Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football Prepares For Louisiana Tech
April 14, 2003 | Cowboy Football
Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002 * 7 p.m. [CDT] Independence Stadium [50,459] * Shreveport, La. radio - Cowboy Radio Network; internet broadcast - okstate.com TV - none
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The 101st Season Oklahoma State opens its second century of intercollegiate football on Saturday, August 31, when the Cowboys travel to Shreveport, La., and Independence Stadium where they will square off against defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech. The season opener for both teams will kick off at 7 p.m. (CDT).
The First of 12 Oklahoma State's 12 game regular-season schedule kicks off this week at Shreveport. It's just the second time in school history OSU has played a 12 game regular-season slate. The Cowboys faced a 12-game schedule in 1995, finishing the season on Dec. 2 in Honolulu against Hawaii. The NCAA now allows a 12 game regular-season schedule when there are 14 available playing dates between the first permissible playing date and the last. This season and 2003 will be 12-game schedules, but there won't be another until 2008.
Tough and Tougher Oklahoma State's 2001 football schedule was rated one of the five toughest in the country. For the Cowboys in 2002, it's out of the pan and into the fire. OSU's 2002 slate has already been tagged one of, if not the, toughest schedules in the country. The Cowboys open this week with defending WAC champion La Tech. Next week, OSU opens its home schedule with Northern Iowa, already ranked among the top three in all Division I-AA polls. Following Northern Iowa, UCLA visits Lewis Field. Then it's SMU before the Pokes roll into their Big 12 schedule with Texas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Texas Tech on successive weekends.
OSU, on the Road The Cowboys will depart Stillwater, via air charter, early Friday afternoon. Upon arrival in Shreveport, a light workout is scheduled at Independence Stadium. That workout is closed to the media, but coach Les Miles will be available immediately prior to the practice. In Shreveport, the Cowboys will headquarter at the Sheraton, and return to Stillwater immediately following the game.
Opening on the Road Familiar Ground for OSU Oklahoma State is opening on the road for the second-straight year and for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The good news is that OSU is 3-1 in those last four openers away from home. Other than the 17-9 loss at Southern Mississippi a year ago, OSU's previous three opening road wins include a 21-14 win at Iowa State in 1997, a 38-28 victory at Kansas in 1998 and a 36-26 win at Tulsa in 2000.
Firsts Saturday's season opener will mark Oklahoma State's first appearance at Independence Stadium since Dec. 12, 1981, when the Cowboys lost to Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. In will also be the first time the Cowboys have opened the season in the state of Louisiana since 1986 and a 21-20 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in Lafayette. It will be the fourth time in school history OSU has opened its season in August, but the first since 1997 and a 21-14 win at Iowa State on Aug. 30.
Seconds The game against Louisiana Tech marks the beginning of Les Miles' second season as Oklahoma State's head football coach. Miles assumed the reigns of OSU's football program in December of 2000, and his first Cowboy squad fashioned a 4-7 overall mark. That record, however, included back-to-back road victories (Baylor and Oklahoma) to end the season. It will also be the second meeting all-time between Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech on the football field.
What's New in 2002 There will be only a subtle change to the Oklahoma State uniform in 2002. A small "Oklahoma" has been added above the "State" on the jersey. The fire brand can also be seen on the left hip of the pants. Three new members of Les Miles' coaching staff will make their game-day debuts in Shreveport. Larry Porter (running backs), Todd Monken (receivers) and Karl Dunbar (defensive line), are entering their initial OSU season.
Looking for Three Straight If the Cowboys are able to notch a win over the defending WAC champs, it would be their third-straight win, dating back to season-ending wins at Baylor and Oklahoma. It would also be the third-straight win away from home. Both streaks would be significant. OSU has not won three straight since the 1997 bowl season, and have just two win streaks of three or more since 1988. The last time OSU won three-straight games away from Lewis Field was 1988 when they won at Iowa State, at Tokyo against Texas Tech and at San Diego over Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl.
N for Neutral Independence Stadium represents the first neutral site that has hosted Oklahoma State football since 1998 when the Cowboys played Nebraska in Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. Not including bowl games or games against Arkansas in Little Rock (a designated home field for the Razorbacks), OSU has an 8-15 record on neutral sites. Since 1954, the Pokes have played on only three truly neutral sites in regular-season games. In addition to the '98 game in Kansas City, OSU played Texas Tech at Texas Stadium in 1996 and Texas Tech in Tokyo in 1988.
Is It Really Neutral? Independence Stadium might not be a truly neutral site for this week's opener. Louisiana Tech has played 63 games in Shreveport since 1916, including five in the last six years. Last season, Louisiana Tech defeated SMU, 36-6, in Independence Stadium. In 1997, the Bulldogs upended California, 41-34, in Shreveport. La Tech is 3-2-1 in the stadium since 1990.
Trivial Pursuit Oklahoma State has an all-time record of 47-39-7 in years ending with the number two, including a 9-1-2 record in 1932 ... Oklahoma State has won four-straight season openers that were played under the lights ... In fact, OSU has won 13 of the last 16 night openers ... Oklahoma State is 7-1 against teams from Louisiana ... The Cowboys are 1-0 vs. Louisiana Tech, 1-0 vs. Northwestern State, 4-0 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 1-0 vs. Louisiana-Monroe and 0-1 vs. LSU ... The LSU loss came in 1956 by a 13-0 margin in Baton Rouge ... In the last 30 years, Oklahoma State has won 24 times on opening day and averaged 32.6 points per win. Eight of those 24 wins were on the road.
OSU Streaks ? Oklahoma State opens the 2002 season riding a two-game winning streak. The Cowboys won the final two games of the 2001 season, including a Nov. 17 win at Baylor and a Nov. 23 win at Oklahoma. OSU hasn't gone into a season with a two-game win streak since 1999. The Pokes won their final two games on '98 over Louisiana-Lafayette and Baylor, then opened the '99 season with back-to-back wins over Louisiana-Lafayette and Tulsa.
? The Cowboys also have a two-game winning streak against non-conference opposition. After a season opening loss at Southern Miss last year, the Cowboys recorded victories over Louisiana Tech (30-23) and Northwestern State (24-0). In fact, Oklahoma State has won 14 of its last 18 against non-conference opponents.
? OSU has not been shut out in 13-straight games and, in fact, has been held scoreless only twice in the last 91 games (at Tennessee in 1995 and at Texas Tech in 2000).
? Oklahoma State had 300 or more yards of total offense in its final four games of the 2001 season. The Cowboys had 190 or more passing yards in the final five games of the season and went over the 200-yard passing mark in four of the last five games.
Oklahoma State Head Coach Les Miles Oklahoma State's 21st head football coach officially begins his second season when the Cowboys face Louisiana Tech Saturday night. Miles, who cut his football teeth under the tutelage of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, spent three seasons as OSU's offensive coordinator (1995-97) before being lured to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Three years later, Miles returned to Stillwater to take the reigns of the Cowboy program.
Winning Resumé Les Miles and winning football have been synonymous throughout his playing and professional career. Miles was a two-year letterman at Michigan and, during that two-year span, the Wolverines were 18-3-2. They finished in the Associated Press' Top 10 both seasons and played in the Rose and Orange Bowls. Miles had two coaching stints at Michigan, one from 1980-81 and another from 1987-1994. He was part of Michigan's run to five Big Ten championships and 10 bowl appearances. Sandwiched between his stints at Michigan, Miles spent five season on Bill McCartney's staff at Colorado and helped the process that rebuilt the CU program into a national contender. He came to OSU in 1995 as offensive coordinator. His 1997 OSU offense averaged 226 rushing yards and 150 passing yards per game and scored more touchdowns (41) than any OSU offense since the Barry Sanders-led squad in 1988.
The First Season The first season of the Les Miles era of Cowboy Football was certainly a memorable one. Facing what was arguably the toughest schedule in the country, the Cowboys went about their business in work-like fashion from day one. Two wins in the first month, including a victory over eventual WAC champion Louisiana Tech, set the stage for a rugged first five weeks of the Big 12 schedule. A triple-overtime loss to Missouri, a 14-point loss at Texas A&M in a game that was tied at the half, and a three-point loss to eventual Big 12 Champion Colorado were examples of how close the Cowboys were to an extraordinary season in 2001. Miles and his Cowboys erased some of the early season frustration with an impressive two-game winning streak at the end. A 38-22 win at Baylor set the tone, and a 16-13 win over fourth-ranked Oklahoma in Norman the following week gave the Cowboys pleasant memories for the offseason.
Surrounded by Winners Les Miles and the head coach's chair at Oklahoma State are a perfect fit. On short notice, Miles put together an impressive first recruiting class, and followed that with one of the country's top recruiting hauls in 2002. He also surrounded himself with some of the top coaching talent in the country. Miles and his 2002 staff have a combined 130 years of college coaching experience.
Scouting Louisiana Tech Oklahoma State's opening night opponent is coming off a championship season. Louisiana Tech finished the 2001 season with a 7-5 overall record and a Western Athletic Conference title to its credit. One of the Bulldogs' four regular-season losses came on Lewis Field, where OSU had to score a late touchdown to break a 23-23 tie and hang on for the win. The Bulldogs return 42 lettermen and 18 starters, and there is optimism in Ruston for a 2002 season even better than the last campaign.
Coach Jack Bicknell Louisiana Tech's head football coach is entering his fourth season, and will bring a record of 18-17 into Saturday night's game against Oklahoma State. That 18-17 record is made impressive after considering Bicknell's 2000 Bulldog squad went 3-8. His first Louisiana Tech team was 8-3, gained the school's first Associated Press Top 25 ranking, and posted a 29-28 upset win over eventual SEC champion Alabama. Last year, Bicknell added to his impressive resumé by winning the WAC championship in Louisiana Tech's first year as a member of the league. Bicknell played collegiately at Boston College, and coached at his alma mater and at New Hampshire before becoming Louisiana Tech's head coach in 1999.
Oklahoma State-La Tech Series ... OSU leads, 1-0 Saturday will be just the second time Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech have met on the football field. The teams met in game two of Oklahoma State's 2001 season in Stillwater, and it was a tight fit all the way through for the Cowboys. OSU led, 14-0, after the first quarter and, 20-13, at the half. A 20-yard Louisiana Tech field goal knotted the game at 23 with just over 10 minutes to play. The game was in doubt until OSU's Robbie Gillem fell on a fumble in the end zone with six minutes remaining.
Bulldogs to Watch QB Luke McCown - Junior who has already passed for 6,209 yards and 50 touchdowns. Last year against OSU, McCown completed 29-of-54 passes for 286 yards. The Sporting News named McCown the preseason Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
RB Joe Smith - Senior who fell 69 yards short of rushing for 1,000 a year ago. Against the Cowboys in 2001, Smith carried the ball 10 times for 28 yards. He was second-team All-WAC last season.
PK Josh Scobee - Has 171 career points and was an honorable mention All-America a year ago. On Lewis Field last September, Scobee nailed three field goals (20, 21 and 48 yards).
LB Curtis Randall - Ranked among the best outside linebackers in the country, Randall had 49 total tackles a year ago, nine of which were behind the line. Against the Cowboys, Randall was credited with three tackles, one for minus yards.
OSU in Season Openers Oklahoma State has a 57-37-5 (.601) record on opening day. The opening day record since 1971, however, is much more impressive. Beginning with a 26-7 win over Mississippi State on Lewis Field in 1971, O-State has won 25 of its last 31 openers. The Pokes had won five straight before Southern Miss ended that streak last year in Hattiesburg.
Openers on the Road The Cowboys are opening a season away from home for the second-straight year and for the 11th time in the last 19 seasons. OSU's record in the last 10 openers away from home is 7-3.
Important Openers Saturday's season opener against Louisiana Tech is obviously important. A win would certainly set the tone for the first month of the season. It would also be a win over a quality opponent. Over the years, Oklahoma State has played well in crucial season openers.
Oklahoma State 19, Arkansas 14 1945 - Coming off a 1944 season that produced an 8-1 record and Cotton Bowl victory, the Cowboys faced a 1945 opener at Arkansas. OSU's 19-14 win in the 1945 opener set the stage for the only unbeaten, untied season in school history. The Cowboys rolled to nine-straight wins, including a Sugar Bowl win over St. Mary's.
Oklahoma State 25, North Texas 7 1979 - The Jimmy Johnson era began with a 25-7 win over North Texas. The victory not only avenged a 12-7 loss at North Texas the year before, it set the Cowboys on a course that would give them seven wins in Johnson's first OSU season. The Cowboys had won only seven times in the two seasons prior to Johnson's arrival in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State 45, Arizona State 3 1984 - One of the most memorable openers in Oklahoma State football history. The underdog Cowboys, in the first game of Pat Jones' 11-year tenure, planted a 45-3 loss on preseason Pac-10 favorite Arizona State. It was total dominance by the Cowboys who would go on to a 10-2 record and Gator Bowl win over South Carolina.
Oklahoma State 31, Washington 17 1985 - How would Jones and Co., encore the 1984 season, especially with a difficult opener in Seattle against Don James' Washington Huskies? With reserve quarterback Rusty Rankin finishing the game for injured Ronnie Williams, the Cowboys sailed to a 31-17 win. It would propel OSU to an 8-4 season and second-straight Gator Bowl.
Oklahoma State 21, Iowa State 14 1997 - Opening with a conference opponent for the second time in three seasons, Bob Simmons' Cowboys came away from Ames with a 21-14 win. It was a significant one. The Cowboys rolled to six-straight wins and eventually landed a berth in Alamo Bowl, breaking an eight-year bowl-less streak.
Team Captains Seniors Terrence Robinson and Jason Russell have been voted as the captains of the 2002 OSU Cowboys by all members of the team. Robinson is in his fifth year at Oklahoma State, coming from John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas. Russell is also in his fifth year, coming to Stillwater from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City.
Defense Has Strong Preseason Oklahoma State's defense made a strong statement throughout the 2002 preseason. In fact, after the final major scrimmage of the preseason, head coach Les Miles said the Cowboy offense wouldn't face many defenses during 2002 better than the one they lined up against in two-a-days. A year ago, Oklahoma State's defense ranked ninth in the Big 12 in total defense, but the Cowboys were seventh in the league and 43rd in the country in defending the rush.
D Has Numbers and Experience Two of the reasons for the expected improvement on the defensive side of the ball are numbers and experience. When the Cowboys take the field Saturday night against Louisiana Tech, 10 of the 11 projected starters have previous starts on their OSU resumé. That list includes eight seniors who bring valuable experience to the defensive equation in 2002. Eight of OSU's projected starters for this week's opener were in the starting lineup when the Cowboys took the field last November at Oklahoma.
Newcomers Could Help While the Oklahoma State defense is top heavy with returners, several freshmen or redshirt freshmen could play a big role in 2002. Redshirt freshman Paul Duren, an all-state quarterback in high school, could start for the Cowboys Saturday night at a linebacker spot. Duren has been impressive through two springs and throughout the preseason. Behind him could be true freshman Pagitte McGee, and another true freshman, Lawrence Pinson, was listed as a backup at the other linebacker spot behind Terrence Robinson. Freshmen Vernon Grant (cornerback) and Charlie Ward (weak safety) are also listed on the depth chart, as is redshirt freshman Chase Holland (safety).
Captain Robinson Senior linebacker Terrence Robinson was labled 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 career highs. 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.
Williams, Brown Looking Good The interior of Oklahoma State's defensive line has been impressive during preseason workouts. That result is not unexpected with a pair of seniors anchoring those positions. Kevin Williams (6-5, 290) and LaWaylon Brown (6-5, 305) will get the starting nod at defensive tackle and nose guard against Louisiana Tech. Both look to be on the verge of their best OSU seasons. Last year, Brown registered 47 total tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks. Williams was credited with 36 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 5-1/2 sacks. That's a combined production of 83 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 9-1/2 sacks.
As for the Offense Just like the defensive side of the ball, Oklahoma State's 2002 offense features talent and depth. OSU returns its statistical leader in every offensive category for 2002, including rusher Tatum Bell (197 carries, 776 yards), passers Aso Pogi (1,854 yards) and Josh Fields (451 yards), receiver Rashaun Woods (80 receptions, 1,023 yards) and scorer Luke Phillips (72 points). Overall, the Cowboys have a deep and talented receiving corps, talent and depth at quarterback, and the same at running back, assuming some preseason bumps and bruises heal quickly. OSU also returns a pair of starters along the offensive front and talented newcomers to fill the vacancies. A glance at OSU's offensive depth reveals nine players listed for the opener who have a combined 130 career starts.
Rookies to Watch Also like the defensive side, there could be some newcomers to watch as the 2002 season unfolds. Up front, true freshman Doug Bond could start against Louisiana Tech and will certainly play a big role. A pair of redshirt freshmen, Kellen Davis and Corey Curtis, could also find substantial playing time on the offensive line in 2002. Freshman Charlie Johnson is in the mix at tight end for the Cowboys, as is Vernand Morency at tailback. Morency came to OSU after a stint in professional baseball in the Colorado Rockies' organization.
Rashaun Woods ... All-American Watch Junior wide receiver Rashuan Woods will take the field Saturday night as a preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection, preseason All-America candidate, and certainly a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award. Woods goes into his junior season the most touted Cowboy receiver since Hart Lee Dykes, and he's got a chance to replace Dykes at the top of every OSU career-receiving record.
The Numbers Woods' sophomore season numbers were astonishing. In 11 games, he caught 80 passes (OSU single-season record) for 1,023 yards. He caught 10 touchdown passes, averaged 7.3 receptions per game, 12.8 yards per catch and 93 yards per game. Through his first two seasons at the collegiate level, Woods has 109 career receptions, 1,352 career yards, and has an incredible per-catch average of 12.4 yards.
The Chase With 1,352 career yards, Woods will go into the season eighth on OSU's career-receiving list. He will need just 21 yards in the opener to pass Alonzo Mayes (1,372) and move into seventh place. He needs just 63 yards to move past Rafael Denson (1,414) and into sixth place. Woods needs just 84 yards to replace Neill Armstrong (1,434) in fifth place on OSU's all-time list. Woods' 109 career receptions is just 94 short of Dykes' all-time record of 203, and he needs seven receptions to move past Hermann Eben and Neill Armstrong into second place on that list.
Returning Leader Woods led the Big 12 a year ago with his 93 yards-per-game average. He was the only receiver in the Big 12 Conference to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark in 2002 (his closest Big 12 rival had 920 yards) and he was seventh in the country in receiving yards per game.
Woods Not the Only Weapon Oklahoma State's group of receivers could rank among the nation's most talented and deepest. In addition to Woods and his All-America credentials, the Cowboys have several other big-play receivers. Terrance Davis-Bryant is coming off the best season of his OSU career and is a threat, not only as a pass catcher, but as a punt returner. Last year, Davis-Bryant caught 38 passes for 368 yards. John Lewis, another gifted receiver, had 24 catches a year ago for 455 yards and a touchdown, while Willie Young added four receptions for 16 yards. OSU's returning receivers combined in 2001 for 146 catches and 1,862 yards.
OSU Special Teams ... Really Special Coach Joe DeForest's special teams were just that a year ago, and every sign points to the same kind of production in 2002. Last year, the Cowboys led the Big 12 in punting and field goals, and were second in kickoff returns and third in punt returns. With the exception of punter Scott Elder, all of the key players from a year ago are back for 2002.
Massey the Best in KO Returns Chris Massey turned more than a few heads in 2001 by becoming the second player in OSU history to lead the country in kickoff returns. Massey averaged 34.8 yards on 15 returns and had one return for a touchdown. The only other OSU player to lead the country in kickoff returns was Barry Sanders, who averaged 31.6 yards on 14 returns in 1987.
Phillips a Groza Candidate, Again Junior kicker Luke Phillips has already been named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's top kicker. Phillips had an outstanding season a year ago, leading OSU in scoring with 72 points and finishing third in the Big 12 and 17th nationally in field goals. The Tulsa Metro Christian product was successful on 15-of-17 field goal tries, and was perfect on all 27 extra-point tries.
Craig Makes Thorpe List Elbert Craig, a junior in the Oklahoma State defensive secondary, is one of 36 players across the country listed on the Jim Thorpe Association's preseason "watch list" of leading candidates for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's best collegiate defensive back. Craig had 98 tackles last season, including five-consecutive double-figure tackle games beginning with Texas A&M and ending with Iowa State. He had a career-high 16 (10 primary) vs. Missouri.
