Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State hosts Wyoming in Home Opener
September 01, 2003 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State [0-1]
vs. Wyoming [1-0]
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003 • 6 p.m. [CST]
Lewis Field [48,500] • Stillwater, Okla.
TV - none • radio - Cowboy Radio Network
internet broadcast - www.okstate.com
It's Cowboys vs. Cowboys in O-State Home Opener
Oklahoma State opens the home portion of is 2003 football schedule Saturday night when the Cowboys face Wyoming. It's game No. 2 of the season for both sets of Cowboys. Oklahoma State opened its season last week at Nebraska, while Wyoming opened at home against Montana State, taking a 21-10 win. Kickoff on Lewis Field is set for 6 p.m. (CDT), and its the first of an enticing stretch of OSU's 2003 schedule. OSU is at home the next two weeks with Wyoming and Southwest Missouri State. After a Sept. 20 game at SMU, the Cowboys return home for three straight, including two more Big 12 Conference games vs. Kansas State and Texas Tech.
Records/Rankings
Oklahoma State enters its home opener with an overall mark of 0-1. The Cowboys lost to Big 12 foe Nebraska in the season opener in Lincoln, 17-7. Wyoming comes to Lewis Field with a record of 1-0 after defeating Montana State in its season opener Saturday night in Laramie. Oklahoma State, ranked 24th in the first two Top 25 polls this season, received votes in this week's poll.
Welcome Back
Wyoming is making a return appearance in Stillwater for the first time since 1989 when Oklahoma State won by a 27-7 margin. OSU's Cowboys have not lost in three tries against Wyoming in Stillwater, and the only loss in the seven game series came in 1995 when OSU traveled to Laramie and absorbed a 45-24 loss.
Ticket Availability
Individual tickets for Saturday's home opener are still available at the Athletic Ticket office in the OSU Athletics Center, or by calling 1-877-ALL-4-OSU. Availability is limited, however. Season tickets for 2003 are still available by contacting the ticket office. A near capacity crowd of 47,000-plus is expected for Saturday night's home opener.
Don't Forget the Walk
Head Coach Les Miles and the Cowboy football team will walk from the Atherton Hotel in the Student Union to Lewis Field approximately two hours prior to Saturday night's 6 p.m. kickoff. Fans are once again invited to line Hester Street as the Cowboys walk to the stadium.
Orange Peel
One night before Oklahoma State tackles Wyoming on the football field, Orange Peel will take place on Lewis Field. The student-run production has had an incredibly successful seven year run, and will once again feature top-notch entertainment. This year's performers include Sinbad, Ben Folds, Better than Ezra and Bare Naked Ladies. Past Orange Peel entertainers have included Bill Cosby, Jeff Foxworthy, Randy Travis, David Spade and the Goo Goo Dolls. Friday night's Orange Peel is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Construction Zone
Fans and media attending Saturday night's home opener will notice the ongoing construction on the south side of Lewis Field. Because of the construction, will-call for game tickets and media credentials is now located east of the Athletics Center. Fans will also notice that some concession areas have moved on the south side and men's restrooms have been temporarily relocated. Women's restrooms on the south side will remain in the same location for 2003. Due to construction and the safety procedures in place around all athletic venues, fans are encouraged to arrive early. Fans should also be reminded that umbrellas, video cameras and oversized bags will not be allowed in the stadium, and that anyone entering the stadium is subject to search. Media parking is located west of Hester Street (same as last year) but media will-call will be east of the Athletics Center (between the Athletics Center and Hedge Field) in the white trailer.
Liking Those Home Openers
When OSU faces Wyoming Saturday night, the Cowboys will be trying to win their eighth straight home opener. In fact, Oklahoma State has won 28 of the past 34 home openers, losing only in 1978 to Arkansas, 1980 to West Texas, 1986 to Houston, 1991 to Arizona State, 1989 to Texas Tech, and 1995 to Nebraska.
More Home Opener Notes
Oklahoma State's all-time record in home openers is 67-28-5 ... the longest streak of consecutive wins in the home opener is 10, occurring between 1926 and 1935 ... Oklahoma State is 6-3-1 in home openers in years ending with the number '3' ... lights became a permanent fixture at Lewis Field prior to the 1985 season and since then, 17 of the last 18 home openers have been played under those lights. The exception was the 1986 opener against Houston that was a daylight game on regional television ... Oklahoma State's record in nighttime home openers is 14-3 ... the Cowboys have posted shutout wins 30 times in home openers while being shut out only 10 times ... the most points the Cowboys have ever scored in a home opener was the record 134 against Phillips in 1914 ... the most the Cowboys have allowed in a home opener was 64 to Nebraska in 1995.
Oklahoma State Last Week
Oklahoma State jumped to a 7-3 lead over Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, but the Cornhuskers rallied for a 17-7 win. The Cowboys were victimized by five turnovers, one of which was a fumble that Nebraska returned for its first touchdown. Nebraska's only other touchdown also came after a Cowboy fumble late in the third quarter. Oklahoma State's defense was rock solid in the season opener. Three times the Cowboy defense denied Nebraska after the Huskers had driven inside the OSU 15 yard line. The OSU defense also created two Nebraska turnovers, one fumble and one interception. On the offensive side, the Cowboys had an impressive beginning, taking the first possession of the season and driving 52 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. The Cowboys found the going a bit tougher after that, however, finishing the game with just 183 total yards. Tailback Tatum Bell led the Cowboys on the ground with 23 carries for 87 yards while quarterback Josh Fields completed 13 of 28 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Fields' lone touchdown of the day was to All-America receiver Rashaun Woods. For the day, Woods had five catches for 47 yards and his 28th career touchdown.
It Only Counts as One
It's certainly true that one game does not make or break a season, especially when its a season opener on the next-to-last day of August. Oklahoma State went to Lincoln with high expectations and those expectations have not diminished. The Cowboys withstood a super-charged atmosphere at Memorial Stadium in the first half and led the Huskers, 7-3. A tenacious OSU defense, sparked by Greg Richmond, Pagitte McGee, Lawrence Pinson, Jon Holland and others, all but shut down Nebraska on its home turf. The Cowboy offense was plagued by turnovers in the opener, but still boasts some of the most dangerous weapons in college football. To look for silver, all you have to do is glance back to 2002 when OSU lost a tough opener to Louisiana Tech and lost four of its first six, but rallied for eight wins and a bowl championship.
Wyoming Last Week
Wyoming successfully launched the 2003 season at home Saturday night as the Cowboys rolled past I-AA Montana State, 21-10. Cowboy quarterback Casey Bramlet passed for 203 yards and the Wyoming defense forced five turnovers in claiming a win in the first game for head coach Joe Glenn. Bramlet's passing numbers included 17 completions in 28 attempts, including a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ryan McGuffey in the fourth quarter. Wyoming's defense allowed 353 total yards, but forced five Montana State turnovers, including four interceptions. Wyoming special teams also contributed when the Cowboys returned a blocked punt for a touchdown on Montana State's first offensive possession on the game. As a team, Wyoming rushed for 64 yards on 30 carries while the Cowboys had 203 passing yards. The Wyoming Cowboys allowed 140 rushing yards on 33 carries and 223 passing yards on 18-of-40 passes.
Cowboys on Watch Lists
Several Cowboys are on preseason watch lists for college football's most prestigious awards. All-America wide receiver Rashaun Woods is on most early Heisman Trophy lists and is also on the Hossman Trophy list, an award given by the Columbus, Ohio, Touchdown Club to the college football player of the year. Junior quarterback Josh Fields is on the Davey O'Brien Award list for the outstanding quarterback. Senior tailback Tatum Bell is on the Doak Walker Award list for the top running back, and Ben Buie is on the Rimington Award list for the top center.
Another List for Rashaun
Oklahoma State's All-America wide receiver was named a Walter Camp All-American after the 2002 season and this past weekend, Woods was named to that organization's watch list for 2003 College Football Player of the Year. Oklahoma State's last Walter Camp Player of the Year was Barry Sanders, who claimed the award the same season he claimed the Heisman Trophy, 1988.
Woods' Streaks Intact
With five receptions in the season opener Nebraska, All-American Rashaun Woods has extended some very impressive streaks. The Oklahoma City senior has now caught at least two passes in 32 straight games. The last time Rashaun failed to have a catch in a game was in 2000 against Texas in Austin. In addition, Woods has now caught at least one touchdown pass in six straight games, dating back to the Texas A&M game a year ago when he had seven catches for 79 yards but no touchdowns.
For Starters
Several Cowboys made the first starts of their collegiate careers against Nebraska on Saturday. On the offensive side, fullback Shawn Willis started in place of a slightly injured Tim Burrough. Kellen Davis and Caleb Noble both registered their first starts while Matt Hardison, who had previously started one game as a tight end, registered his first start as an offensive lineman. On the defensive side, junior college transfers Robert Jones and Jon Holland both made starts in their first OSU game.
Farden Impressive in Opener
Junior punter Cole Farden was impressive in Saturday's season opener at Nebraska. For the day, Farden was credited with five punts for 242 yards, an average of 48.4 yards per punt. It was the best single-game performance of Farden's young OSU career. His previous best was last year against SMU when he had two punts and a 48.0 average. The 70 yarder against Nebraska was also a collegiate best for Farden. His previous long was a 62 yarder against Kansas State a year ago in Manhattan.
