Oklahoma State University Athletics
Football Set for No. 2 Nebraska
April 08, 2003 | Cowboy Football
GOIN’ TO KANSAS CITY — Oklahoma State returns to action this week as the Cowboys face the powerful Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. OSU is coming off a 42-23 win over Mississippi State and an open week. OSU is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 Conference play. Nebraska makes the trip to Kansas City with a 4-0 record and fresh from a 55-7 win over ninth-ranked Washington in Lincoln.
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS CLASSIC — Saturday’s Oklahoma State-Nebraska game is the first Western Star Trucks Classic. The Canada-based truck manufacturer is having its national convention in Kansas City next weekend. The game is being promoted by Russ Cline and Associates out of Kansas City. It will be the first 1-A college football game ever played at Arrowhead Stadium.
IN THE POLLS — Nebraska starts the week ranked second in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Polls. The Huskers trail Ohio State on both lists. Oklahoma State is not ranked in either poll but received votes in both. Five Big 12 Conference schools are ranked in the top 25, and OSU, Texas Tech, Texas and Baylor received votes.
ON TELEVISION/RADIO — Oklahoma State’s second conference game of the season will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Radio Network with Bill Teegins and Tom Dirato describing the action. For this week only, the Cowboy Network will include WHB (810 AM) radio in Kansas City. The game will also be broadcast on the Nebraska Network with Warren Swain and Adrian Fiala. In addition, Saturday night’s contest will be televised live by Fox Net with Ron Thulin and Artie Gigantino providing the commentary. The game will also be broadcast by Radio Sports Creations. Randy Rosenbloom and Warren Williamson will describe the action to approximately 85 percent of the country and on the Armed Forces Network.
COWBOYS ON THE ROAD, SORT OF — Saturday’s game against Nebraska is technically a home game for Oklahoma State. OSU Athletics Department staffers have enjoyed the cooperation of Kansas City Chiefs and Russ Cline and Associates personnel to stage the first Western Star Trucks Classic. The Cowboy football team will bus to Kansas City early Friday and has tentatively scheduled a light workout at Arrowhead Stadium at a time to be determined. OSU will headquarter at the Doubletree in Overland Park and return to Stillwater immediately following the game.
CREDENTIALS — Oklahoma media who regularly cover Oklahoma State football and requested credentials for the Nebraska game can pick those credentials up at Monday’s Media Lunch. Any credentials not picked up at Monday’s lunch will be left at media will call at Arrowhead Stadium.
HUSKERS NEXT AS SCHEDULE HEATS UP — Saturday’s game against Nebraska is the first of three straight games for Oklahoma State away from Lewis Field against teams that have been nothing short of spectacular in 1998. Nebraska will enter Saturday’s game with a perfect 4-0 mark and an 18-game winning streak that is the nation’s longest. Next week O-State travels to Lubbock to face a Texas Tech team that will take a 4-0 mark into this week’s game against Baylor. Following the Tech game, O-State travels to Kansas State to face a team that is 4-0 with a week off to prepare for Colorado. Through four weeks of the 1998 season, O-State’s next three opponents have a combined record of 12-0.
Three Straight Tough Ones... Nebraska (4-0) Texas Tech (4-0) K-State (4-0) def. La Tech 56-27 def. UTEP 35-3 def. Ind. State 66-0 def. UAB 38-7 def. N. Texas 30-0 def. N. Illinois 73-7 def. California 24-3 def. Fresno State 34-28 def. Texas 48-7 def. Washington 55-7 def. Iowa State 31-24 def. NE La., 62-7 10/3 vs. OSU 10/3 vs. Baylor 10/3 Open 10/10 vs. OSU 10/10 at Colorado 10/17 vs. OSU
N FOR NEUTRAL — Not including bowl games, Oklahoma State’s game against Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium will be the Cowboys’ second on a neutral field since 1996. OSU played Texas Tech at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas, on September 7, 1996, losing 31-3. Prior to the game in Irving, O-State’s previous appearance in a neutral facility was December 4, 1988, when the Cowboys faced Texas Tech in Tokyo, Japan.
OSU LAST WEEK — Fresh from a 42-23 win over number 25 Mississippi State on Lewis Field, Oklahoma State used its open week to begin preparation for this week’s encounter with Nebraska. The Cowboys had a normal practice week but were given Friday and Saturday off. The idle week was good for OSU’s short injury list. Defensive back Ricky Thompson suffered a hamstring pull against Mississippi State but should play against Nebraska.
LAST TIME OUT — Oklahoma State used solid performances on both sides of the ball to post a win over Mississippi State in the home opener on Lewis Field. Offensively, Oklahoma State had two rushers (Nathan Simmons and Jamaal Fobbs) eclipse the 100-yard mark, including a career-best 148 yards by Simmons. Sophomore quarterback Tony Lindsay directed an OSU offense that amassed 561 total yards. Lindsay himself rushed for two touchdowns and passed for 201 yards on 11 completions. The Cowboys held the ball for 38:45 compared to MSU’s 21:15. One of the more telling statistics from OSU’s convincing win over the Bulldogs was an 11-of-18 success rate on third down. On the other side, Mississippi State was successful on just one of 10 third down situations. Oklahoma State’s defense limited the Bulldogs to 267 total yards, including just 88 on the ground. The Cowboys’ held James Johnson, the Southeastern Conference’s third-leading rusher, to just 38 yards on 13 carries.
ANOTHER RANKED OPPONENT — Oklahoma State will be facing a nationally ranked opponent for the second straight game and will be trying to beat a ranked opponent for the fourth time in the last two seasons. Mississippi State, a 42-23 loser at OSU last week, was ranked number 25. Last season, Oklahoma State posted wins over Texas and Colorado, both of which were ranked in the top 25 at the time. Texas was ranked 23rd when OSU posted a 42-16 win on Lewis Field. Colorado came to town the next week ranked number 24 and left with a 33-29 loss. Overall, Nebraska will be the 12th nationally ranked opponent since Bob Simmons became OSU’s head coach before the 1995 season.
Nationally Ranked Opponents Since 1995 Date Opponent Rank Results 1995 A 31 Nebraska 2 L 64-21 S 30 at Tennessee 12 L 31-0 O 14 Kansas State 8 L 23-17 N 18 Kansas 15 L 22-17 1996 O 5 at Texas 13 L 71-14 O 12 at Colorado 10 L 35-13 1997 O 4 Texas 23 W 42-16 O 11 Colorado 24 W 33-29 N 1 at Texas A&M 20 L 28-25 (OT) D 30 vs. Purdue 17 L 33-20 1998 S 19 Mississippi State 24 W 42-23 COACH BOB SIMMONS — Saturday’s game against Nebraska will mark the 39th game of the Bob Simmons era of Oklahoma State football. Simmons was named OSU’s 20th head football coach on Dec. 16, 1994. Three years and two games later, he has established OSU as one of the top football programs in the Big 12 Conference. He guided the Cowboys to a 4-8 record in 1995; a 5-6 mark in 1996 and an 8-4 record a year ago. In three short years, the program has gone from almost dormant to one that should contend for the Big 12 South title. Under Simmons in 1997, OSU won its first six, climbed to number 12 in the national rankings and made its first post season appearance since 1988. Following OSU’s 42-23 win over Mississippi State last week, Simmons will carry a career record of 19-19 into this week’s game against Nebraska. 1997 HONORS — OSU’s football coach was the recipient of numerous awards following the Cowboys’ 8-4, bowl season of a year ago. He was the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, according to league coaches. He was a regional Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and a finalist on several national coach of the year lists. He was the Black Coaches Association’s National Football Coach of the Year and on the receiving end of numerous in-state awards.
Simmons’ Record As an Assistant School Year Record Notes Bowling Green 1975 8-3 Bowling Green 1976 6-5 Toledo 1977 2-9 Toledo 1978 2-9 Toledo 1979 7-3-1 West Virginia 1980 6-6 West Virginia 1981 9-3 Peach Bowl West Virginia 1982 9-3 Gator Bowl West Virginia 1983 9-3 Hall of Fame Bowl West Virginia 1984 8-4 Bluebonnet Bowl West Virginia 1985 7-3-1 West Virginia 1986 4-7 West Virginia 1987 6-6 Sun Bowl Colorado 1988 8-4 Freedom Bowl Colorado 1989 11-1 Orange Bowl Colorado 1990 11-1 Orange Bowl Colorado 1991 8-3-1 Blockbuster Bowl Colorado 1992 9-2-1 Fiesta Bowl Colorado 1993 8-3-1 Aloha Bowl Colorado 1994 11-1 Fiesta Bowl As a Head Coach Oklahoma State 1995 4-8 Oklahoma State 1996 5-6 Oklahoma State 1997 8-4 Alamo Bowl Oklahoma State 1998 2-1 1-0 in conference Totals 3+ years 19-19
BUILDING BLOCKS — Oklahoma State’s first season under Bob Simmons (1995) began with only two wins in nine attempts. Beginning with a 12-0 win against Oklahoma at Norman on November 11, OSU’s football fortunes have soared. Oklahoma State has won 17 of its last 29 and 11 of its last 16. Three of OSU’s last 12 losses have been in overtime and two others by 10 points or less.
BIG 12 COMPARISON — Since the Big 12 Conference began actual competition in 1996, Oklahoma State has the sixth-best overall mark in the league. OSU’s 15-11 record is just behind Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
1. Nebraska 28-2 .933 7. Missouri 13-12 .520 2. Kansas State 24-4 .857 8. Texas 14-14 .500 3. Colorado 19-8 .704 9. Kansas 11-15 .423 4. Texas Tech 17-10 .630 10. Oklahoma 9-17 .346 5. Texas A&M 17-11 .607 11. Baylor 7-18 .280 6. OSU 15-11 .577 12. Iowa State 5-21 .192 This Week’s Opponent...Nebraska
THE SERIES — Saturday night will mark the 36th meeting between Oklahoma State and Nebraska on the gridiron. It’s a series the Huskers have almost completely dominated both at home and on the road. Nebraska leads the overall series by a 33-2-1 count. OSU’s only two victories in the series came in 1960 and 1961, the first times the two teams played. OSU won the first game of the series by a 7-6 score in Lincoln. The Cowboys came back the next year to post a 14-6 win in Stillwater. Since then, except for a 17-17 tie in 1973, it’s been all Nebraska. Since 1973, Nebraska has won 22 straight over the Cowboys, including the last 11 in Stillwater and the last 11 in Lincoln. Saturday will mark the first time the teams have ever played at a neutral site.
NEBRASKA LAST WEEK — The Huskers turned in their most dominating performance of the season in a 55-7 rout of number nine Washington in Lincoln. The Nebraska offense was operating on all cylinders, rushing for more than 300 yards for the first time this season. In fact, the Huskers had 434 rushing yards against Washington. The Nebraska defense was also dominating, forcing six turnovers. Nebraska’s 48-point win over Washington also represented the largest margin of victory over a Top 10 opponent.
MORE ON THE HUSKERS — Nebraska heads for Kansas City and a Saturday night- date with Oklahoma State after posting some impressive numbers in the first four weeks of the season. Nebraska is averaging 43.25 points per game; 303.3 rushing yards per game; 163 passing yards per game; 466.8 yards of total offense per game and have allowed opponents an average of 322 yards of offense per outing. On the ground, Correll Buckhalter leads the Huskers with 337 net rushing yards, an average of 84 per game, and three touchdowns. DeAngelo Evans, another talented Nebraska runner, got his first playing time against Washington last week and ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns against the Huskies. Quarterback Bobby Newcombe also returned to the Nebraska lineup last week and was impressive. For the season (two games) Newcombe has five rushing touchdowns and has passed for 252 yards and another score. Defensively, the Cornhuskers are as stout as ever. After Louisiana Tech passed for 590 yards in the season opener, NU is allowing an average of just 174 total yards per game.
SERIES NOTES — How long has it been? The last time Oklahoma State defeated Nebraska, John F. Kennedy was in the first year of his presidency. Roger Maris had set the single-season home-run mark of 61 less than one month earlier. Cliff Speegle was coaching the Cowboys. Bill Jennings was coaching the Huskers. Bob Simmons was 13 years old. Frank Solich was 17 years old. Syracuse running back Ernest Davis was on his way to the Heisman Trophy. By the way, the last time OSU defeated Nebraska was also the last time the Huskers had a losing season ... Nebraska has usually been fairly offensive against Oklahoma State. Five times since 1970 the Huskers have scored 50 or more points against OSU, including an all-time high of 64 when the Cornhuskers last visited Lewis Field in 1995 ... As dominating as Nebraska has been, the Huskers have posted only six shutouts over the Cowboys since 1962 ... The 42 points Oklahoma State scored in Lincoln in 1988 was the most points ever scored on a Tom Osborne team in Lincoln.
COACH FRANK SOLICH — Nebraska’s head football coach is four games into his first season after replacing the legendary Tom Osborne who retired after guiding Nebraska to a national championship in 1997. Solich was a member of Osborne’s staff at Nebraska for 19 years before assuming the head position. He was named assistant head coach in 1991. Solich was a fullback on Bob Devaney’s Nebraska teams from 1963 through 1965.
OSU-NEBRASKA, BY THE NUMBERS — Following is a statistical comparison between Oklahoma State and Nebraska.
Oklahoma State (2-1) Nebraska (4-0) Category Avg. Nat’l Big 12 Avg. Nat’l Big 12 Rushing Offense 236.3 15 5 303.3 2 2 Passing Offense 181.7 72 7 163.5 81 8 Total Offense 418.0 25 5 466.7 15 3 Scoring Offense 33.3 27 5 43.3 6 2 Rushing Defense 105.7 24 6 60.5 4 1 Pass Eff. Defense 125.0 71 11 113.4 54 8 Total Defense 327.7 46 9 322.0 39 8 Scoring Defense 28.7 78 10 11.0 9 3 Net Punting 35.7 59 7 37.4 37 6 Punt Returns 6.0 81 12 10.8 40 6 Kickoff Returns 22.1 45 8 28.9 10 4 Turnover Margin 1.00 18 3 1.00 18 3
NON-CONFERENCE STREAK ALIVE — Oklahoma State has a 13-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents after the Cowboys defeated Mississippi State two weeks ago. OSU has not lost at home to a non-league opponent since Sept. 21, 1991, when TCU claimed a 24-21 victory.
The Streak: Date Opponent Score Sept. 5, 1992 Indiana State 35-3 Sept. 26, 1992 Tulsa 24-19 Sept. 11, 1993 Southwest Missouri St. 45-7 Oct. 2, 1993 TCU 27-22 Sept. 24, 1994 Tulsa 17-10 Oct. 1, 1994 North Texas 36-34 Sept. 16, 1995 Southwest Missouri St. 35-7 Aug. 31, 1996 Southwest Missouri St. 23-20 Sept. 14, 1996 Tulsa 30-9 Sept. 21, 1996 Utah State 31-17 Sept. 13, 1997 Fresno State 35-0 Sept. 27, 1997 Northeast Louisiana 38-7 Sept. 19, 1998 Mississippi State 42-23
WRIGHT PERFORMS AS EXPECTED — Junior LB Kenyatta Wright, a preseason candidate for the Butkus Award, has lived up to his billing in OSU’s first three games. Wright leads the Cowboys in tackles (18) tackles for loss (five for 32 yards) and sacks (three for 30 yards).
LINDSAY AVOIDS SOPH SLUMP — Sophomore QB Tony Lindsay was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 1997, and although he had a disappointing night at Tulsa, his play early in OSU’s season would seem to indicate he’ll continue his success. Lindsay scored twice on the ground against both Kansas and Mississippi State, and he had his best passing night of the year — completing 11 for 17 attempts for 201 yards, including a career-long 64-yarder to Terrance Richardson — against the Bulldogs.
CENTURY/MILLENIUM MEN — OSU’s tailback duo of junior Nathan Simmons and sophomore Jamaal Fobbs combined for an impressive evening against Mississippi State. Both Fobbs and Simmons went over the 100-yard rushing night for the game, and each topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career. Their performance marked the first time two OSU backs ran for 100 yards in a game since Andre Richardson and David Thompson accomplished the feat against Iowa State in 1996.
SPLENDID SIMMONS — Simmons set career highs with 29 carries and 148 yards rushing in the Mississippi State game. He recorded the second 100-yard rushing game of his career and scored his second touchdown of the season and the seventh of his career. He now has 1,005 yards rushing in his career. Simmons’ 62-yard rush against Kansas was OSU’s longest since 1995, when David Thompson went for a 91-yard run against Kansas State.
FABULOUS FOBBS — Fobbs scored on rushes of 55 and three yards against Mississippi State, notching two rushing scores in a game for the first time in his career. His performance gives him nine touchdowns in his career (six on the ground) and three rushing scores this year. His 104-yard rushing night pushed his career rushing total to 1,056 yards.
RICHARDSON COMES TO LIFE — Junior WR Terrance Richardson had his best game of the season against Mississippi State, grabbing four Tony Lindsay passes for 106 yards. He became the first wide receiver at OSU to catch passes totaling 100 yards since Rafael Denson in the 1994 Colorado game (tight end Alonzo Mayes topped the century mark once in each of the last three seasons). His 64-yard reception from Tony Lindsay in the first quarter was the longest reception of his career.
FOURTH-DOWN SUCCESS CONTINUES — OSU converted 12 of 17 fourth-down attempts last season, one shy of the school record, and that trend continued in the Kansas game. The Cowboys went for it twice in Lawrence and were successful both times. Both attempts extended drives that eventually went for scores. Last season, eight of OSU’s 12 successful fourth-down conversions extended scoring drives. OSU is 4 for 5 on fourth down this season.
EDWARDS ENJOYS FIRST STARTS — Junior DB Adam Edwards has earned the first three starts of his career in this season's games, and he responded with a huge game against Mississippi State. Edwards picked off two MSU passes to join teammate Troy West at the top of the Big 12 interceptions chart with two in three games. The pair is among several players tied for 14th nationally in that category as well.
THOMPSON PROVIDES SECONDARY LEADERSHIP — Senior FS Ricky Thompson was OSU’s most active defensive player in the Tulsa game, leading the team with 10 tackles, including seven unassisted stops and a tackle for loss. For the season, Thompson is second on the team with 16 tackles and has two tackles for losses.
OUR BALL — After holding onto the ball for 36:14 at Kansas, OSU had won the time-of-possession battle in 13 straight regular-season games, a streak that was snapped in Tulsa’s victory over OSU. The Cowboys’ record during the 13-game streak was 10-3. OSU returned to its ball-hogging ways against Mississippi State, holding the ball for nearly 39 minutes. The Cowboys’ 71 rushing plays against the Bulldogs are the most since the team ran 75 times against Kansas State in 1976.
OUR BALL, PART II — OSU ranked sixth in the nation with a plus-13 turnover margin in 1997, and the takeaway trend has continued to start the 1998 season. Despite four turnovers at Tulsa, the Cowboys have a +1.00 turnover margin, the third-best mark in the Big 12 and the 18th-best margin in the country.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE — The Basketball Cowboys’ 78-game home non-conference winning streak gets all the press, but the OSU football team has an impressive streak of its own. The Cowboys have won 13 straight games against non-league foes on Lewis Field after the Sept. 19 victory over 25th-ranked Mississippi State.
CHALOUPKA PROVIDES A SPARK — Junior QB Chris Chaloupka saw his first playing time as a quarterback (he played at Kansas as a kick holder) in the Tulsa game, and he made the most of his opportunity. Chaloupka directed OSU on scoring drives of 96 and 87 yards and completed nine of 14 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, the seventh TD toss of his career.
HOWELL’S FIRST CATCH A BIG ONE — Sophomore WR Ethan Howell certainly made the first reception of his collegiate career count. Chaloupka and Howell connected on a 64-yard pass in the fourth quarter at Tulsa; it was Howell’s first-ever catch, and it was OSU’s longest pass play since Gary Porter hit Shannon Culver for an 80-yard gainer against Missouri in 1992. Howell and Chaloupka weren’t finished, though; on the next two plays, they connected on passes of 10 and 21 yards, leading to Brian Aikins’ one-yard score on the next play.
RIVERS EARNS FIRST CATCH, SCORES — Like Howell, redshirt freshman TE Marcellus Rivers earned the first pass reception of his career in the Tulsa game. Rivers later made a nice catch of a Chaloupka pass at the back of the end zone for OSU’s second touchdown of the night.
WILD, WILD WEST — Junior LB Troy West made quite an impact in his first game as a Cowboy, picking off two crucial Kansas passes. The first interception of his career came in the first quarter, and he returned it 30 yards for OSU’s second touchdown of the day. He became the first OSU player to return an interception for a score since Kevin Williams took one back 40 yards against Colorado last year. West came up with the game’s clinching play in the fourth quarter, when a pass tipped by junior LB Kenyatta Wright bounced into West’s hands. That pickoff led to OSU’s final touchdown of the day. West, who recorded one of OSU’s two sacks at Tulsa, is tied with Edwards for the Big 12 lead (and the No. 14 rank in the NCAA) in interceptions with 0.67 per game.
NOTING THE COWBOYS — Kansas’ fumble return for a first-quarter score was the first against OSU since Sept. 14, 1991, when Arizona State took a Cowboy fumble 71 yards for a touchdown ... Tulsa’s 35 points are the most against the Cowboys in a non-conference game since Wyoming defeated OSU 45-25 in 1995 ... Senior FB Brian Aikins’ third-quarter touchdown against Mississippi State was the ninth of his career and his second this season ... Junior PK Tim Sydnes has made 38 of his last 39 PAT attempts ... Lindsay’s first-quarter touchdown against Mississippi State marked the first time this season that OSU has scored on its opening drive ... The MSU game marks the first time this year that OSU has held a halftime lead ... Junior LB Billy Stone picked off a fourth-quarter pass against MSU for the second interception of his career. The first came in OSU’s 12-0 victory over Oklahoma in 1995 ... OSU has won three straight home openers and six of the last seven.
