Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Hosts Aggies For Homecoming
October 28, 2002 | Cowboy Football
Oct. 28, 2002
Texas A&M Aggies [5-3, 2-2]
vs.
Oklahoma State Cowboys [3-4, 1-2]
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002 * 11:30 a.m. [CST]
Lewis Field [48,000] * Stillwater, Okla.
radio - Cowboy Radio Network; internet broadcast - okstate.com
TV - Fox Sports Net Regional
Complete Release in PDF Format
Depth Chart vs. A&M in PDF Format
Aggies Invade for Homecoming Contest
Oklahoma State plunges back into action this week as the Cowboys entertain Texas A&M. The Pokes, who defeated Nebraska, 24-21, on Oct. 19, host the Aggies who suffered a 31-3 loss to Nebraska Saturday night in College Station. Kickoff for the OSU-A&M contest is set for 11:39 a.m., and the game will be televised live by Fox Sports Net (Regional).
Records and Rankings
Oklahoma State will carry an overall record of 3-4 into Saturday's game against Texas A&M. The Cowboys are 1-2 in Big 12 play after putting their first notch in the conference win column against Nebraska. Texas A&M will visit Lewis Field with an overall record of 5-3 and a Big 12 mark of 2-2. Neither team is ranked in this week's major poll, although the Aggies continued to receive votes in the ESPN/USA Today poll.
Pokes Seem to Like Early Wake Up
For the third time in the last four games, Oklahoma State will kick off before noon. On-the-field results reveal the Pokes may not mind the early Saturday wake up call. The Cowboys lost at Texas, 17-15, in their first morning start of the season. The 24-21 win over Nebraska kicked off prior to noon and, this week, the brunch set will gather at Lewis Field again. Since 1996, Oklahoma State has played 11 Big 12 games with morning kickoff times, never more than two in any season until 2002.
The Biggest and Best
Homecoming at Oklahoma State is nationally known as one of the biggest and best celebrations of its kind. From Friday night's walk around decorated greek houses to Saturday morning's parade, homecoming at OSU is more than special. Friday night's activities include the walkaround at 6 p.m. and a pep rally at Lewis Field at 9 p.m. Saturday morning's parade will now begin at 8 a.m.
Another Streak on the Line
Oklahoma State snapped a 41-year winless streak with its 24-21 win over Nebraska two weeks ago. This week the Pokes have another streak in their sights, albeit not nearly as imposing. Going into this week's game, Oklahoma State has lost six straight to the Aggies, and have not defeated Texas A&M since the Big 12 began football competition in 1996. OSU's last win over Texas A&M came in 1988 when Barry Sanders led the Cowboys to a 52-15 win on Lewis Field.
Down the Stretch
After seven games and two open weeks, Oklahoma State heads into the first week of November facing a five-game stretch that will bring the regular season to a close. The Pokes head into November with its preseason goals still alive. With a 3-4 overall mark, Oklahoma State needs three wins in its final five to become bowl eligible. The five teams lying in wait for O-State went into last weekend's games with a combined record of 22-15. Of OSU's five remaining games, three (Texas A&M, Baylor and Oklahoma) are on Lewis Field where the Cowboys are 3-1 so far in 2002.
Walk the Walk, Sing the Song
Oklahoma State fans are encouraged to line Hester Street Saturday morning as the Cowboys walk from the Student Union Hotel to Lewis Field. The Walk is scheduled to begin approximately 2-1/2 hours prior to kickoff. The walk is one of two traditions that began with the Les Miles era of Cowboy Football. After every OSU win on Lewis Field, the entire team joins students and fans in singing the alma mater.
Homecoming Stuff
Saturday will be the 81st homecoming game at Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys are 42-31-7 all-time in homecoming games. Since 1991, however, homecoming hasn't been quite so kind to the Cowboys. OSU is 3-6-1 over that period and has lost the last four homecoming contests. OSU's last homecoming win was in 1997 when the Cowboys defeated Colorado, 33-29. Saturday will mark the second time in 81 years OSU has faced Texas A&M on homecoming. The 1998 homecoming game against A&M was won by the Aggies, 17-6.
Remember These
Oklahoma State has played some memorable and significant homecoming games. Below are recaps of just a few:
2001 - 25th-ranked Colorado came to Lewis Field and even drew first blood, but OSU scored 19 unanswered points and led 19-7 before the Buffs scored on the final play of the third quarter. The CU drive had been kept alive by a 16-yard scramble by quarterback Bobby Pesavento on a 3rd-and-15 play. Colorado scored what would be the winning touchdown with 5:54 left in the fourth quarter. OSU's points came on a one-yard run by Tatum Bell, a 57-yard interception return by Dwayne Levels, a 20-yard Luke Phillips field goal and a team safety.
1997 - The last time Oklahoma State won a homecoming game on Lewis Field. A capacity crowd of almost 51,000 watched the Cowboys claim a 33-29 win over 24th-ranked Colorado. The 20th-ranked Cowboys won with an opportunistic defense. Key interceptions, one by Maurice Simpson that set up a touchdown, and another by Kevin Williams that was returned for a touchdown, sparked the Cowboys to the win. It was OSU's sixth-straight win of the season, and would propel the Cowboys to No. 12 in the next week's national rankings.
1988 - Oklahoma State went into its 1988 homecoming game against Missouri having suffered a tough loss at Nebraska the week before and needing to right the ship to prepare for a difficult stretch run. Hart Lee Dykes feasted on the Tigers, hauling in five catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and in the process, became the Big Eight Conference's all-time leading receiver. The 15th-ranked Cowboys used Dykes' performance and a 154-yard rushing performance by Barry Sanders to upend Mizzou. The Cowboys would win five of their final six to finish the regular season 9-2.
1986 - On paper, the 1986 homecoming game doesn't look very significant. However, a second look proves otherwise. The Cowboys struggled through the first half of the '86 season, losing four of their first six. With freshman quarterback Mike Gundy poised to make his fourth-career start, the Cowboys needed a win. They got one. Gundy scored his first-career touchdown, finished with 275 passing yards and Thurman Thomas rushed for 170 yards on 19 carries as the Cowboys defeated Kansas, 24-6. The Cowboys would use the win as a springboard for four wins in their final five games to finish the season at 6-5.
1983 - It was a homecoming game that many, including head coach Jimmy Johnson, would like to forget. Oklahoma State, 6-2 and looking very much like a bowl team, hosted a Kansas State team with a quarterback that hall of fame writer Bill Connors described as "having a bad knee and a so-so arm." That quarterback, Stan Weber, led the Wildcats on an 84-yard, 13-play drive that resulted in a winning touchdown with 11 seconds to play. Kansas State won the game, 21-20, but the Cowboys salvaged Johnson's final OSU season by winning the finale at Iowa State and defeating Baylor in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
1976 - En route to the school's only Big Eight Conference football title, Oklahoma State had to get past a Missouri team ranked 10th in the country and loaded with talent. The visitors from Columbia raced to a 16-0 lead in front of 48,500 Lewis Field spectators, and appeared in total control early in the second half. Cowboy All-American Terry Miller, however, had other plans. Miller put OSU on the scoreboard with a 23 yard run at the 10:31 mark of the third quarter. He scored again five minutes later to cut the Mizzou advantage to 16-14. After the Tigers added a field goal, Miller would provide the game-winning points for OSU on a 10-yard run with eight minutes to play. Miller would finish the day with 228 yards on 36 carries. The Cowboys would finish the day with a 20-19 win and a 5-2 record, headed for 9-3 and a share of the league crown.
1969 - In Floyd Gass' first season as O-State's head coach, the Cowboys went into the seventh game of the season with a 3-3 record and looking to upset a K-State team ranked 15th in the country. Behind record-setting quarterback Lynn Dickey, K-State cruised to a 13-0 halftime lead, but the Cowboys wouldn't quit. The Pokes scored 28-straight points, including three touchdown passes from Bob Cutburth to Hermann Eben, and walked away with a 28-19 homecoming win.
OSU Schedule One of the Toughest
According the the NCAA's web site, Oklahoma State's schedule is the 49th toughest in the country, based on cumulative records of each I-A opponent. Based on just future opposition, Oklahoma State's schedule is ranked the 41st toughest this week. The combined record of Oklahoma State's 12 opponents currently stands at 45-36. The combined record of OSU's next five opponents stood at 22-15 prior to games of Oct. 26.
OSU Last Week
Oklahoma State enjoyed its second off week of the season, but now gears up for a five-game stretch that will wrap up the regular season. After OSU's 24-21 win over Nebraska, the Cowboys went through normal practice days Monday through Thursday, went through a conditioning workout Friday and had Saturday and Sunday off.
Wrapping Up NU ... Ending 41 Years of Frustration
Oklahoma State's 24-21 win over Nebraska was significant for all the reasons that have been rehashed in the week since. The Cowboys had not defeated the Cornhuskers since 1961. It was the longest winless streak for the Cowboys against any opponent, current or past. The win also put the Cowboys preseason goals back in focus. With three wins and five to play, bowl eligibility is still very much on the table. As for the game itself, the Cowboys benefitted from several outstanding performances. Tailback Tatum Bell exploded for a career-high 182 yards on 33 carries and kept the Cowboys going with key first-down runs in the fourth quarter. All-American wide receiver Rashaun Woods came up big again. He had 11 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown against the Huskers and, like Bell, helped keep the chains moving at crucial times for the OSU offense. On the defensive side, Kevin Williams continued his string of magnificent performances. Against Nebraska, Williams was credited with nine solo tackles and one assist. he had two tackles for minus-13 yards and a sack for minus-8 yards. He was a disruptive force along the Cowboy defensive front and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Setting the Record Straight
In response to a recent article in the Austin American-Statesman, Oklahoma State's goal posts have come down only twice in recent memory. Most recently, the posts were razed after the Cowboys defeated Nebraska, 24-21. Prior to that, they came down in 1998 when the Cowboys defeated Oklahoma on Lewis Field. The goal posts at Lewis Field DID NOT come down after OSU's 42-16 win over Texas in 1997.
The Bell Tolls vs. Nebraska
OSU tailback Tatum Bell had a career day against Nebraska in the 24-21 win on Oct. 19. Not only was it Bell's career best, it was the sixth-best day ever against a Nebraska defense. Only Billy Sims (247), Curt Warner (238), Billy Vessells (205), Chris Brown (198) and Barry Sanders (189) have had more rushing yards against a Nebraska defense.
More on Bell
Tatum Bell's 182 yards vs. Nebraska represented the second, 100-yard single-game rushing game of the season for OSU. Vernand Morency had 108 in the season opener against Louisiana Tech. It was the third 100-yard game for Bell who had 117 vs. Missouri and 109 vs. Louisiana Tech a year ago. It was the most rushing yards in a single game since Reggie White ran for 187 against Tulsa in 2000.
Woods Named Biletnikoff Semifinalist
Wide Receiver Rashaun Woods was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top receiver in college football. The announcement was made just two days before Woods caught 11 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in OSU's 24-21 win over Nebraska. The other Biletnikoff semifinalists are Nevada's Nate Burleson, Lane Danielsen of Iowa State, Florida's Taylor Jacobs, Illinois' Brandon Loyd, Shaun McDonald of Arizona State, Michigan State's Charles Rogers, Purdue's John Standeford, Greg Tolver of San Diego State and Texas' Roy Williams.
Movin' on Up
There's a complete breakdown on Rashaun Woods' 2002 season later in this release, but the Oklahoma City junior moved up in national statistical rankings after games of Oct. 26. Woods is now fourth in the country in receptions per game (8.14 rpg) and fifth in the NCAA in yards per game (115.71 ypg).
Even More on Woods
Woods' 11 receptions against Nebraska extended his streak to 25-consecutive games in which he has had at least two receptions. He has had at least four receptions in 18-straight games. The 11 receptions against the Huskers was a career-high for Woods, who has had 10 receptions in four other games, including the 2002 season opener against Louisiana Tech. It was the fourth 100-plus yard game of the season for Woods and the ninth of his Oklahoma State career.
On the Verge
OSU's incomparable wide receiver is on the verge of breaking several Big 12 Conference records. He is 228 yards from breaking the career receiving yards record of 2,389 held by Kansas State's Aaron Lockett. He needs just six touchdown receptions to top the Big 12 mark of 22 established by Quincy Morgan of Kansas State. Woods has already moved up in all OSU statistical categories and trails only former All American Hart Lee Dykes in both career receiving yards and career receptions.
Woods, Part V
After seven games of the 2002 football regular season and three weeks of Big 12 Conference play, there should be no doubt that Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashaun Woods is among the elite of college football receivers. He had a career high for receptions with 11 against Nebraska. Having big days against the top teams has been a career-long pattern for Woods. Against UCLA earlier in the season, Woods hauled in seven catches for 143 yards against two-time All-Pac 10 corner Ricky Manning.
Kyle Eaton Awarded Prestigious Scholarship
OSU offensive lineman Kyle Eaton was named a 2002 College Football National Scholar-Athlete last week by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. It is the most prestigious academic honor in college football, and recognizes OSU's starting left tackle for incredible accomplishment in the classroom. Only 14 student-athletes from every division of college football were recognized with this honor, and Eaton is one of just six from Division I-A. All 14 will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship and will be recognized at the College Football Hall of Fame dinner at New York's Waldorf-Astoria on Dec. 12. One of the 14 will be awarded the HealthSouth Draddy Trophy as the top scholar-athlete in the nation, increasing the scholarship to $25,000.
Rookie Defenders Strong Against K-State
A pair of freshmen defensive backs turned in strong performances against Kansas State. Cornerback Vernon Grant tied Elbert Craig for game honors with nine tackles. It was the highest tackle total of the season for Grant. He was credited from the press box with seven solo tackles and two assists. Fellow freshman Daniel McLemore also came up big against the Wildcats. His final tackle numbers included just two solo tackles, but he carted off his first-career interceptionagainst the 23rd-ranked Wildcats. Both young players should play prominent roles on the Cowboy defense the rest of the season.
Career Firsts
In addition to McLemore's first-career interception vs. Kansas State, several other Cowboys recorded career firsts against Kansas State two weeks ago. Sophomore defensive end Antonio Smith's block of a KSU PAT in the second quarter was his first. Senior defensive tackle LaWaylon Brown added a similar first to his collegiate career at the 9:18 mark of the second quarter. Sophomore Darrent Williams' return of a Kansas State PAT attempt in the second quarter was the first of his career and the first by an OSU player since Elbert Craig intercepted a two-point conversion pass against Tulsa in 2000 and returned it for two points.
Farden Nails Career Long
Sophomore punter Cole Farden turned in a strong performance against Kansas State, even when forced to punt in 35 mile per hour wind gusts. For the day, Farden averaged 40.9 yards on seven punts. His totals included a career long of 62 yards that he nailed with 6:34 remaining in the first half. His previous long was 56 against Texas. Farden had only one opportunity to kick off against K-State, but he sent that one through the endzone to continue an effective year in that category. He has now kicked 20 of his last 26 for touchbacks. Farden is the grandson of former OSU All-American Neill Armstrong.
Fields Among Big 12 Leaders
Sophomore quarterback Josh Fields continues to get the job done for the Cowboys and is among Big 12 leaders in several categories. Through seven games, the Stillwater product has completed 124-of-229 pass attempts for 1,408 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is second in the Big 12 in passing, averaging 17.71 completions per game. Only Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury has more completions per game. Fields is eighth in the Big 12 in total offense, averaging 191.57 yards per game. Fields' 1,408 passing yards through seven games already represents the 14th-best single-season effort in OSU history. With five games to play in 2002, Fields is within distance of Mike Gundy's all-time sophomore record at OSU. As a sophomore in 1987, Gundy passed for 2,106 yards. Fields needs 699 yards to break that mark, an average of just 139.8 yards in the final five games.
Craig Still on Thorpe Watch List
Junior safety Elbert Craig is still on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, going annually to the best defensive back in the country. For his part, Craig is turning in a very solid season. Against Nebraska on Oct. 19, Craig tied Kevin Williams for the team lead in tackles with 10. All 10 of Craig's stops vs. Nebraska were of the solo variety. Through seven games, Craig leads the OSU defense with 46 total tackles. He has 27 solo stops and 19 assists. He also has two interceptions, six passes broken up and a fumble recovery.
Cowboy Kicker on Groza List
Another Cowboy junior on an award watch list is kicker Luke Phillips. On the watch list for the Lou Groza Award, Phillips is also off to a good start in 2002. Through seven games, Phillips is OSU's second-leading scorer with 39 points. He is 5-of-6 in the field-goal category with his long coming from 46 yards out. He is 24-of-25 on extra points, the only unsuccessful PAT attempt of his career was at Texas earlier this season.
Getting It Done
Oklahoma State's defensive front has been very productive over the first seven games of the season. In fact, the combination of Kevin Williams, LaWaylon Brown, Antonio Smith and Greg Richmond has been a disruptive force for opposing offenses all season. Kevin Williams leads the charge with 37 total tackles and a team-leading five tackles for minus yardage. Richmond's season totals stand at 32 tackles and three tackles for minus yardage. Brown has 17 tackles and four for losses. Smith has 21 total tackles with 4-1/2 resulting in negative yardage. That's 107 total tackles and 16-1/2 tackles for losses between the four.
Don't Forget the Other Receivers
While Rashaun Woods is setting an All-American pace, Oklahoma State also has talented and productive receivers surrounding him. John Lewis is O-State's second-best pass catcher with 18 receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Terrance Davis-Bryant is just behind Lewis with 18 catches for 169 yards. Lewis is 34th and Davis-Bryant 43rd in the Big 12 in receiving yards.
For Starters
Oklahoma State has had several players start every game of the 2002 season. In fact, 12 (five on offense and seven on defense) have drawn starting duty in all seven State games to date. On the offensive side, Kyle Eaton (LT), Sam Mayes (RG), Jason Russell (RT), Billy Bajema (TE) and Josh Fields (QB) have started every game. On the defensive side, Kevin Williams (DT), LaWaylon Brown (NG), Paul Duren (LB), Darrent Williams (CB), Kirk Milligan (SS) Chris Massey (WS) and Elbert Craig (S) have started all seven.
T-Rob Leader On and Off the Field
Senior linebacker Terrence Robinson was labeled a leader well before he was named a co-captain of the 2002 Cowboys. Robinson was one of a select few student-athletes across the country to participate in an NCAA leadership conference over the summer. Robinson will call the signals for the Cowboy defense this fall from his middle linebacker spot, and he will be looking to make his senior season a special one. His 2001 numbers represented a career high. Robinson was credited with 75 total tackles (third-most on the defense) and he had 10 tackles for losses. He had multiple tackles behind the line in games against Southern Miss, Iowa State and Oklahoma. His 11 tackles against Missouri on Lewis Field was a season and career high. Through seven games in 2002, Robinson has 35 total tackles, two tackles for losses, an interception and two pass breakups.
Darrent Williams Does it Again
OSU's Sophomore defensive back continues to make plays. Against Kansas State two weeks ago, he not only contributed in the tackle column but in the scoring column. He picked up a blocked PAT and returned it 90 yards for OSU's final two points. He has been coming up big most of the 2002 season. Williams was a big part of the Cowboys' 45-10 win over Northern Iowa. In fact, it was a scene Cowboy fans have become very familiar with over the past two seasons. With the game tied at seven, Northern Iowa faced a second and eight from its own 24. Darrent Williams picked off Griff Jurgens pass and returned it 29 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. At that point, it was Williams third-career interception and his third-career interception returned for a touchdown. Williams picked off a pair of passes against Baylor last year in Waco and returned them both for touchdowns. Williams added another interception in the Northern Iowa game, but the Panthers kept him out of the endzone. Williams has been effective throughout OSU's first five games. D. Williams season totals now stand at 28 total tackles, two interceptions and a team-leading seven passes broken up.
Scouting Texas A&M
Texas A&M (5-3,2-2) will look to rebound from last Saturday's 38-31 loss to Nebraska at Kyle Field. The setback ended a two-game winning streak for the Aggies, who had picked up back-to-back road wins at Baylor and Kansas. A&M opened the conference slate with a 48-47 overtime loss at home to Texas Tech. The Aggies began the season with a pair of wins, defeating Louisiana-Lafayette and Pittsburgh before suffering their first loss of the season to seventh-ranked Virginia Tech, a 13-3 defeat. The Aggies closed out the non-Big 12 docket with a 31-3 win over Louisiana Tech. Entering Saturday's contest against OSU, A&M has posted a 3-0 record on the road this season.
Coach R.C. Slocum
R.C. Slocum, currently in his 14th season at the helm of the Aggie football program, served as the catalyst for the most successful decade of football in school history, finishing the 1990s with 94 victories. Slocum entered the 2002 campaign as the sixth winningest active head coach with a career record of 117-41-2 (.738), and reached the 100-win plateau faster than any other active head coach, hitting the mark with a 21-3 win over OSU in 1999. Slocum has led the Aggies to three Southwestern Conference titles, on Big 12 title and a pair of Big 12 South crowns. Under the direction of the four-time conference coach of the year, A&M has played in 11 bowl games.
OSU-A&M Series ... A&M Leads, 13-4
Oklahoma State and Texas A&M have met on the gridiron 17 times, with the Aggies coming out on top in 13 of those meetings. OSU won the inaugural matchup in 1913, a 3-0 triumph in Stillwater, before A&M reeled off six-straight wins. In 1954, the Cowboys ended the Aggies' streak, posting a 14-6 win in Dallas. The squads would not meet again until the 1981 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., which resulted in a 33-16 A&M win. The Cowboys emerged victorious in the next two meetings, picking up their sole win in College Station in 1983 (34-15) and rolling to a 52-15 win at Lewis Field in 1988. The two squads have met six times since the formation of the Big 12 with the Aggies winning 21-7 last year and sneaking out of Stillwater in 2000 with a 21-16 victory.
Aggies to Watch
QB Dustin Long - Sophomore signal caller has completed nearly 50 percent of his passes, connecting on 110 of his 221 attempts (49.8 percent). The Port Neches, Texas, native has tossed 15 touchdown passes and is averaging 210.5 yards per game through the air. Long has been picked off eight times and has compiled an efficiency rating of 128.94.
RB Derek Farmer -The 5-11, 190-pound sophomore has carried the ball a team-high 149 times this season, gaining 608 yards on the ground for an average of 4.1 yards per rush. The Tyler, Texas, native has also recorded a team-best seven rushing touchdowns as well as 76 yards per game.
WR Bethel Johnson - Senior wideout ranks third on the squad in receptions with 23 and tops the A&M list for yards per catch (20.1) and touchdown receptions (six). The Corsicana, Texas, native has tallied 463 yards on the season with a long of 78 yards.
DB Jaxson Appel - Freshman defensive back leads the squad with 69 tackles (39 solo, 30 assisted) and is tied for the team lead with four interceptions. The Friendswood, Texas, native has also recorded 3-1/2 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks on the season.
Odds and Ends
The Aggies have intercepted 15 passes this season for 261 yards and one touchdown ... the A&M defense has amassed 75 tackles for loss, includin
