Football's 98th Season Opener Approaches

Louisiana-Lafayette [0-0]at Oklahoma State [0-0] Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999 * 7 p.m. [CDT] Lewis Field [50,614] * Stillwater, Okla.

television -- none

radio -- Cowboy Radio Network

OSU OPENS 98th FOOTBALL SEASON -- Oklahoma State opens its 1999 college football season Saturday night, Sept. 4, when the Cowboys play host to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. This is the 98th year of collegiate football at Oklahoma State. OSU's first year of football was in 1901. The school has played continuously since the 1903 season.

FIFTH-YEAR FOR COACH SIMMONS -- Saturday night's game also marks the beginning of the fifth season of the Bob Simmons era of Cowboy Football. Under Coach Simmons, OSU has won three straight season openers and three of four dating back to a loss to Nebraska in the coach's first game on the Cowboy sideline.

NEW FACES, NEW SOUND, LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION -- Oklahoma State begins the 1999 season with three new faces on the coaching staff, a new sound system in the stadium and a lot of construction ongoing in the east end zone. New to the coaching staff for '99 are Mike Cassity (secondary), Frank Hickson (running backs) and Josh Henson (graduate assistant). Also new on the staff in 1999 is head athletics trainer Terry Noonan, who came to OSU from Northern Iowa. A new sound system is also in place, and construction is transforming the entire area east of the stadium into the $54 million Athletic Center.

KICKOFF/TICKETS/GAME DAY -- Kickoff for Saturday night's season opener is set for 7 p.m. Tickets for Saturday night's game are still available at the Athletic Ticket Office on North Boomer Road in Stillwater or, by calling 1-800-ALL-4OSU.

ON THE AIR -- Saturday's season opener will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Radio Network with the premier broadcast team in the region calling the action. KWTV Sports Director Bill Teegins is beginning his ninth season as the radio voice of OSU Football. He has been named Oklahoma's Broadcaster of the Year on numerous occasions. Dirato is OSU's coordinator of radio and television. There will be no television, live or delayed, of Saturday's opener.

RECORDS/RANKINGS -- Saturday marks the 1999 season opener for both Oklahoma State and UL. Oklahoma State was not ranked in any preseason poll but did receive votes in the Associated Press poll. The last time Oklahoma State appeared in the weekly poll was in the final 1997 poll, when the Pokes were ranked 24th after an Alamo Bowl appearance.

SEASON-TICKET SALES SURGE -- Season-ticket sales for Oklahoma State football in 1999 have surged to a near-record level. Through last Wednesday, 29,276 season tickets had been sold for the 1999 season. That compares with 29,888 sold last year, when the Cowboys were coming off an Alamo Bowl appearance. This year's total already represents the third-best mark in school history. The top three totals include 33,115 in 1985, 29,888 in 1998, and 29,276 in 1999. Season tickets will be on sale through the Tulsa game so there is a great possibility this year's number will end up exceeding last year's total.

OPENER UNDER THE LIGHTS -- For the 15th time in the last 16 seasons, Oklahoma State will play its season opener under the lights. The Cowboys and Louisiana-Lafayette will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday on Lewis Field. Saturday will mark the 13th straight year O-State's home opener has been at night. The last daylight home opener was 1986 against Houston. Since 1984, Oklahoma State is 11-3 in nocturnal home openers, losing only to Texas Tech (1989), Arizona State (1991) and Nebraska (1995).

HEAD COACH BOB SIMMONS -- Oklahoma State's head football coach is beginning his fifth season and will be coaching his 47th OSU game when Louisiana-Lafayette comes to town this week. Coach Simmons will bring a career mark of 22-24 into Saturday night's game. Since the 10th game of his initial OSU season, however, the Cowboys under Simmons have won 20 of 37. Simmons came to Oklahoma State from Colorado, where he was assistant head coach for Bill McCartney. He guided OSU to a bowl game just three years into his tenure and was the 1997 Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year.

Simmons' Year-by-Year Coaching Record

As an assistant

1975 Bowling Green 8-3

1976 Bowling Green 6-5

1977 Toledo 2-9

1978 Toledo 2-9

1979 Toledo 7-3-1

1980 West Virginia 6-6

1981 West Virginia 9-3 Peach Bowl

1982 West Virginia 9-3 Gator Bowl

1983 West Virginia 9-3 Hall of Fame Bowl

1984 West Virginia 8-4 Bluebonnet Bowl

1985 West Virginia 7-3-1

1986 West Virginia 4-7

1987 West Virginia 6-6 Sun Bowl

1988 Colorado 8-4 Freedom Bowl

1989 Colorado 11-1 Orange Bowl

1990 Colorado 11-1 Orange Bowl

1991 Colorado 8-3-1 Blockbuster Bowl

1992 Colorado 9-2-1 Fiesta Bowl

1993 Colorado 8-3-1 Aloha Bowl

1994 Colorado 11-1 Fiesta Bowl

Totals 20 years 149-79-5 12 Bowls

As a head coach

1995 Oklahoma State 4-8 Shut out Oklahoma 12-0

1996 Oklahoma State 5-6 3-0 vs. non-conference opponents

1997 Oklahoma State 8-4 Alamo Bowl

1998 Oklahoma State 5-6 4-1 on Lewis Field

1999 Oklahoma State 0-0

Totals 4-plus seasons 22-24

MILESTONES UNDER SIMMONS -- Oklahoma State's football fortunes have soared since Simmons became the school's 20th head coach on Dec. 4, 1994. Below are just a few of those milestones.

WIN NUMBER ONE -- OSU registered its first win under Coach Simmons on Sept. 16, 1995, when the Cowboys upended Southwest Missouri State 35-7 on Lewis Field.

FORGET THAT SKID -- When Simmons led the Cowboys to a 30-26 win over Missouri at Columbia on Oct. 21, 1995, it snapped a 20-game winless streak in conference play.

BEDLAM BONANZA -- Two weeks after defeating Missouri at Columbia, the Cowboys defeated Oklahoma at Norman. It was OSU's first win over its in-state rival since 1976 and was a signal of things to come. O-State has defeated Oklahoma three of the four years since Simmons became head coach.

A REAL OPENER -- When Oklahoma State won at Iowa State in the 1997 season opener, it would be the start of a six-game winning streak and help guide the Cowboys to their first bowl season since 1988. OSU would win its first six games of the season, including back-to-back wins over Texas and Colorado.

OT TIMES FOUR -- Since overtime became vogue in college football in 1996, Oklahoma State has had more than its share of extra period contests. Under Simmons, the Cowboys have gone into overtime four times, including a two-overtime thriller vs. Missouri on Lewis Field in 1997 and the first-ever Division I-A overtime game, a triumph over Southwest Missouri State in the 1996 season opener.

BRING 'EM ON -- Since Bob Simmons took over the OSU reins in 1995, the Cowboys have faced 15 teams that were nationally ranked going into the game. Six of those opponents were ranked in the top 10 when they faced Oklahoma State. In the last two seasons, Oklahoma State has defeated three opponents (Texas, Colorado and Mississippi State) that were nationally ranked.

MORE STREAKS -- Under Bob Simmons, Oklahoma State is 8-0 against nonconference competition on Lewis Field and 10-5 vs. nonleague opposition overall.

LOOKING FOR THREE IN A ROW -- When the Cowboys face UL Saturday night, they will be looking for a third straight win, dating back to the final two games of the 1998 season. That would be the second-longest winning streak of the last four years. OSU won six straight to open the 1997 season.

SIMMONS ON RADIO/TV -- The first Bob Simmons Television Show will air Sept. 5, and viewing opportunities are numerous throughout each week. The show will air Sundays at 10:30 p.m. on KOCB (34) in Oklahoma City. Other airings include Mondays at 8:30 on KWEM (31) in Stillwater, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Tulsa Cable Channel 9, Wednesdays at 8:30 on KWEM (31) in Stillwater, and Thursdays at 3 p.m. on Fox Sports Southwest. The Bob Simmons Radio Show will air each Wednesday, beginning Sept. 1, from 7-8 p.m., along the Cowboy Radio Network.

WELCOME BACK, CAJUNS -- The confines of Lewis Field will probably look familiar to UL players who were on that squad last season. Oklahoma State will be facing the Ragin' Cajuns for the second time in three games. UL visited Lewis Field last Nov. 14 when the Cowboys won by a 44-20 margin. The Pokes then finished their season against Baylor.

STREAK ON THE LINE -- Oklahoma State will put its 14-game Lewis Field winning streak against nonconference opposition on the line this week when the Cowboys entertain the Ragin' Cajuns. The Cowboys have not lost a nonconference game on Lewis Field since 1991. Below is the complete streak.

Year Opponent Score

1998 Louisiana-Lafayette 44-20

1998 Mississippi State 42-23

1997 Northeast Louisiana 38- 7

1997 Fresno State 35- 0

1996 Utah State 31-17

1996 Tulsa 30- 9

1996 Southwest Missouri State 23-20 OT

1995 Southwest Missouri State 35- 7

1994 North Texas 36-34

1994 Tulsa 17-10

1993 TCU 27-22

1993 Southwest Missouri State 45- 7

1992 Tulsa 24-19

1992 Indiana State 35- 3

Opening-Night Opponent

THE NAMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN' -- Late last week, Oklahoma State's first 1999 football opponent got a name change. What was the University of Southwestern Louisiana has been changed to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. For consistency and (we hope) clarity, past games are mentioned as being played against Louisiana-Lafayette throughout this release.

ABOUT UL -- There are a lot of new faces around the UL football program as the Cajuns head for Stillwater and Saturday night's season opener. Jerry Baldwin was named UL's head football coach last December after spending four seasons at LSU. He will be looking to reverse the fortunes at UL that have resulted in three straight losing seasons. Last year, UL finished 2-9 with the only victories coming against Arkansas State and Western Kentucky.

BY THE NUMBERS -- The Cajuns return 18 lettermen on offense and 18 on defense. The Ragin' Cajuns welcome back nine starters on the offensive side and eight on the defensive side. Included among the offensive starters are quarterbacks Barton Folse, who started six games a year ago, and Derek Dyer, who started four times for UL. Folse was UL's leading passer with 848 yards on 68-of-132 passing attempts. He threw three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Dyer, who played extensively against OSU a year ago, had 612 passing yards and tossed four touchdowns. UL must replace a talented receiver corps that was headed by Brandon Stokley, who had 1,173 receiving yards a year ago. The Cajuns' top returning receiver is Desmond Williams, who caught 11 passes for 150 yards in 1998. Helping lead the way for the UL defense is strong safety Matt Cieslak, who led the team with three interceptions last season.

THE HEAD COACH -- Jerry Baldwin makes his UL debut Saturday night when the Ragin' Cajuns face the Cowboys on Lewis Field. He has an impressive coaching resume that includes six years at LSU, including two seasons as that school's assistant head coach. He spent 10 seasons at Louisiana Tech as assistant head coach and linebackers coach. Prior to arriving at La. Tech, Baldwin spent eight years on the high-school level with stints as head coach at both Davidson High School in St. Joseph, La., and Ferriday High School in Ferriday, La.

OSU-UL TIES -- There's just one that is obvious: Current OSU Athletics Director Terry Don Phillips served in the same capacity at UL from 1983-87. Phillips was UL's AD in 1986 when the Cowboys survived an early-season scare in Lafayette, escaping with a 21-20 win.

THE OSU-UL SERIES -- Saturday will mark the fifth meeting between Oklahoma State and Louisiana-Lafayette in football. Oklahoma State has never lost to UL, compiling a 4-0 record. The Cowboys are 2-0 vs. UL in Stillwater and 2-0 vs. the Cajuns in Lafayette. UL's two previous trips to Stillwater were in 1987, when Thurman Thomas, Mike Gundy and co. led OSU to a 36-0 shutout victory, and 1998, when the Cowboys won by a 44-20 margin.

OSU-UL MEMORY -- When Oklahoma State traveled to Lafayette in 1986 to help new head coach Nelson Stokley open his Louisiana-Lafayette career, the Cowboys were prohibitive favorites. After all, OSU was coming off a second straight Gator Bowl appearance and had offensive weapons like Thurman Thomas, Hart Lee Dykes and Ronnie Williams. UL was coming off a 4-7 season and had a new head coach. An OSU romp, right? Think again. UL scored twice in the second quarter to take a 10-0 halftime lead, and the fight was on. Oklahoma State had to score 18 points in the final five minutes of the game, including the winning touchdown with just eight seconds to play, to escape the swamp with a 21-20 win. Trailing 20-15 with 1:56 to play, OSU drove 74 yards in 12 plays without the benefit of a timeout. The winning score came on a lob pass from Williams to Dykes from 11 yards out. Thurman Thomas led OSU's ground game with 85 yards. Williams, stymied most of the night, finished with 197 passing yards and two touchdowns. Dykes was the game's leading receiver with eight catches for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

OSU-UL COMPARISON -- Following is the statistical comparison between Oklahoma State and Louisiana-Lafayette. Obviously, the numbers are final statistics from 1998.

Category OSU UL

Scoring 27.5 18.1

First Downs 201 173

Rushing Offense 204.5 117.6

Passing Offense 162.1 182.3

Total Offense 366.5 299.9

Rushing Defense 119.5 220.6

Passing Defense 210.5 289.1

Total Defense 329.9 509.7

Fumbles/Lost 24-12 25-12

Penalties 97-763 71-607

Net Punting 36.8 39.2

Noting the Cowboys

KNAULS, WRIGHT ON BUTKUS LIST -- Oklahoma State's Tarrell Knauls and Kenyatta Wright are both on the preseason watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker. The two are among seven Big 12 Conference linebackers on the list. Knauls is a senior from Tulsa (Washington HS), Okla., and had 59 tackles and five sacks a year ago. Wright, a senior from Vian, Okla., had 71 tackles and five sacks last season. Both have had outstanding OSU careers, and those numbers are listed below.

Kenyatta Wright Tarrell Knauls

Year UT-AT For Loss Year UT-AT For Loss

1996 11-61 4-12 1996 13-19 5-35

1997 32-40 10-32 1997 19-22 7-34

1998 48-23 10-45 1998 34-25 11-45

Total 81-124 24-79 Total 66-46 23-114

NATHAN HEADED FOR 2,000 CLUB -- Tailback Nathan Simmons is on the verge of becoming the 13th player in Oklahoma State history to rush for 2,000 or more career yards. The son of head coach Bob Simmons begins the 1999 season with 1,705 career yards, just 295 yards shy of the 2,000 mark. He begins the season 17th on the all-time OSU rushing list, 135 yards behind Jim Dillard and 16th place. Simmons suffered a major knee injury in the final game of the 1998 season against Baylor and spent most of the summer in rehab. A healthy Nathan Simmons is one of the best backs in the Big 12 and certainly a candidate for postseason honors.

Nathan's OSU Career:

Year Att. Yards TD APC APG

1996 17 57 0 3.3 5.2

1997 166 711 5 4.2 71.1

1998 204 937 5 4.6 85.2

Totals 387 1705 10 4.4 53.3

OSU Career Rushing Leaders

1. Thurman Thomas (1984-87) 4,595

2. Terry Miller (1974-77) 4,581

3. David Thompson (1993-96) 4,314

4. Barry Sanders (1986-88) 3,556

5. Ernest Anderson (1979-83) 3,529

6. Gerald Hudson (1988-90) 2,921

7. Shawn Jones (1980-84) 2,698

8. Bob Fenimore (1943-46) 2,299

9. Worley Taylor (1977-80) 2,217

10. George Palmer (1972-74) 2,110

11. Earl Lunsford (1953-55) 2,105

12. Walt Garrison (1963-65) 2,041

13. Andre Richardson (1994-96) 1,960

14. Brent Blackman (1971-73) 1,870

15. Robert Turner (1973-76) 1,861

16. Jim Dillard (1959-61) 1,840

17. NATHAN SIMMONS (1996-98) 1,705

LINDSAY ALREADY AMONG BEST -- Junior quarterback Tony Lindsay will begin the

season as OSU's No. 5 all-time passer and No. 7 on the career total offense

chart. Each of his first two Oklahoma State seasons have ranked in the

school's top 20 single-season performances. In 1997, Lindsay passed for

1,442 yards, which was the 11th-best single-season effort. Last season, the

Denver (Thomas Jefferson HS), Colo., product passed for 1,172 yards, the

20th-best single-season performance by a Cowboy quarterback. Lindsay had the

second-most passing yards ever by a Cowboy freshman in 1997 and the

third-most passing yards by an OSU sophomore a year ago.

Career Passing Career Total Offense

1. Mike Gundy 7,997 1. Mike Gundy 7,749

2. Tone' Jones 4,812 2. Tone' Jones 5,303

3. Rusty Hilger 3,640 3. Bob Fenimore 4,627

4. Tony Pounds 2,663 4. Terry Miller 4,622

5. Tony Lindsay 2,614 5. Thurman Thomas 4,610

6. Ronnie Johnson 2,591 6. David Thompson 4,314

7. Tony Lindsay 3,770

MORE ON LINDSAY'S TOTAL OFFENSE -- OSU's quarterback has completed his first

two seasons with more yards of total offense than any other OSU player in

their first two seasons. Mike Gundy, the all-time OSU passing and total

offense leader, had 3,462 total yards after his first two seasons (1986 and

'87). Lindsay will start his third OSU campaign with 3,770 yards of total

offense. Gundy had 4,287 yards of total offense over his junior and senior

seasons to finish with 7,749.

SYDNES' SCORING -- Senior kicker Tim Sydnes will begin the 1999 season sixth

on the career scoring list and could move even higher. Through three

seasons, Sydnes has scored 207 points. With a full season to play, he trails

No. 5 Thurman Thomas by 59 points. He is already the third-most-prolific

kick scorer in school history, trailing only Cary Blanchard and Larry Roach.

OSU's All-Time Scorers

1. Barry Sanders 330

2. Cary Blanchard 315

3. Larry Roach 290

4. Terry Miller 270

5. Thurman Thomas 266

6. Tim Sydnes 207

MORE ON OPENERS -- Oklahoma State is 55-36-5 in season openers, dating back

to 1901. The Cowboys have won three straight, six of their last seven and 23

of their last 28, dating back to 1971. The Cowboys are 63-28-5 in home

openers. 1999 will mark the first year OSU has opened its home season

against an opponent from Louisiana. For the first time since 1996, Oklahoma

State will not open its season against a Big 12 Conference opponent. Two

years ago, the Pokes opened at Iowa State. Last year, OSU opened at Kansas.

In fact, Oklahoma State has opened the season against a conference foe in

three of the last four years. Nebraska opened OSU's season in 1995.

MORE ON THE SCHEDULE -- Oklahoma State's 1999 schedule is certainly

challenging. Six of OSU's '99 opponents were ranked at one time or another

during the 1998 season. In addition to facing conference heavyweights

Nebraska, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Texas, the Cowboys go out

of the league to face SEC power Mississippi State. The Bulldogs won the

SEC's Western Division a year ago. After this season, OSU fans can say

goodbye to Nebraska, Kansas State and Kansas for a couple of years. Next

season, Colorado, Missouri and Iowa State return to the OSU schedule.

COWBOYS IN THE NFL -- No fewer than 12 former Cowboys are currently on the

rosters of teams in the National Football League, including Alton Weaver

(St. Louis) and Jeremy Offutt (Detroit), who played at OSU last season.

Other former Cowboys currently in the NFL include Cary Blanchard

(Washington), Keith Burns (Denver), Jason Gildon (Pittsburgh), Jevon

Langford (Cincinnati), Alonzo Mayes (Chicago), R.W. McQuarters (San

Francisco), Leslie O'Neal (Kansas City), Thurman Thomas (Buffalo), Jamal

Williams (San Diego) and Kevin Williams (New York Jets).

NEXT WEEK -- Oklahoma State remains at home for a second straight week as

the Cowboy entertain Tulsa. Kickoff for the OSU-TU game will be 11:30 a.m.,

and the game will be televised as the Big 12 Syndicated game of the week.

Oklahoma State's

1999 Schedule

Sept. 4 LA.-LAFAYETTE 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 TULSA 11:30 a.m.

Sept. 18 at Misissippi St. 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Nebraska 1 p.m.

Oct. 9 TEXAS TECH 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 KANSAS STATE 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Texas A&M 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 TEXAS 1 p.m.

Nov. 13 KANSAS 1 p.m.

Nov. 20 at Baylor 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Oklahoma 2 p.m.

Louisiana-Lafayette's

1999 Schedule

Sept. 4 at Oklahoma State 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 TEXAS TECH 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Houston 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 MIDDLE TENN. ST. 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 LOUISIANA TECH 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Washington State 3 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Tulane 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 NE LOUISIANA 4 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Arkansas State 4 p.m.

Nov. 13 at Southern Miss 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 20 WOFFORD 4 p.m.

Associated Press

Top 25 Poll (Aug. 30)

Rank, Team Record Points Pvs

1. Florida State (28) 1-0 1,671 1

2. Penn State (26) 1-0 1,663 3

3. Tennessee (13) 0-0 1,610 2

4. Florida (1) 0-0 1,429 5

5. Nebraska 0-0 1,376 6

6. Texas A&M 0-0 1,368 7

7. Michigan 0-0 1,328 8

8. Miami (Fla.) 1-0 1,238 12

9. Wisconsin 0-0 1,146 10

10. Georgia Tech 0-0 1,048 11

11. Virginia Tech (1) 0-0 951 13

12. Georgia 0-0 900 14

13. Ohio State 0-1 766 9

14. Colorado 0-0 687 15

15. Arizona 0-1 656 4

16. Notre Dame 1-0 655 18

17. UCLA 0-0 606 16

18. Arkansas 0-0 489 22

19. Kansas State 0-0 488 20

20. Alabama 0-0 463 20

21. Southern Calif. 0-0 455 19

22. Purdue 0-0 385 23

23. Virginia 0-0 241 24

24. North Carolina St. 1-0 174 NR

25. Arizona State 0-0 125 25

Others Receiving Votes (Big 12 and OSU opponents only): Texas 68,

Mississippi State 53, Oklahoma 15, Oklahoma State 10, Missouri 7, Texas Tech

USA Today/ESPN Coaches'

Top 25 Poll (Aug. 23)

Rank, Team '98 Record Points Pvs

1. Florida State (36) 11-2 1,447 3

2. Tennessee (13) 13-0 1,369 1

3. Arizona (2) 12-1 1,301 4

4. Penn State (8) 9-3 1,267 15

5. Florida 10-2 1,113 6

6. Nebraska 9-4 1,095 20

7. Michigan 10-3 1,094 12

8. Texas A&M 11-3 1,051 13

9. Ohio State 11-1 1,024 2

10. Wisconsin 11-1 902 5

11. Georgia Tech 10-2 748 11

12. Miami (Fla.) 9-3 704 21

13. Georgia 9-3 671 14

14. Virginia Tech 9-3 626 19

15. UCLA 10-2 596 8

16. Texas 9-3 497 16

17. Colorado 8-4 470 NR

18. Notre Dame 9-3 422 22

19. Kansas State 11-2 379 9

20. Alabama 7-5 367 NR

21. USC 8-5 360 NR

22. Arkansas 9-3 325 17

23. Purdue 9-4 291 23

24. Virginia 9-3 191 18

25. Arizona State 5-6 167 NR

Others Receiving Votes (Big 12 and OSU opponents only): Mississippi State

75, Missouri 28, Texas Tech 20, Oklahoma 3.

Big 12 Conference Standings

South Division North Division

Conf All Conf All

W-L W-L W-L W-L

OSU 0-0 0-0 NU 0-0 0-0

OU 0-0 0-0 MU 0-0 0-0

TTU 0-0 0-0 CU 0-0 0-0

BU 0-0 0-0 KSU 0-0 0-0

A&M 0-0 0-0 ISU 0-0 0-0

UT 0-0 0-1 KU 0-0 0-1

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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