2 16
Scoring Offense 26.8 8 49 53.0 1 1
Rushing Defense 104.2 4 18 66.6 1 1
Pass Eff. Defense 128.3 10 79 81.8 1 2
Total Defense 280.6 4 13 216.8 1 1
Scoring Defense 26.8 10 69 6.0 1 1
Net Punting 35.2 7 64 47.8 1 1
Punt Returns 6.9 11 76 23.5 1 1
Kickoff Returns 21.1 8 55 25.6 3 11
Turnover Margin .40 6 35 1.60 2 8
COACH BILL SNYDER - Kansas States head coach is in his 10th season and will bring a career record of 71-37-1 into Saturdays game against Oklahoma State. Snyders accomplishments at Kansas State are nearly legendary. After a 1-10 finish in his first season and an 18-26 overall mark after four years on the job, Snyder has guided KSU to five straight winning seasons and five straight bowl games. Last year, Kansas State won 11 games for the first time in school history, and the Cats have become a weekly fixture in the national polls.
AGAINST THE RANKED - Since Bob Simmons arrived for the 1995 season, Oklahoma State has played 12 nationally ranked opponents, including three non-conference foes who were ranked. The Cowboys are 3-9 overall vs. nationally ranked opposition, but are 3-3 over the past two seasons.
Ranked Opponents Since 1995 Date Opponent Rank Result 1995 A 31 Nebraska 2 L 64-21 S 30 at Tennessee 12 L 31-0 O 14 Kansas State 8 L 23-17 N 18 Kansas 15 L 22-17 1996 O 5 at Texas 13 L 71-14 O 12 at Colorado 10 L 35-13 1997 O 4 Texas 23 W 42-16 O 11 Colorado 24 W 33-29 N 1 at Texas A&M 20 L 28-25 (OT) D 30 vs. Purdue 17 L 33-20 1998 S 19 Mississippi State 24 W 42-23 O 3 vs. Nebraska 2 L 24-17
ELDER COMING INTO HIS OWN - Freshman P Scott Elder has had an impressive rookie campaign, stepping into OSUs regular punting duties as a true freshman. After averaging under 40 yards per kick in each of OSUs first two games, Elder has averaged 45.33 yards in the three games since and has hit six punts for over 50 yards.
FLAGS HAVE FLOWN - A disturbing trend in OSUs 2-3 start has been the frequent appearance of penalty flags. The Cowboys have been flagged 58 times for 479 yards this season - an average of 95.8 yards per game - and have committed over 100 yards in penalties three times, including 11 flags for 132 yards at Texas Tech. The Cowboys are easily on pace to break the school-record mark of 797 penalty yards set last season; prior to 1997, the school record had been 712 yards, set in 1951.
SIMMONS BUSTS OUT - Junior TB Nathan Simmons had a career-high 148 yards in the Mississippi State game as he crossed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career. He followed that performance with probably the best game of his career, rushing for 114 yards against Nebraska. He became the first back in two years to gain over 100 yards against the Huskers, who came into the game with the nations fourth-best rushing defense. Simmons is now eighth in rushing (86.80 ypg) in the run-dominated Big 12 and ranks 42nd nationally. Simmons 62-yard rush against Kansas was OSUs longest since 1995, when David Thompson went for a 91-yard run against Kansas State.
DEFENSE SHINES - Nebraska entered its contest with OSU with the second-best rushing offense in the nation. However, the Cowboys turned in a remarkable performance, holding the Huskers to an amazing four yards on the ground in the first half and 73 yards for the game. OSU became the first team to hold Nebraska under 100 yards rushing since Miami in the 1992 Orange Bowl, and the Cowboys are the first Cornhusker opponent to do so in regular-season play since 1976. The Cowboys have held three of their five opponents under 100 yards rushing; Nebraskas previous season low had been 236 yards against UAB. OSU, now ranked fourth in the Big 12 and 18th in the nation in rush defense (104.2), last week became the first team this season to hold Texas Techs Ricky Williams under 100 yards rushing.
WRIGHT PERFORMS AS EXPECTED - Junior LB Kenyatta Wright, a preseason candidate for the Butkus Award, has lived up to his billing in OSUs first five games. Wright leads the Cowboys in tackles (39) and sacks four for 31 yards). He led the OSU defenses impressive performance against Texas Tech, garnering 11 tackles and one fumble recovery.
FOURTH-DOWN SUCCESS CONTINUES - OSU converted 12 of 17 fourth-down attempts last season, one shy of the school record, and that trend continued in the Kansas game. The Cowboys went for it twice in Lawrence and were successful both times. Both attempts extended drives that eventually went for scores. Last season, eight of OSUs 12 successful fourth-down conversions extended scoring drives. OSU is 7 for 10 on fourth down this season, including two memorable plays against Nebraska - freshman P Scott Elders 22-yard pass to junior DB Evan Howell on a fake punt and Lindsays crucial pass to senior WR Sean Love with 10 seconds left.
OUR BALL - After holding onto the ball for 36:14 at Kansas, OSU had won the time-of-possession battle in 13 straight regular-season games, a streak that was snapped in Tulsas victory over OSU. The Cowboys record during the 13-game streak was 10-3. OSU returned to its ball-hogging ways against Mississippi State, holding the ball for nearly 39 minutes. The Cowboys 71 rushing plays against the Bulldogs are the most since the team ran 75 times against Kansas State in 1976. OSU possessed the ball for 35:10 against Nebraska, marking the third time in this years four games that the Cowboys have had the ball for over 35 minutes. The Cowboys have now won the time-of-possession battle in 16 of the past 17 games.
CHALOUPKA PROVIDES A SPARK - Chaloupka saw his first playing time as a quarterback (he played at Kansas as a kick holder) in the Tulsa game, and he made the most of his opportunity. Chaloupka directed OSU on scoring drives of 96 and 87 yards and completed nine of 14 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also directed the Cowboys on a lightning-quick scoring drive late in the Texas Tech game, capping it with a touchdown pass to Richardson.
NOTING THE COWBOYS - Tulsas 35 points are the most against the Cowboys in a non-conference game since Wyoming defeated OSU 45-25 in 1995 ... Senior FB Brian Aikins first-quarter touchdown against Texas Tech was the 10th of his career and his third this season ... Junior PK Tim Sydnes has made 40 of his last 41 PAT attempts ... Lindsays first-quarter touchdown against Mississippi State marked the first time this season that OSU has scored on its opening drive ... The MSU game marks the first time this year that OSU has held a halftime lead ... Junior LB Billy Stone picked off a fourth-quarter pass against MSU for the second interception of his career. The first came in OSUs 12-0 victory over Oklahoma in 1995 ... Junior TE Garrett Steggs 41-yard second-quarter reception against NU was the longest of his career and just his third catch this season ... The 24-17 loss to Nebraska marks the closest game in the series since the Huskers won 14-10 in Stillwater in 1983.
Oklahoma State
1998 Schedule
S5 at Kansas W, 38-28
S12 at Tulsa L, 20-35
S19 MISSISSIPPI ST. W, 42-23
O3 vs. Nebraska L, 17-24
(Kansas City, Mo.)
O10 at Texas Tech L, 17-24
O17 at Kansas State 2:30 pm
O24 OKLAHOMA 6 pm
O31 TEXAS A&M 2 pm
N7 at Texas 1 pm
N14 SOUTHWESTERN LA. 2 pm
N21 BAYLOR 2 pm
Kansas State
1998 Schedule
S5 INDIANA STATE W, 66-0
S12 N. ILLINOIS W, 73-7
S19 TEXAS W, 48-7
S26 NE LOUISIANA W, 62-7
O10 at Colorado W, 16-9
O17 OKLAHOMA STATE 2:30 pm
O24 IOWA STATE 1:10 pm
O31 at Kansas 1 pm
N7 at Baylor 1 pm
N14 NEBRASKA 1:10 pm
N21 at Missouri 1 pm
Big 12 Standings
South Division
Big 12 All
W L W L
TTech 3 0 6 0
A&M 2 0 5 1
Texas 2 1 4 2
OSU 1 2 2 3
Baylor 1 2 2 3
OU 0 2 2 3
North Division
Big 12 All
W L W L
K-State 2 0 5 0
Missouri 2 0 4 1
Colorado 2 1 5 1
Nebraska 1 1 5 1
Iowa St. 0 3 2 4
Kansas 0 4 2 4
Results
Oct. 10
Baylor 31, Kansas 24
Kansas State 16, Colorado 9
Missouri 35, Iowa State 13
Texas 34, Oklahoma 3
Texas A&M 28, Nebraska 21
Texas Tech 24, Oklahoma State 17
Upcoming Schedule
Oct. 17
Oklahoma at Missouri 1 pm
Okla. State at Kansas St. 2:30 pm
Texas A&M at Baylor 6 pm
Kansas at Nebraska 6 pm
Texas Tech at Colorado tba
Associated Press
Top 25 Poll (Oct. 11)
Rank Team Rec Pts Pvs
1. Ohio St. (64) 5-0 1,744 1
2. UCLA (1) 4-0 1,647 3
3. Tennessee (3) 5-0 1,622 4
4. Kansas St. (2) 5-0 1,554 5
5. Florida 5-1 1,449 6
6. Florida St. 5-1 1,369 8
7. Virginia 5-0 1,314 9
8. Nebraska 5-1 1,201 2
9. Wisconsin 6-0 1,100 12
10. Texas A&M 5-1* 1,099 18
11. Oregon 5-0 1,021 15
12. Penn St. 4-1 1,011 13
13. Georgia 4-1 889 7
14. Virginia Tech 5-0 833 17
15. West Virginia 4-1 806 16
16. Arizona 5-1 673 10
17. Arkansas 5-0 578 20
18. Notre Dame 4-1 477 22
19. Colorado 5-1 462 14
20. Missouri 4-1 457 21
21. LSU 3-2 441 11
22. Texas Tech 6-0 228 NR
23. Syracuse 3-2 187 24
24. Tulane 4-0 171 25
25. Georgia Tech 4-1 117 NR
USA Today/ESPN
Top 25 Poll (Oct. 11)
Rank Team Rec Pts Pvs
1. Ohio State (59) 5-0 1,547 1
2. UCLA (1) 4-0 1,452 3
3. Kansas State (2) 5-0 1,410 4
4. Tennessee 5-0 1,408 5
5. Florida 5-1 1,268 6
6. Virginia 5-0 1,193 8
7. Florida State 4-1 1,170 9
8. Nebraska 5-1 1,065 2
9. Wisconsin 6-0 1,004 10
10. Virginia Tech 5-0 885 15
11. Penn State 4-1 862 13
12. Oregon 5-0 851 16
13. Texas A&M 5-1* 849 18
14. Georgia 4-1 726 7
15. West Virginia 4-1 650 17
16. Arkansas 5-0 565 19
17. Arizona 5-1 542 11
18. Colorado 5-1 409 14
19. Missouri 4-1 374 21
20. Notre Dame 4-1 367 22
21. LSU 3-2 357 12
22. Syracuse 3-2 210 24
23. Texas Tech 6-0 209 NR
24. Tulane 4-0 183 25
25. Georgia Tech 4-1 124 NR
