Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Set To Take On Baylor
November 15, 2001 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 15, 2001
Saturday
Oklahoma State faces Baylor as both teams look to win their first Big 12 Conference games of the season. The Cowboys are in Waco with an overall record of 2-7 and a Big 12 mark of 0-6. Saturday's game at Baylor is the first of two straight road contests that will close out the 2001 season for OSU. The Cowboys face Oklahoma next week in Norman.
Notes
The OSU football family grew by one earlier this week with the arrival of Gunner Gundy. Gunner, who weighed just over six pounds, is the second child born to Mike and Kristen Gundy. Mike is OSU's Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator ... Defensive backs Kobina Amoo (leg) and Michael Cooper (knee) were both injured last week against Texas Tech and are not available for today's game ... The only change in OSU's workout schedule next week will be an earlier-than-normal practice on Thanksgiving Day.
OSU Streak vs. Baylor on the Line
When OSU travels to Waco this week, the Cowboys will put a five-game winning streak against Baylor on the line. Since the formation of the Big 12 Conference, Oklahoma State is 5-0 against Baylor, including a 2-0 mark against the Bears in Waco. Baylor's last victory over OSU came in 1994 by a 14-10 margin in Waco. OSU's average margin of victory over the past five games is 21.6 to 15.4.
Tough Stuff
OSU Coach Les Miles, his staff and players are not into moral victories, but the Cowboys' 2001 schedule has consistently been ranked one of the toughest in the country. According to the NCAA, and sorted on cumulative record of opposition, O-State's current slate is the sixth-toughest in the land. Oklahoma State's 11 regular-season opponents have a combined record of 53-31 ahead of this week's games.
Tough Stuff, II
Three of Oklahoma State's 2001 regular-season opponents are ranked in the Associated Press' Top 25 this week. In fact, three of OSU opponents are ranked in the top 15. Oklahoma is No. 3 this week, while Texas is fifth and Colorado 15th. Three additional opponents received votes in this week's AP poll, including Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech. In case you think it gets any easier next year, think again. Colorado, Iowa State and Missouri rotate off the OSU schedule in favor of Nebraska, Kansas State and Kansas, and the Cowboys begin a two-year, home-and-home series with UCLA next Sept. 14 on Lewis Field.
All-Big 12 Eye Catchers
If you've got an All-Big 12 ballot on your desk, you should note several Oklahoma State players who are worthy of consideration:
Rashaun Woods, WR, 6-2, 195, So. - Has more receiving yards (848) than any other receiver in the Big 12. His average of 7.5 receptions per game is the second-most in the league, and he's on the verge of setting Oklahoma State's single-season reception record held by All-American Hart Lee Dykes. He's had four games with 100 or more yards this season, and has caught at least five passes in each of Oklahoma State's nine games to date. Not only does he lead the Big 12 in receiving yards, he is ninth nationally in receptions per game.
Chris Massey, KR, 6-0, 205, Jr. - Shattered Barry Sanders' single-game kickoff return yardage record with 208 yards on five returns, including a 92 yarder. After nine weeks of the season, Massey leads the Big 12 and tops the nation with his average of 36.8 yards per return.
Dwayne Levels, LB, 6-2, 250, Sr. - Oklahoma State's talented senior linebacker is turning in possibly his best season in a Cowboy uniform. He's second on the team with 85 total tackles, and leads the team with nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage for minus-21 yards. In Oklahoma State's first nine games, Levels has been in double-figure tackles five times. He had a season-high 14 tackles at Texas A&M, and had 13 two weeks ago against Colorado. Against CU, he also had his second-career interception with a 57 yard return for a touchdown.
Terrance Davis-Bryant, WR/KR, 5-9, 185, Jr. - One of the most dangerous and effective kick returners in the Big 12 and in the nation, and Oklahoma State's second-leading receiver. He is sixth in the league in kickoff returns and fourth in the league in punt returns. He is sixth in the Big 12 in all-purpose running with an average of more than 105 yards per game.
Elbert Craig, S, 6-2, 205, So. - Turning in the best season of his young OSU career, Craig leads the team with 94 tackles. That is certainly a career high, and one of the top-five totals in the Big 12 Conference. Craig has been the anchor of OSU's secondary all season. Had a run of five-straight games with double-digit tackles, including a 16 tackle performance against Missouri on Lewis Field. He had 11 tackles at Texas A&M, 13 against Texas and 12 against Iowa State.
Luke Phillips, K, 6-0, 160, So. - A semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award which annually goes to the best place kicker in the country, Phillips has been very good and very consistent for Oklahoma State in 2001. Through nine games, Phillips is perfect on 21 extra-point attempts, and is 11-of-13 in field goals. Phillips is 24th in the country in field goals after nine games.
Scott Elder, P, 6-1, 200, Sr. - With just two games remaining, Elder is having the most effective season of his OSU career. He has punted 48 times for an average of 43.2 yards per punt. He is on a pace that would give him the ninth-best single-season punting average in Oklahoma State history. He is 25th in the NCAA in punting this week, and is one of the reasons Oklahoma State is second in the league and 15th nationally in net punting.
Kevin Williams, DL, 6-5, 275, Jr. - What better endorsement than from a teammate ... when Dwayne Levels was asked who should be considered for All-Big 12, Williams was one of the names he mentioned. He has been solid all season, and his numbers reflect just that. Through nine games, Williams has 25 tackles, but eight of those have been behind the line of scrimmage. He also has 3-1/2 sacks, two pass deflections, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
OSU Last Week
Another game effort that came up short as Oklahoma State fell to Texas Tech, 49-30, on Lewis Field. Only Texas, Nebraska and Kansas have scored more points on Tech than Oklahoma State did on Saturday. Quarterback Aso Pogi completed 25-of-38 passes for 245 yards, and wide receiver Rashaun Woods hauled in 10 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough. Texas Tech rolled up 546 yards of total offense, including 440 passing yards by quarterback Kliff Kingsbury. Cowboy tailback Tatum Bell turned in a solid effort with 14 carries for 83 yards, an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Chris Massey, however, was spectacular in the kick-return department. Massey shattered the OSU single-game record for kickoff returns, held by Barry Sanders, with five returns for 208 yards. One of his returns went for 92 yards.
Baylor Last Week
While O-State was losing to Texas Tech, Baylor was absorbing a 41-24 loss to Missouri in Columbia. Missouri scored 34 of its 41 points in the first half, and led, 34-3, at intermission. Baylor scored a touchdown in the third and two in the fourth to cut into the lead. Missouri had 389 yards in the first half and scored on five of its first seven possessions. Baylor had 121 rushing yards and 281 through the air, and had the game's only turnover on an interception. The second half against Missouri may have been Baylor's best of the season on offense. Quarterback Greg Cicero, who played for injured starter Josh Zachry, completed 25-of-35 attempts for a career-high 231 yards and three touchdowns.
OSU-Baylor on the Air
Saturday's game at Baylor will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Network to 30 stations within the state of Oklahoma. Dave Hunziker is the first-year voice of OSU football and basketball, and is filling the void left by the tragic death of Bill Teegins and nine others in last January's plane crash. Tom Dirato is also in the booth providing analysis. The Cowboy Network crew will have a busy weekend. Hunziker and Dirato will call OSU's Friday night basketball opener in Gallagher-Iba Arena against Cincinnati, then drive to Waco for Saturday's football game. OSU's Saturday afternoon basketball game against Austin Peay will not be broadcast live, but will have live updates during the OSU-Baylor football game.
Massey's Performance One for the Books
Junior Chris Massey shattered an Oklahoma State record last week. It was a record held by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders since 1987. Against Texas Tech, Massey had five kickoff returns for 208 yards, 57 more than Sanders had in a game 14 years ago. One of Massey's returns went for 92 yards, the eighth longest in Oklahoma State history. His effort against Texas Tech boosted his season total of 515 return yards and that puts him on top of the kick return chart for both the NCAA and Big 12. In fact, Massey's individual total of 515 kickoff return yards is more than the team total for 27 Division 1-A teams through last week's competition.
Massey in Big 12 and NCAA Rankings
Oklahoma State's talented junior tops the NCAA statistical chart in kickoff returns this week with his average of 36.79 yards on 14 returns. He obviously also tops the Big 12 chart in the same category.
OSU Special Teams Special
Oklahoma State's special teams have been consistently good all season. Special teams coordinator Joe DeForest and his troops either top or are close to the top of most special teams categories in the Big 12 Conference. OSU is tops in the league and No. 1 in the nation in kickoff returns with a team average of 27.85 yards per return. Chris Massey tops the chart, but T.D. Bryant has made a significant contribution as well, averaging 22.53 yards per return. As a team, Oklahoma State is fourth in the Big 12 in punt returns. The Cowboys have 20 returns for 257 yards, an average of 12.85 per return. Big 12 leader Colorado averages 18.37 per return. Oklahoma State is second in the league and 15th in the nation in net punting. OSU's net average of 38.84 trails only Oklahoma, which has a 39.19 yard average.
Luke Phillips Lou Groza Semifinalist
Sophomore Kicker Luke Phillips added to his impressive season totals against Texas Tech. Phillips nailed a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter, and was perfect on three extra-point attempts. His season totals now include 11-of-13 in the field goal department and 21-of-21 on extra-point attempts. He leads Oklahoma State in scoring with 54 points. Through nine games, Phillips is perfect from 20-29 yards (6-6) and from 40-49 yards (3-3) in field goal tries.
Elder Stays Strong
Senior punter Scott Elder continued his impressive season against Texas Tech. Against the Red Raiders, Elder had five punts for an average of 45.6 yards and a long of 49 yards. All five of his punts were fielded inside the Texas Tech 20-yard line. For the season, Elder is averaging 43.2 yards on 48 kicks with a long of 60. 12 of Elder's punts have been fair caught, 17 have been fielded or downed inside the 20 and eight have gone out of the endzone. He is on track to record the ninth-best single season for an OSU punter. He has also raised his career average to over 40 yards per punt. For his Cowboy career, Elder has 234 punts for 9,459 yards, an average of 40.4 yards per punt.
Rashaun Does It Again
Sophomore receiver Rashaun Woods had another big day against Texas Tech, with 10 catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns. It was his second-straight 109-yard performance and the fourth time in nine games he has had 100 or more receiving yards. It was also his second multiple-touchdown game of the season and career. His season numbers are approaching the phenomenal category, and he continues to prove he is the best receiver in the Big 12 Conference and one of the best in the country.
Rashaun, by the Numbers
Through nine games, Rashaun Woods has 68 receptions for 848 yards. He is averaging 12.5 yards per reception and 94.2 yards per game. He has caught eight touchdowns, including three last week against Texas Tech. He has caught 10 passes in three different games this season, and has had at least four receptions in every OSU game in 2001. He is No. 1 in the Big 12 with an average of 94.22 yards per game, and he's tied for ninth in the NCAA with his 7.25 receptions per game.
Where He Stands
With two games to play in the 2001 season, Woods is on the brink of breaking one record and registering one of the best single-season receiving performances in Oklahoma State football history. He now has 68 receptions and trails record holder Hart Lee Dykes (74) by just six receptions. Woods' 848 receiving yards this season is already the fifth-best single-season total. While it is unlikely he can catch Dykes' single-season record of 1,278 yards (he's 430 yards short), he is certainly within reach of fourth-place (Curtis Mayfield with 31 yards), third place (Hermann Eben with 89 yards) and second place Dykes (130 yards).
Pogi Nears 2,000 Yard Mark
Oklahoma State quarterback Aso Pogi passed for 245 yards against Texas Tech last week, and upped his season total to 1,794 yards. He will enter the final two weeks of the season just 206 yards short of becoming the second player in Oklahoma State history to pass for 2,000 or more yards in a single season. That feat has actually been accomplished three times, but all by the same quarterback. OSU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Gundy passed for 2,000 or more in 1987, 1988 and 1989. Gundy's best season, and the OSU single-season record, came in 1989 when he completed 164-of-287 for 2,203 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Pogi Second in Big 12
Nine games into the 2001 season, Pogi is second in the Big 12 in passing. His completions per game average of 19.22 is second only to Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury, who is averaging an amazing 33.56 completions per game. Pogi is fifth in the league in passing efficiency.
One Record Falls, Another in Sight
Oklahoma State's sophomore quarterback has 173 completions for the year, an OSU single-season record. Pogi's mark bests the old record of 170 held by Mike Gundy in 1987. Pogi can also break Gundy's single-season attempt record in short order. Gundy had 287 attempts in both 1987 and 1989. Pogi will go into the 10th week of the season with 279, just eight shy of the mark. A year ago, Pogi broke Gundy's freshman passing record at Oklahoma State, and he's within striking range of Gundy's sophomore passing record. Gundy passed for 2,106 yards as a sophomore in 1987. With two games to play in 2001, Pogi needs just 312 to equal Gundy's second-year mark and that would mean he would need to average 156 yards in the final two games.
Interception, Touchdown Another Highlight for Levels
Senior linebacker Dwayne Levels added to his Oklahoma State highlight film against Colorado. Levels, who has been the anchor of Oklahoma State's defense all season, came up with his second career interception against the Buffs. This one, however, he returned 57 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. His performance against Colorado was just another example of the steady play he has exhibited throughout his collegiate career. The defensive captain has led by example on the field and off. He has 20 career starts under his belt and is just three hours short of graduating with majors in business and marketing. Against Texas Tech last week, Levels had six total tackles bringing his season total to 85. He is number two on the team in total tackles but leads the team in tackles for loss and pass breakups. Levels now has 261 career tackles and that is 18th on OSU's career tackle chart.
