Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Prepare for Ragin' Cajuns
September 29, 2003 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State [3-1]
vs.
Louisiana-Lafayette [0-5]
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003 • 6 p.m. [CST]
Boone Pickens Stadium [48,500] • Stillwater, Okla.
TV - none • radio - Cowboy Radio Network
internet broadcast - www.okstate.com
Cowboys Host Ragin’ Cajuns
Trying to extend its winning streak to four, Oklahoma State returns to Boone Pickens Stadium this week to host the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. It will be OSU’s first action since a 52-6 win over SMU in Dallas on Sept. 20. It will also be the first of three-straight home appearances for the Cowboys, who resume Big 12 play next week against Kansas State and host Texas Tech on Oct. 18 in a homecoming battle. Kickoff for Saturday’s game between OSU and ULL is set for 6 p.m.
Following a Perfect September
Oklahoma State enjoyed a blemish-free month of September, and will be trying to get October started off on a winning note when the Cowboys host the Ragin’ Cajuns. The Pokes were 3-0 in September with victories over Wyoming, Southwest Missouri State and SMU. OSU’s lone loss through four games of the 2003 season came on Aug. 30 at Nebraska. The Cowboys have not only won their last three, they have been dominant. In the last three games, Oklahoma State has outscored its three opponents by a combined 142-33. That’s an average of 47.3 points per game for the OSU offense and an average margin of victory of 36.3 points.
Records/Rankings
Oklahoma State heads into the fifth week of the 2003 season with an overall record of 3-1 and a Big 12 Conference mark of 0-1. The Cowboys were ranked 24th in both major preseason polls, and held the same ranking ahead of a 17-7 loss to Nebraska in Lincoln. OSU has continued to receive votes in both major polls, and had 13 points in this week’s USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. Louisiana-Lafayette will travel to Stillwater this week with an overall of 0-5. This will be the Ragin’ Cajuns fourth road trip in the first six weeks of the season. ULL lost at South Carolina (14-7) in the season opener, and had subsequent road losses to 24th-ranked Minnesota (48-14) and North Texas (44-23). The other two losses came at home to Louisiana Tech (34-3) and Houston (21-14).
Tickets and Attendance
Individual game tickets for Saturday night’s game between the Cowboys and ULL are available at the Athletic Ticket Office in OSU’s Athletic Center, or by calling 1-877-ALL-4-OSU. Oklahoma State’s 2003 ticket sales include a record number of season tickets (nearly 35,000) and a crowd of 45,000-plus is expected for Saturday night’s game. Ticket supplies for both the Kansas State game on Oct. 11 and the Texas Tech game on Oct. 18 are dwindling, so fans planning to attend either of those games and who do not yet have tickets are encouraged to call the ticket office as soon as possible.
OSU-ULL, Briefly
Saturday night will mark the sixth game of the series between Oklahoma State and Louisiana-Lafayette, and the Cowboys have a 5-0 mark against the Ragin’ Cajuns ahead of this week’s game. While Oklahoma State has dominated the last four games of the series, winning, 36-0 in 1987, 31-7 in 1997, 44-20 in 1998, and 24-7 in 1999, ULL came within one point of upsetting the Pokes in 1986, losing by a 21-20 margin in Lafayette. Big 12 opponents are nothing new to the Ragin’ Cajuns. Since 1996, ULL has played 10 games against Big 12 opponents and has a 1-9 record. ULL defeated Texas A&M, 29-22, in Lafayette in 1996. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a member of Division I-A and the Sun Belt Conference.
The Winning Continues
Oklahoma State goes into this week’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette having won three straight in 2003 and nine of its last 11, including the last seven games of the 2002 season. Since a 44-9 loss at Kansas State on Oct. 12, 2002, the Cowboys have gone 9-2, losing only to Texas Tech in Lubbock on Nov. 9, 2002, and to Nebraska in Lincoln on Aug. 30, 2003. The Cowboys have won seven straight at Boone Pickens Stadium dating back to a 38-24 loss to UCLA on Sept. 13, 2002. An Oklahoma State win this week over ULL would be the Cowboys’ fourth straight and match the longest winning streak of a year ago.
Non-Conference Numbers
If the Cowboys can record a win Saturday night, they will conclude an unbeaten run through the non-conference portion of the 2003 schedule. The last time OSU was unbeaten in the non-league part of the schedule was 1996 with wins over Southwest Missouri State, Tulsa and Utah State. Oklahoma State is currently 8-3 vs. non-Big 12 opponents in the Les Miles era and 20-7 vs. non-league opponents over the past eight seasons. By the way, next year’s non-conference slate includes road game at UCLA and home appearances against Tulsa and SMU.
How They Spent the Open Week
The Cowboys may have been idle from game competition last week, but they were workman-like on the practice field. OSU spent Monday through Thursday in normal practice mode and went through a conditioning workout on Friday. The Cowboys had Saturday and Sunday off from practice and returned Sunday evening for meetings. OSU will begin game week preparation for ULL with a Monday afternoon workout.
Last Time Out
Oklahoma State used a record-setting performance by All-American receiver Rashaun Woods to deliver a 52-6 win over SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Woods caught seven touchdown passes against the Mustangs, establishing an NCAA Division I-A single-game record. Quarterback Josh Fields, who tossed all seven touchdown passes, also established a new OSU record for TD passes in a game. The Cowboys scored 45 unanswered points on the Mustangs and didn’t allow SMU on the scoreboard until the 10:19 mark of the third quarter. Woods had five touchdown receptions in the first half alone, and finished the game with 13 total catches for 232 yards, also an OSU single-game record. Tailback Tatum Bell led the Cowboys on the ground with 16 carries for 50 yards. Oklahoma State’s defense allwed SMU just 108 yards on the ground and 125 through the air.
Louisiana-Lafayette Last Week
While Oklahoma State was enjoying an open weekend, Louisiana-Lafayette visited Denton, Texas, where North Texas claimed a 44-23 win over the Ragin’ Cajuns. ULL jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Erik Rekieta with 10:14 left in the first quarter. That lead last until the 5:58 mark when North Texas scored to cap a 78-yard drive. With the score tied at 7-7, and less than 30 seconds later, North Texas scored a safety to take a 9-7 lead. North Texas led, 26-13, at the half, but held just a 30-23 advantage going into the fourth quarter. The Ragin’ Cajuns allowed 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points as North Texas iced the victory. The visitors had 227 total yards on offense, including 200 through the air and 27 on the ground. Rekieta completed 21-of-35 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. ULL allowed 451 yards, including 229 yards rushing and 222 through the air. Chester Johnson was ULL’s leading rusher with nine carries for 35 yards. Bill Sampy was the leading receiver with six catches for 41 yards.
Reviewing a Record-Setting Performance
More than a week after the fact, people are still talking about Rashaun Woods’ record-setting performance in a 52-6 win over SMU in Dallas. The best receiver in college football had the best night in Division I-A history. All seven of his touchdowns came from quarterback Josh Fields. He caught touchdown passes from 2,10, 34, 32, 25, 5, and 11 yards out. He caught two touchdown passes in the first quarter, three in the second and two in the third. Woods did not return to the game after he caught the record-breaker at the 4:53 mark of the third quarter. Rashaun’s seven touchdowns broke a record that had stood for 34 years. The previous record of six touchdown receptions in a game was established by San Diego State’s Tim Delaney in a game against New Mexico State in 1969.
A Rewarding Week
His record-setting performance against SMU brought considerable national attention. After Rashaun Woods caught seven touchdowns a week ago, he was named USA Today’s National Player of the Week. His performance was spotlighted on ESPN and featured in Sports Illustrated. He was interviewed on ESPN national radio Saturday night and again Friday with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit. ESPN Game Day is planning a special feature for the very near future. He reappeared on ESPN’s Heisman Trophy Watch List, as well as a similar list by CNN/SI. Needless to say, Rashaun Woods is a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, the Biletnikoff Award, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and any other applicable postseason award.
