Oklahoma State University Athletics
Postgame Notes And Quotes
October 30, 2004 | Cowboy Football
OSU Football
vs. Oklahoma State
Oct. 30, 2004
Postgame Notes
• Donovan Woods set a new career high with 207 yards passing. He has now scored a rushing touchdown in seven of eight games this season (did not run for a score at Colorado). He has also thrown for a TD in seven-consecutive contests.
• D’Juan Woods set a new career high with 128 receiving yards today.
• Prentiss Elliott caught his third touchdown pass of the season. His scores have gone for 39 yards (today), 43 yards (SMU) and 58 yards (Colorado).
• Oklahoma State scored on a punt turnover for the first time since blocking a punt against Kansas on Nov. 16, 2002.
• Vernand Morency failed to rush for 100-yards for the first time this season and for the first time in 10 regular season contests dating back to last season. With two TDs today, he has now scored a rushing touchdown in seven of eight games this season.
• Morency’s 17-yard reception in the fourth quarter was his longest of the season and only his second catch in 2004.
• Adrian Peterson’s 80 yard touchdown run was the longest against OSU since Texas’ Hodges Mitchell went 80 yards for a score in 1999. Peterson is also the first running back to rush for over 200 yards against OSU since Oklahoma’s De’Mond Parker rushed for 220 yards in 1998.
• The game is OSU’s second sellout of the season, marking the first time OSU has had two in a season in the Les Miles era.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Les Miles
On Oklahoma
“We played a very fine ball club today. I thought their game plan was sharp. I think they are talented. I think they deserve this victory.”
On his team
“I am awfully proud of my football team. I will take my football team and play anyone in this country. I like this team. I like the fight in this ball club. I like the resolve. We are going to get better. We are going to keep coming. This a set back. This is not what we wanted. This is not what we planned today. We look forward to the future. We expect it to be very bright.”
On the team's players
“We have some great players. We have guys that will make plays in any number of situations.”
On Donovan Woods
“Donovan (Woods) is a good quarterback. How can you deny that? When it is tight and tough he is gold. He is on top of it.”
On player’s emotion after loss
“When you dare greatly and fail you miss a lot. This football team played awfully hard. They risked themselves to give that much. They finished second and they are unhappy about it. If we keep playing like that the score will take care of itself.”
On the defense
“Certainly on offense, defense and special teams there were opportunities to win this football game. At times our defense was stingy. At other times we missed some tackles. You do not miss tackles in this game.”
On Jason Ricks
“We felt good there. He has a strong leg. He can hit it from that distance. He kicked the game winner on the road (at Missouri). He came in this stadium and lined up to kick a long field goal. He didn’t hit it today. He will hit it tomorrow.”
Oklahoma State Players
Defensive Back Jon Holland
On the loss against Oklahoma
“It was a good game and it was a hard fought battle through the end. When Oklahoma scored their first touchdown, we weren’t going to give up and we just kept the game close the whole way. This week we will recover and prepare for Texas.”
On Adrian Peterson
“He is a good back and had two good runs against us that ended in scores. He is one of the best backs in the nation.”
On the play of the Cowboy defense
“In the first half Jason White threw on us and put points on the board for them. In the second half we made adjustments that we learned at practice throughout the week.”
Deep Snapper Jacob Dressen
On the game
“I was thinking after the game that the only way we could be disappointed in ourselves is when we gave up a couple of big plays in the game. I felt that everyone on the team played their hearts out, but we just came up short today.”
On the play of the Cowboy special teams
“We gave up that one punt return for a touchdown that hurt us. We also had a few big plays when Grant Jones recovered the blocked punt in the end zone and when they fumbled the punt return.”
On the field goal to tie the game
“It’s something that we practice everyday and (Jason) Ricks can make 9 out of 10 of those
field goals. I know that Jason will get better because it’s nothing he can’t fix.”
Offensive Tackle Corey Hilliard
On the play of the Oklahoma defense
“They played their tails off. It was a great defense that we went up against today.”
On the play of the Cowboy offensive line
“We came to play and we did what we needed to do. It was a good defense that we played and I feel that our offensive line showed up today and gave them a good fight. I am proud of the whole offensive line.”
On going into next week’s game against Texas
“We need to play like we did today and play with pride. It’s another great team we will face and we can’t end the game like we did today. We need to go out next week and get the the win.”
Head Coach Bob Stoops
On the game
“It was an exciting game. I am proud of our guys, their character and toughness to hang in there like we did and fight to the end to win. With those early mistakes in the first half, when you spot someone 14 points away from home that is tough to overcome. We really appreciate our guys, even by half-time, overcoming it and giving us a lead and then to hang on through the second half and to keep answering with plays like we did to win. It shows, I think, a lot of character. I reminded the guys that our 2000 National Championship run team won 12-7 here and went on to finish it out. A lot of it sets up similarly here.”
On gaining confidence through adversity
“It builds it when you respond to adverse situations. Last year when we made everything look so easy, we never were really challenged in those difficult situations. This year we have been (challenged) and I sensed that our guys, in the fourth quarter (responded). What is exciting is that I could see anger in our guys when they were taking the field. We knew that we had spotted them something and they had a lot of character about it.”
On defending the deep pass
“It is very simple in that we need to just stay deep. I thought we had some poor judgement in judging the deep ball more than anything. We were in solid coverages back there in our zones and we should be able to play those. We just didn’t judge them very well and they made some nice plays”
On freshman Adrian Peterson
“We have seen enough of him to expect Adrian to play like he has been. The guy is really special. This guy is a really great player and today not everything was easy, but he was patient and stayed with it. He is tough and hard to break down and you could see the burst of speed that in open space makes him hard to catch.”
On next week’s game against Texas A&M
“It is another big match-up and another important game in the Big 12 South and we recognize that. We recognized this game too. They are both important guys and I am just really proud to coach these guys.”
On Donovan Woods
“I think that he is a good quarterback. We never thought that he wasn’t. In the first half I thought we played him pretty well, but he completed some deep balls. Other than that, I thought we played pretty well outside of three plays.”
Oklahoma Players
Linebacker Rufus Alexander
On Donovon Woods
“He made some real good throws, some that we did not think that he could make.”
On the end of the game
“I was not very nervous about the field goal. If they make it, we go into overtime and play defense. We just wanted to win so we could get out of here.”
Offensive Lineman Jammal Brown
On the game
“Oklahoma State played well. We came in and played pretty well too. It was a hard fought game and I give a lot of credit to those guys.”
Wide Receiver Mark Clayton
On Mark Bradley
“That was a big time performance. That is what we expect from all of our guys. Somebody is going to step up and make plays and Bradley was the one to do it today. That was awesome.”
On the game
“We knew coming in what kind of game it was going to be. It was a dogfight. Oklahoma State is a great team. They will scratch and claw and do whatever it takes to win. We just had to come in with a mindset for adversity and finish.”
On playing close games
“We grow up. It’s a learning experience. We know every game is not going to be a blowout, and not every play is going to go our way.”
Quarterback Jason White
On Mark Bradley
“Mark played an excellent game today. He worked hard on his routes and they were dropping off in coverage leaving the under routes wide open. He did a great job after he caught the ball.”
On Adrian Peterson
“He continues to amaze me. Each game you gain respect for him because he keeps running hard.”
On playing in Boone Pickens Stadium
“Not only is it tough to come in here and play, but it’s tough to play the Cowboys. They are a great team, you have to give them credit. I certainly don’t think their record shows how good they are. They are a great team and it’s good to come away with a win.”
