Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Set To Host Texas Tech On Saturday
November 05, 2001 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 5, 2001
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Senior Day
Oklahoma State closes out the home portion of its 2001 football schedule this week as Texas Tech visits Lewis Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., as the Cowboys entertain the talented Red Raiders. Oklahoma State is 2-6 overall and 0-5 in Big 12 Conference play. Texas Tech will come to Lewis Field with an overall record of 5-3 and a league mark of 3-3. It is the final home game of the season and the final Lewis Field appearance for 23 O-State seniors who will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies.
Senior Day Promotions
The first 25,000 fans entering Saturday?s game against Texas Tech will receive a set of trading cards featuring Oklahoma State?s 23 seniors. All 23 seniors and their families will be honored in pregame ceremonies. Included in the list of seniors are no fewer than 11 players who have started at some point during their O-State careers.
Pokes Idle While Tech Blanks Aggies
Oklahoma State hosts Texas Tech this week with the Cowboys coming off an idle weekend. The Cowboys had conditioning workouts Sunday, Monday and Friday of last week with full-scale practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Pokes were off both Saturday and Sunday and will resume workouts Monday afternoon. While OSU was idle, Texas Tech was claiming a 12-0 win over Texas A&M in Lubbock. The victory puts Tech one win away from being bowl eligible with three games (OSU, Oklahoma and Stephen F. Austin) remaining.
On the Brink
How has Oklahoma State?s season gone so far? It?s been a season in which the Cowboys have been on the brink of winning several games against nationally ranked opponents. The Cowboys had their chances against both Southern Miss and Texas A&M in early-season road games. A three-overtime loss against Missouri and a 22-19 loss to 25th-ranked Colorado accentuated OSU?s season of close calls. In the opener at Hattiesburg, OSU had the early lead and moved the ball well against a defense that was second in the nation a year ago. The Cowboys drove the ball to the Southern Miss 26 with 1:04 remaining but ran out of downs. Against Texas A&M at College Station, the Aggies led 14-7 when they blocked an OSU punt in the endzone, recovering it for a touchdown and a slippery win. Against Missouri on Lewis Field, OSU jumped out to a 14-0 first half lead, then rallied from a 28-14 second half deficit to send the game into overtime where Missouri pulled out a 41-38 win. Against Colorado, O-State led by a 19-7 margin with under five minutes to play in the third quarter only to watch the Buffs score 15 unanswered points for a 22-19 win.
Look Before You Vote
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 (739) than any other receiver in the Big 12. His average of 7.2 receptions per game is number two 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 three games with 100 or more yards this season and has caught at least five passes in each of Oklahoma State?s eight games to date. His 2001 numbers include 58 catches for 739 yards and five touchdowns. His performance has prompted more than one opposing coach to say he was as good as any receiver they had seen.
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 number two on the team and 10th in the Big 12 in total tackles (79). In Oklahoma State?s first eight 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 and he returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. Of his 79 tackles, nine have been for negative yardage. He also leads the team in pass deflections (4).
Elbert Craig, S, 6-2, 205, So.
Leads Oklahoma State and is fourth in the Big 12 in tackles. His 85 stops through eight games represents a career high. He also has two tackles for losses, one interception, one deflection and a quarterback hurry. 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.
Terrance Davis-Bryant, KR, 5-9, 185, Jr.
One of the most dangerous and effective kick returners in the Big 12 and in the nation. Davis-Bryant has 17 punt returns for an average of 13.3 yards per return. He is 11th in the country and has a long of 53 yards. He has 17 kickoff returns for 383 yards, an average of 22.5 yards per return. In addition to his special teams service, Davis-Bryant is a gifted receiver. Through eight games he as 28 receptions for 249 yards, an average of 8.9 yards per reception.
Luke Phillips, K, 6-0, 160, So.
A finalist 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 eight games Phillips is perfect on 18 extra point attempts and is 10 of 12 in field goals. He is six of six between 20 and 29 yards and two of two between 40 and 49 yards. His 48 points leads Oklahoma State in scoring and he is 13th in the Big 12 in that category.
Scott Elder, P, 6-1, 200, Sr.
Could be having the best season of his four-year Oklahoma State career. Through eight games Elder has punted 43 times for 1,846 yards. That?s an average of 42.9 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 30th in the NCAA in punting this week and is one of the reasons Oklahoma State is second in the league and 17th nationally in net punting.
More on OSU-Texas Tech
Texas Tech Last Week
While Oklahoma State was idle, Texas Tech was planting a 12-0 loss on 24th-ranked Texas A&M in Lubbock. Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury passed for 303 yards as the Red Raiders shut out the Aggies for the first time since 1983. Kingsbury was 38-for-46 passing but was sacked seven times. Ricky Williams scored the game?s only touchdown on a six-yard run with two minutes left in the game. Texas Tech controlled the ball against the Aggies, logging 34:55 in time of possession compared to A&M?s 24:43. The Aggies were able to roll up 372 yards of total offense.
OSU-Tech Will Feature Some of League?s Best
When Oklahoma State and Texas Tech square off Saturday on Lewis Field, some of the Big 12?s best individual performers will be on the field. In fact, the league?s top two receivers will be showcased this week. Oklahoma State?s Rashaun Woods has the most receiving yards (739) in the Big 12 while Tech?s Ricky Williams tops the league with his average of 8.0 receptions per game. The two rank second and ninth in the NCAA in receptions per game. Between them, they have accounted for 1,177 yards on 122 receptions and seven touchdowns.
The Guys Flinging it Aren?t Bad Either
Behind every good receiver there?s a quarterback and the two that will go to work on Lewis Field Saturday afternoon have been impressive. Oklahoma State?s Aso Pogi has already passed for 1,549 yards and is two yards short of surpassing his freshman passing number which was the eighth-best single-season mark in OSU history. Through eight games Pogi has completed better than 61 percent of his passes and tossed eight touchdowns. Texas Tech?s Kliff Kingsbury has passed for 2,462 yards (most in the Big 12), is completing better than 66 percent of his passes and has tossed 15 touchdowns. Pogi is 59th in the country and eighth in the league while Kingsbury is 45th in the NCAA and fifth in the Big 12.
OSU-Tech, On the Air
Saturday?s home finale will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Radio Network to 30 stations across the state of Oklahoma. Dave Hunziker is the first-year voice of Oklahoma State football and basketball. Hunziker came to OSU from Western Kentucky and replaced Bill Teegins who was one of 10 tragically killed in the January 27 plane crash. Hunziker is joined in the booth by Tom Dirato, OSU?s coordinator of radio and television. Joe Riddle, who has strung more wire than AT&T, is the network?s producer. Cowboy Sports Properties, a division of Learfield Sports, distributes the OSU broadcast which begins one hour before kickoff. This week?s game will not be televised.
How About Those Special Teams
Through eight games of Oklahoma State?s 2001 season, Cowboy special teams have been impressive. Under the guidance of special teams coach Joe DeForest, the Cowboys are among national leaders in several categories. Senior punter Scott Elder is having the best season of his OSU career and kicker Luke Phillips has been consistently solid as has freshman Cole Farden. Oklahoma State?s kick and punt return units are among the most effective in the league and the same can be said for coverage units. Both Phillips and Elder should be considered for All Big 12 honors and Phillips was announced last week as a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, representing the best place kicker in the country.
Breaking Down the Special Teams Numbers
Sophomore Kicker Solid
Sophomore Luke Phillips has quietly shored up Oklahoma State?s extra point and field goal efficiency. Not only does Phillips lead the Cowboys in scoring, he?s among Big 12 and national leaders in field goal efficiency. With three games remaining, Phillips is perfect on 18 extra point attempts and is 10-of-12 in field goals. Phillips is 24th in the NCAA in field goals. His field goal percentage of .833 is tied for the league lead with Missouri?s Brad Hammerich.
Net Punting
One of the telling numbers in Oklahoma State?s special teams play in 2001 is the net punting average of 38.8 yards. Through eight games, Oklahoma State has punted 45 times and has allowed just 125 return yards. OSU?s 38.8 yard net punting average is second in the Big 12 by one-tenth of a yard and is 17th in the NCAA. Senior punter Scott Elder is one of the reasons for Oklahoma State?s efficient numbers. Through eight games, Elder is averaging 42.9 yards per punt and is 30th nationally in punting.
Farden Solid on Kickoffs
True freshman Cole Farden has also been solid in the kickoff department. Through eight games, Farden has had 31 opportunities to kickoff. Of his 31 kickoffs, 12 have gone in or through the endzone for touchbacks, one has been downed and one was an on-side kick. OSU opponents have returned 18 kicks for just 387 yards, an average of 21.5 yards per return.
97-yard Kickoff Return One for the Books
When Chris Massey returned a Texas kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game earlier this season the Spiro junior put his name in the Oklahoma State record book. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown since 1993 and the longest since Barry Sanders? recorded three 100-yard returns over the 1988-87 seasons. Since 1974, there have been just seven kickoff returns for touchdowns by OSU players.
Nov. 17, 1979 Ron Ingram, 82 yards vs. Kansas State
Nov. 12, 1983 Harry Roberts, 90 yards vs. Missouri
Sept. 5, 1987 Barry Sanders,100 yards vs. Tulsa
Nov. 14, 1987 Barry Sanders, 100 yards vs. Kansas
Sept. 10, 1988 Barry Sanders, 100 yards vs. Miami (Ohio)
Sept. 11, 1993 Rafael Denson, 89 yards vs. SW Missouri State
Oct. 13, 2001 Chris Massey, 97 yards vs. Texas
Woods Has Big Day vs. Colorado, Still One of the Best
Sophomore receiver Rashaun Woods had another big game against Colorado two weeks ago. Big games are becoming common place for Oklahoma State?s talented receiver who continues to show he is one of the best in the country and quite possibly the best in the Big 12. His eight game numbers include 58 receptions for 739 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging 12.7 yards per reception and 92.4 yards per game. He has more receiving yards than any pass catcher in the Big 12 Conference and he is second to Texas Tech?s Ricky Williams with an average of 7.2 receptions per game.
Down the Stretch
Woods is three games away from logging one of the best single-season receiving performances in OSU history. With 739 yards already in the books, Woods is just 261 yards short of becoming the second player in OSU history to have 1,000 or more receiving yards in a single season. Hart Lee Dykes? 1,278 yards in 1988 is still the OSU single-season best. Dykes had 978 yards in 1987 and that is the second-most in a single season. Woods? 58 receptions through eight games is already the fifth-best single-season number in school history and he?s just 17 catches from topping Dykes? 1988 record of 74 catches. His 739 receiving yards through eight games also represents the sixth-best single-season number in yardage. Note-ing the Cowboys
Pogi Passes Freshman Numbers, Climbs Charts
Quarterback Aso Pogi, who had a sensational freshman season in 2000, has surpassed those numbers with three games remaining on the 2001 slate. Pogi passed for 210 yards against Colorado two weeks ago and now has 1,549 yards and eight touchdowns this season. It is the eighth best single season passing performance in OSU history and just 295 yards from the fifth best single season number. So far in 2001, Pogi has had four games with 200 or more passing yards and he has surpassed the 200-yard mark seven times in his 18-game OSU career. With three games remaining in his sophomore season, Pogi is already fifth on the all-time OSU passing chart.
The Line on Pogi Year G Att-Comp-Int Yards TD Long Pct. Avg/C Avg/G 2000 10 247-139-11 1,550 6 47 56.3 11.2 155.0 2001 8 241-148-5 1,549 8 42 61.4 10.5 193.6 Total 18 488-287-16 3,099 14 47 58.8 10.8 172.2Pogi in the Record Book
Single-Game Passing 1. Mike Gundy, 429 vs. Kansas in 1989 2. Ronnie Williams, 363 vs. Nebraska in 1985 3. Tony Pounds, 329 vs. Nebraska in 1970 4. Aso Pogi, 328 vs. Iowa State in 2000 5. Mike Gundy, 325 vs. Wyoming in 1987 6. Mike Gundy, 315 vs. Iowa State in 1987 7. Aso Pogi, 313 vs. Colorado in 2000 8. Don Babers, 297 vs. Detroit in 1952 9. Aso Pogi, 294 vs. Southern Miss in 2001Interception, Touchdown Another Highlight for Levels
Senior linebacker Dwayne Levels added to his Oklahoma State highlight film last week 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 19 career starts under his belt and is just three hours short of graduating with majors in business and marketing.
13 Tackles vs. CU
Levels recorded 13 tackles against Colorado and that gives him 255 for his career and moves him into a tie for 18th-place with Rodney Harding. Levels has had three straight double-figure tackle performances and five on the season.
Levels? Career Year UT-AT= TT TFL PBU FR INT 1998 28- 9= 37 3- 7 0 0 1 1999 16-28= 44 3-12 1 0 0 2000 75-20= 95 9-19 3 1 0 2001 37-42= 79 9-21 5 0 1 Totals 156-99=255 24-59 8 1 2
2001 Oklahoma State Football Seniors
Ron Able, LB, East St. Louis, Ill. (East St. Louis HS/Kemper Military Academy)
Roger Bombach, FS, Beaver, Okla. (Beaver HS)
Chris Calcagni, K, Canfield, Ohio (Austintown Fitch)
Michael Cooper, DB, Oklahoma City, Okla. (John Marshall/NEO)
Scott Elder, P, River Ridge, La. (Curtis HS)
Robbie Gillem, SS, Highland Village, Texas (Marcus HS)
D.J. Grissom, C, Oklahoma City, Okla. (John Marshall HS)
Matt Henson, DE, Tuttle, Okla. (Tuttle/NEO)
George Horton, DB, Lawton (Cameron Univ.)
Jason Howard, FS, Kenner, La. (Curtis HS)
Jason Johnson, G, Honey Grove, Texas (Honey Grove HS)
John Johnston, WR, Tulsa, Okla. (Jenks)
Marcus Jones, S, Stillwater, Okla. (Stillwater HS)
Paul Jones, DB, Wewoka, Okla. (Wewoka HS/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M)
Dwayne Levels, LB, Richardson, Texas (Richardson HS)
Jeff Machado, G, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Regis Catholic HS)
Tarrick McGuire, TE, Dallas, Texas (Carter HS)
Bryan Phillips, G, San Antonio, Texas (MacArthur HS)
Jason Rannebarger, G, Garland, Texas (Lakeview Centennial HS)
Jake Riffe, LB, Sand Springs, Okla. (Charles Page HS)
Chris Tyler, DT, Killeen, Texas (Ellison HS)
Jon Vandrell, C, Tulsa, Okla. (Union HS/NEO)
A.T. Wells, FB, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Harrison Central/NEO)
