Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Host Cyclones in League Opener
September 28, 2004 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State Cowboys
host the
Iowa State Cyclones
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004 • 1:05 p.m. [CDT]
Boone Pickens Stadium [47,800] • Stillwater, Okla.
O-State Hosts Cyclones in Big 12 Opener
With three non-conference games and the same number of wins under their belts, Oklahoma State returns to Boone Pickens Stadium Saturday afternoon to host Iowa State in the 2004 Big 12 Conference opener for both teams. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (CDT) as the Cowboys try to go 4-0 for the first time since 1987 and win a conference opener for the first time since 1988. Iowa State is 2-1 on the season, and both teams are coming off open dates.
Perfect Start
Oklahoma State's 3-0 record heading into Big 12 Conference play is significant. It marks the first 3-0 start since 1997 when the Cowboys won their first six and eventually finished 8-4 with an Alamo Bowl appearance. The historical significance of being 3-0 is that all but once in the last three decades, when OSU has started a season with at least three straight wins, the Cowboys have finished that season at a bowl site. In the last 30 years, only the 1975 team that won its first four and finished 7-4 did not gain a bowl invitation.
Join the Walk
One of the most popular traditions Les Miles introduced to Oklahoma State football is the Walk. When the Cowboys walk from the Atherton Hotel at the Student Union to Boone Pickens Stadium 2-1/2 hours prior to kickoff, thousands of fans line Hester Street to cheer them on.
Football Inflatable Family Fun Zone
The Family Fun Zone is open 2-1/2 hours prior to kickoff of every Cowboy Football home game. The Family Fune Zone is located in the grass area next to Cordell Hall, across from the West Endzone of Boone Pickens Stadium. Activities includes an inflatable obstacle course, funhouse and football throw, as well as face painting. Visits throughout the season from Pistol Pete, the cheerleaders and pom squad can also be expected. With the Iowa State game set to kick off at 1 p.m., the Family Fun Zone will open at 10:30 a.m. The Family Fun Zone is free to all Cowboy Football fans.
National Rankings: Cowboys No. 24
Oklahoma State used a dominating home field win over SMU to move back into the Top 25 polls last week, and climbed even higher this week, after being idle on Saturday. The Cowboys broke into the rankings a week ago at No. 25 in both polls, and moved to 24th in this week's Coaches Poll.
Among the Ranked
Oklahoma State used a dominating home field win over SMU to move back into the Top 25 polls last week. The Cowboys are at No. 25 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls. Last year, OSU was ranked in seven of 12 weeks.
OSU-Iowa State, Briefly
Iowa State comes to Boone Pickens Stadium with a season record of 2-1. Dan McCarney's Cyclones defeated Northern Iowa, 23-0, in their season opener before losing at Iowa, 17-10, and upending Northern Illlinois, 48-41, on Sept. 18. Iowa State is averaging 128 rushing yards and 190 passing yards per game while allowing an average of 79.3 yards on the ground and 189 through the air. Oklahoma State, 3-0, is averaging 351 rushing yards and 46.5 passing yards per game while allowing 145 yards on the ground and 210 through the air.
It's a First: Cowboys Open Big 12 Season at Home
For the first time since the inception of the Big 12 Conference, Oklahoma State is opening the conference season at home. From the 1996 opener at Texas Stadium to last year's opener at Nebraska, Oklahoma State has opened all eight previous Big 12 schedules away from Stillwater. The last time Oklahoma State opened conference play at home was 1995, when Nebraska came to Stillwater in the Big Eight Conference opener.
OSU-Iowa State, On the Air
Oklahoma State's game against Iowa State will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Radio Network with Dave Hunziker, Tom Dirato and Robert Allen describing the action. The network broadcast begins one hour before kickoff. There is no television, live or delayed, planned for the game. The Oklahoma State Radio Network is a property of Host Communications, Lexington, Ky. The game broadcast can be heard across the state of Oklahoma on more than 30 radio stations.
Season Ticket Record
Oklahoma State set a new single-season record for season ticket sales in 2004. Going into this week's game against Iowa State, just over 38,000 season tickets had been sold. That number tops the previous high of 35,142 established a year ago. The third-highest number of season tickets sold was 35,115 in 1985. Oklahoma State's attendance of 47,303 for the Tulsa game represented the largest for a non-conference game since a 1988 game against Texas A&M.
Reviewing the SMU Game
Oklahoma State was idle last weekend after using a 59-7 win over SMU the week prior to run its season record to 3-0. The win over the Mustangs featured another solid rushing performance, and was also the best passing game, statistically, of the young season. Tailback Vernand Morency led all rushers for a third straight week with 116 yards on 18 carries. He scored one touchdown and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Quarterback Donovan Woods completed six of 11 passes for 99 yards, and the first two touchdown passes of his college career. One of his touchdown passes went to brother D'Juan Woods, while the other went to true freshman Prentiss Elliott.
More OSU-SMU Notes
• Oklahoma State's win over SMU cemented the Cowboys' second-straight unbeaten non-conference regular-season schedule. The Cowboys have won eight straight regular season non-conference games dating back to 2002.
• OSU's 59 points was the second-most by the Cowboys in the Les Miles era. Oklahoma State scored 63 last season against Baylor.
• Fullback Shawn Willis' one yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his first of the season and sixth of his Oklahoma State career.
• Quarterback Al Peña, who transferred to OSU from Georgia Tech, saw his first action as a Cowboy against SMU, and responded by competing four of four passes for 67 yards, including a 17 yard touchdown to D'Juan Woods.
• Oklahoma State's defense did not allow any first half points for the first time since last year's Texas A&M game. It was the first, first-half shutout at home since the SMU game in 2002.
• Oklahoma State has won the last three contests over SMU and has scored more than 50 points in each of the three victories.
No Turnovers Through Three
Through three games of the 2004 season, Oklahoma State has not turned the ball over. That's no fumbles lost and no interceptions thrown in three victories this season. If you include the Cotton Bowl game against Mississippi, Oklahoma State has not turned the ball over in 16 straight quarters. You have to go back to 1988 to find a similar streak. During the 10-2 Holiday Bowl season of' ‘88, the Cowboys had three straight games (Texas A&M, Tulsa and Colorado) without a turnover.
They Don't Giveth, But They Taketh Away
While the 2004 Cowboys have yet to turn the ball over, they have taken the ball away from the opposition 10 times through three games. OSU's defense has recovered six fumbles and had four interceptions. That total, combined with zero giveaways, give the Cowboys a turnover margin of +3.33, the second-best number in Division IA to Southern Miss' +3.5 turnover margin.
What a Rush! OSU Ground Game Fourth-Best in NCAA
Oklahoma State has continued to rush the football with impressive results in 2004. Through three games, the Cowboys are averaging 333.7 yards on the ground, the fourth-best average in the country. In the season opener at UCLA, the Cowboys gained 426 yards on the ground, and they followed that total with 276 yards against Tulsa and 299 vs. SMU. Through three games, the Pokes are averaging 5.5 yards every time they rush the ball, and have scored 12 rushing touchdowns.
Morency Off to a Great Start
Oklahoma State tailback Vernand Morency has elevated himself into a position of national prominence after just three weeks of the 2004 regular season. With eight games to play, he's more than halfway to the 1,000 yard mark, and he's now being listed on most lists for the top awards in college football. He's on a pace that would give him more than 2,000 yards on the season. More important is that his strong running in the early part of the season has translated into team success for the Cowboys. His three-game numbers, which are detailed below, stand up very well to similar numbers of OSU's most vaunted tailbacks. The comparison below features Morency, Barry Sanders, Ernest Anderson, Terry Miller, Gerald Hudson and Thurman Thomas.
Morency's Last Six
Over the last six games (the final three in 2003 and the first three in 2004), there is not a more productive running back in the country than OSU's Vernand Morency. Dating back to the Kansas game in 2003, Morency has 148 carries for 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns. That's a five game average of 186 yards per game, and a 7.54 yards per carry average. In addition, Morency's rushing success has translated into team success for the Cowboys. The Cowboys are 5-1 over those last six games, including a 5-0 mark when Morency has rushed for 100 or more yards.
Morency Nation's Leading Rusher
Oklahoma State's leading rusher is also the Big 12 Conference's leading rusher and is No. 1 in NCAA Division IA. Morency was second in the nation last week, but moved into the top spot this week, just ahead of Texas' Cedric Benson.
Rushing Result of O-Line Production
Part of the credit for Oklahoma State's rushing success through the first three games of the 2004 season is not only due to Morency and the other fine tailbacks, but to a talented and experienced offensive line. Four starters return from last year, including center Chris Akin, who started all 13 games of the 2003 season, and right guard Sam Mayes, who logged 12 starts a year ago. Right tackle Kellen Davis and left tackle Corey Hilliard also return, and redshirt freshman David Koenig has gotten the nod at left guard. The combination of Akin, Mayes, Davis and Hilliard have a combined 71 starts under their OSU belts. Mayes was a preseason All-Big 12 selection and preseason All-America selection by several publications. Oklahoma State's 2004 offensive line averages 6-3 and 298 pounds.
Cole Farden on Ray Guy Watch List
Oklahoma State punter Cole Farden was one of 36 college punters named to the watch list for the 2004 Ray Guy Award, given annually to the nation's top punter. Farden was a second-team All-Big 12 selection a year ago and was a first-team preseason All-Big 12 honoree. Farden is one of just four punters from the Big 12 on the early list. He joins Texas Tech's Alex Reyes, John Torp of Colorado and Baylor's Daniel Sepulveda. Through three games of the 2004 season, Farden has punted 11 times for an average of 43.5 yards per punt. Three of his punts have been downed inside the 20. Farden also has 23 kickoffs through three games, with 17 of those going for touchbacks.
Ricks Solid in Kicking Chores
True freshman Jason Ricks, who got his first collegiate action in the season opener at UCLA, has been impressive through the first three games of the 2004 season. He is OSU's leading scorer with 25 points, and is perfect on 16 extra point tries and is three for three in field goals.
Red Zone
Part of Oklahoma State's success through the first three games of the 2004 season has been the offense's success in the red zone. On 17 possessions inside the opponent's 20 yard line, the Cowboys have scored 15 times. Included among the red zone scoring are 13 touchdowns and two field goals. Both of the missed scoring opportunities occurred in the SMU game, and one came when the OSU offense ran out the clock inside the SMU 20 by taking a knee at the end of the game. The numbers remain impressive when the Cowboy offense has driven inside the 10 yard line. OSU has scored nine of 10 times in goal-to-go situations, including eight touchdowns and one field goal.
Donovan Remains Solid with Two TD's
Oklahoma State's Donovan Woods, who gained his first-career start against UCLA at the Rose Bowl, continues to turn in solid and productive play. In OSU's win over SMU, Woods had one touchdown rushing and completed six of 11 passes for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns. For the year, Woods has 65 rushing yards with four touchdowns and has completed 11-of-27 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Grant Tough Through Three
Defensive back Vernon Grant has been one of Oklahoma State's most impressive defensive performers over the past couple of seasons, and he is off to another great start in 2004. Through three games, Grant is sixth on OSU's tackle list with seven solo stops and one assist. He also has an interception with a 26 yard return, one pass breakup and has caused a fumble. Grant is 14th in the NCAA and on top of the Big 12 interception chart.
NCAA Statistical Notes
As has been already mentioned, tailback Vernand Morency leads the country in rushing this week with his average of 187 yards per game. Morency is also seventh in the country in all-purpose running and 44th in the country in scoring. As a team, Oklahoma State is fourth in the country in rushing offense, second in punt returns and second in turnover margin. The Cowboys are eighth as a team in scoring offense and 15th in passing efficiency. OSU's defense is 19th against the pass, 29th in scoring defense and 53rd in total defense.
Darrent Williams Could Be Nation's Best
Oklahoma State cornerback Darrent Williams continues to prove why he is considered one fo the best defensive backs in the country, and one of the most dangerous punt returners. OSU's double threat was a first-team All-Big 12 selection a year ago, and has already been recognized as one of the top players in the country heading into the 2004 season. Williams is a preseason all-conference pick as well as a preseason All-American on most lists, and is on the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. Five times in his OSU career, he has returned interceptions for touchdowns, both a Big 12 and NCAA record. The first three interceptions of his collegiate career were all returned for touchdowns, including two in one game (Baylor in 2001). Through three games of the 2004 season, Williams is OSU's leading tackler with 17 stops, and he also has two pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery with a 53 yard return (not a touchdown).
A Threat Every Time
Williams is not only one of the top defensive backs in the country, he is possibly the nation's most dangerous and effective punt returner. Through three games, Williams leads the Big 12 and is third in the nation in punt returns. His three-game numbers include nine returns for 249 yards and a touchdown. That's an average of 27.7 yards per return and an average of three returns per game.
Next Week
The Cowboys take to the Big 12 Conference road next week as they travel to Boulder, Colo., to face the Buffs. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT), and the game will be televised by ABC.
