Oklahoma State University Athletics
Postgame Notes And Quotes
September 19, 2004 | Cowboy Football
OSU Football
vs. SMU
Sept. 18, 2004
Postgame Notes
• Oklahoma State improved to 3-0 for the first time since 1997. The Cowboys have won the last three meetings over SMU and have scored over 50 points in each of the contests.
• The Cowboys went undefeated in the non-conference portion of the schedule for the second straight season. OSU has won its last eight non-conference regular season contests dating back to the SMU game in 2002.
• The 59 points scored was the most since 63 tallied against Baylor last season, which is the high point total under head coach Les Miles.
• Oklahoma State has not committed a turnover in three games this season and four games overall including last season’s Cotton Bowl.
• Vernand Morency has scored a touchdown in all three games this season and six games overall dating back to last year. He has scored 10 touchdowns in his last six games.
• With 116 yards tonight, Morency went over the 100-yard rushing mark in his fifth straight regular season game dating back to last year. He has rushed for 1,116 total yards in the last six games.
• Prentiss Elliott’s 43-yard touchdown catch was a career long and his first career scoring reception. He also had a season-long 11-yard run on a reverse.
• Cornerback Robert Jones first quarter fumble recovery was his third of the season and fourth of his career. He has had one in each of the first three games in 2004.
• Vernon Grant’s first quarter interception was his team-best second of the season and the third of his career.
• D’Juan Woods 14-yard touchdown reception was his first scoring catch of the year. He added a 17-yard TD reception in the third quarter to set a new single season high with two.
• Donovan Woods’s one-yard touchdown run was his fourth rushing score of the year. Woods’ two touchdown throws are a single-game high. He know has three TD passes
• Shawn Willis’ one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his first of the season and sixth of his career.
• Darrent Williams set a new career high with 162 punt return yards on five chances, besting his previous high of 153 yards set against Louisiana-Lafayette last season. In addition, his 53-yard fumble return was his first career fumble recovery.
• Freshman kicker Jason Ricks’ 38-yard field goal was the longest of his career. He is now 3-for-3 on the year on field goals.
• Luke Frazier’s 34 yard reception in the second quarter was his first career reception.
• Al Pena saw his first collegiate action and completed all four of his pass attempts for 67 yards, with a 17-yard touchdown pass to D’Juan Woods.
• Greg Gold saw action at running back for the first time this season and had a career high 10 carries for 63 yards.
• Calvin Roberts saw his first collegiate action at running back and scored his first career touchdown.
• Andrew Alexander recorded his first career interception.
• Oklahoma State’s 14 first quarter points were the most in the first quarter this season and most since scoring 14 vs. Texas A&M on Oct. 25, 2003.
• OSU’s 31 first half points were the most since scoring 38 points against SMU last season in the first stanza.
• The Cowboy defense did not allow any first half points for the first time since last year’s Texas A&M game. The first half shutout was the first at home since facing SMU in the 2002 season.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Les Miles
On D’Juan Woods
“One of the more impressive plays he made in this game was a crack block he made on Morency’s first big run on the left end. That was a tremendous block and he caught four balls. That is what we would expect from him. He certainly had a nice game today.”
OSU Locker room quotes
Punter Cole Farden
On going into the Big 12 season
“It feels good knowing that were are 3-0 going into the Big 12. We have gained a lot of confidence, but there are places that we need to improve before we head into the Iowa State game.”
On the play of the special teams
“Our special teams have done an excellent job. I just need to step up my play because I have not really punted the ball very well. We have been really happy with Darrent Williams returning the way we know he can. Then Jason Ricks has done a great job as the field goal kicker.”
Center Chris Akin
On being 3-0
“It feels great because there are only three Big 12 teams that are going into conference play without a loss. It will give us a boost as we have an off week to prepare for Iowa State.”
On the SMU defense
“SMU had a great defensive line. Each one of them put on weight since the last time we played them. They gave us a good fight.”
On opening up the passing game
“Coach told us before the game that our number one objective for the game was to protect the quarterback. We have to give our young quarterback enough time in the back field to make the right decisions when he’s throwing the ball.”
Defensive back Jon Holland
On starting off the season perfect
“It feels great starting off 3-0 because it has not been done here at Oklahoma State in awhile. Now we just have to keep up the work through this off week so that we can come in the next week and get another win.”
On the play of the Cowboy defense against SMU
“It was a challenge tonight because our goal was to keep SMU’s offense from scoring 14 points. We held them to only seven tonight and that is what we would like to hold any team to. Our defense made some big plays with a couple of interceptions and fumble recoveries. I had a chance to get a pick myself, but it got tipped and my reaction was a little too slow.”
SMU Head Coach Phil Bennett
On starting QB Chris Phillips
“I thought that Chris (Phillips) did some things OK today. He put us in some plays and I told him at half time that he was done. We couldn’t afford to lose him. We wanted to look at (Tony) Eckert and (Jerad) Romo and finalize that situation. Right now, it appears that Chris is still our best athlete in that position.”
On expectations for the game
“Obviously I want us to compete and play hard. Unfortunately, what I didn’t want happened. Jamey Harper could possibly miss next week. We lost our best pass rusher in Cory Muse. It was not a good situation to come up here and play this game at this point where we are at as a program.”
On the Cowboy offense
“Oklahoma State has got an exceptional back and a line and two tight ends that are seasoned. They do what their quarterback can do in the power running and they proved tonight that he can throw a pretty good ball.”
On the non-conference schedule
“I told the team that you take the last three games and put them behind you. Who would have thought that Texas Tech would put up 70 points on TCU. In my mind our season starts next Saturday. We have eight games to prove that we can be a good football team.”
Opponent Player Quotes
Defensive Tackle Allan Adami
On the game
“They have a good offensive line with a lot of big guys. They know the scheme and they know what they are going to try and do coming out in the ball game. That is what they did tonight.”
On getting prepared for WAC play
“Out of conference games are just for warming up, seeing where everybody is, trying to set up your depth chart and everything. These three games coming out have been a little bit tough for us. We tried to get a win out of one of these games, but we did not do it. We just have to look forward to San Jose State next week in Dallas and getting a conference win opening up at home.”
On Vernand Morency
“He is a good running back, a strong runner. There were a lot of times that we had him wrapped up, but he ran through tackles. He is a big, solid running back and that is what the Oklahoma State offense needs. He is a big guy in there who is going to run the ball and get you down the field as fast as he can.”
