Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 11 Cowboys Host No. 3 Oklahoma Saturday
November 24, 2008 | Cowboy Football
No. 11/12 Oklahoma State vs. No. 3/2 Oklahoma
Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 :: 7 p.m.
Boone Pickens Stadium (60,000 capacity)
TV: ABC Sports (Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb and Robert Allen)
National Radio: Touchdown Radio Sports
Internet: okstate.com
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THE THANKSGIVING GAME
The Oklahoma State Cowboys will close their 2008 regular season Saturday when they host the Oklahoma Sooners in the 103rd renewal of “The Bedlam Series”. The Cowboys enter the contest 9-2 overall, including a 5-2 record in Big 12 play. Oklahoma is 10-1 overall and 6-1 in conference action.
ABC-TV
The Bedlam game will mark Oklahoma State's fifth straight appearance on ABC. In town calling the action will be Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters. After just one previous appearance in ABC's prime-time window, OSU will be part of ABC's featured time slot for a third straight game.
THURMAN'S BACK
Oklahoma State's all-time leading rusher, Thurman Thomas, will be honored at Saturday's game for his selection into the College Football Hall of Fame. Thomas, a two-time All-American, will be officially inducted into the hall in December at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. He is also a recent inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (August of 2007). Thomas was a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State and the two-time Big Eight Conference offensive player of the year. He rushed for 4,595 yards in four years in Stillwater.
GAMEDAY, TOO
ESPN's College GameDay is in Stillwater this week. The show has not been on campus since 2004. That year, ESPNU was also launched in Stillwater, and ESPN's Baskeball GameDay came to OSU as well.
THE COWBOYS QUICKLY
Oklahoma State enters the Oklahoma game with nine wins. That total ties an OSU record for most wins in the regular season. All three of Oklahoma State's 10-win seasons (1984, 1987 and 1988) have included a bowl victory to reach the final total. The 2008 season is the eighth nine-victory season in Oklahoma State history, the sixth since 1976 and the first since 2003.
CONFERENCE, TOO
The Cowboys also have five Big 12 wins. OSU has never won more than five conference games in a season. The Cowboys have won five league games nine times, including five 5-2 records in Big Eight play and three 5-3 records against the Big 12 (1997, 2002, 2003).
AND ON THE ROAD
OSU has completed the road portion of its season with a 3-2 record, including a 2-2 mark in conference road games. It is the most road wins by OSU since the 2003 and 2004 teams were also 3-2. Under Mike Gundy, OSU lost eight of its first 10 road contests, but has gone 5-6 away from home since then with the last three road losses (dating back to November, 2007) coming against members of the Associated Press top 10.
GOOD NUMBERS
This year's Bedlam matchup marks the first time that both schools have entered the game with at least nine wins. However, it is worth noting that the OSU-OU matchup has not always been the season finale and ninth victories sometimes came later in the season. In fact, Saturday's game will mark the 56th time in 103 meetings that the state's two Big 12 institutions have closed the regular season against each other.
SIBLING RANKINGS
Saturday's matchup will be the ninth between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State when both squads are members of the Associated Press poll and the first between two ranked Bedlam participants since 2004. The Sooners are No. 3 and the Cowboys are No. 11 entering Saturday's game.
OSU FACES FOURTH A.P. TOP-3 FOE
For the fourth time this season, Oklahoma State will be facing an opponent from the Associated Press top three when the Sooners come to town. OSU is 1-2 against the top three this season. Unlike the previous matchups (at No. 3 Missouri, at No. 1 Texas and at No. 2 Texas Tech), the Cowboys will be playing a ranked opponent at home for the first time this season. OSU will be trying to knock off two members of the AP top five in the same season for the first time in school history. Incidentally, it's worth noting that Oklahoma State is the only member of the Big 12 to post a conference road win against the AP top five. Every other conference school that has beaten a top-five opponent accomplished that feat at home or on a neutral field.
TOP FIVE TRIUMPHS
Oklahoma State has knocked off Oklahoma three times when the Sooners have been ranked in the top five of the Associated Press poll. In 1976, unranked Oklahoma State defeated No. 5 Oklahoma by a 31-24 count in Norman. That win helped the Cowboys gain a share of the Big Eight championship. In 2001, OSU was just 3-7 when it picked up a shocking 16-13 victory in Norman over fourth-ranked OU. The following year OSU was a 38-28 winner over third-ranked Oklahoma in Stillwater. That last victory over the Sooners was OSU's last over a team in the AP top five prior to OSU's Oct. 11 win at No. 3 Missouri earlier this year.
OSU AND THE POLLS
Oklahoma State enters the OU game ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press poll. Oklahoma State has now spent nine straight weeks in the Associated Press poll. It is OSU's longest stay in the top 25 since the 1987 and 1988 seasons when the Cowboys were ranked for 19 straight weeks. Oklahoma State's ranking is its highest in November since Nov. 23, 1985, when OSU climbed to seventh. Entering the 2008 season, Oklahoma State had not been ranked since November of 2004.
HONORS CANDIDATES LIVE HERE
OSU's nine-win season has opened the honors doors for several members of the Cowboy football program.
• Sophomore receiver Dez Bryant is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
• Punter Matt Fodge is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award.
• Running back Kendall Hunter is the Big 12's only semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award.
• Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award.
• Quarterback Zac Robinson is a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award.
• Head coach Mike Gundy is a semifinalist for the George Munger national coach of the year award.
HOME STREAK
Oklahoma State enters the Bedlam game with a 6-0 home record in 2008. Another victory would give OSU seven home victories for the first time ever. It would also provide the Cowboys with their first undefeated home season since 1984 (6-0), just their second since 1957, and the 11th in their history. OSU is 12-3 in its last 15 home games (since October of 2006). OSU has not dropped a home game to a team ranked outside of the Associated Press top 15 since Oct. 21, 2006 with a loss vs. No. 23 Texas A&M. The Cowboys haven't lost at home to an unranked team since Oct. 8, 2005 (Missouri).
THE HOME FIRES
The potent Oklahoma State offense has been particularly productive on the home turf. OSU has played 18 home games over the last three seasons with some impressive offensive results. In those 18 contests, the Cowboys have scored at least 40 points 12 times, reached 400 yards of total offense 16 times, and topped the 500-yard mark nine times. During that span OSU has averaged 515.7 yards of offense per game and 45.1 points per home contest.
SO LONG, SENIORS
Fifteen members of the Oklahoma State football squad will play the final home game of their careers when the Cowboys host the Sooners. The senior class includes...
• Zach Allen, LS: The ranking long snapper for OSU for each of the past four seasons
• T.J. Bell, S: Having his best year as a Cowboy as a safety and special teams player
• Brian Bowling, TE: Walk-on from Tonkawa; brother of receiver Bo Bowling
• Jeray Chatham, DT: Converted offensive lineman who has been a starter at DT for two seasons
• Seb Clements, LB: Walk-on who has become important member of the linebacker corps
• Zach Crissup, DB: Walk-on defensive back who began his career at Bacone
• Steve Denning, OL: Wrapping up his second straight year as a starter in the o-line
• Matt Fodge, P: One of the nation's top punters for the past three seasons
• Jacob Lacey, CB: Three-year starter at corner and an all-Big 12 candidate
• Quinton Moore, S: Starting safety with a steady senior season to his credit.
• Todd Nelson, WR: Walk-on receiver who has earned spot on travel roster
• Brandon Pettigrew, TE: One of America's best
• Ricky Price, S: Standout senior safety and former receiver
• Tonga Tea, DT: Junior college transfer enjoying excellent senior season
• David Washington, C: Steady starter at center who has returned from 2007 injury.
NOTING THE SENIOR CLASS
Oklahoma State's 2008 senior class is small, but successful. The fourth-year seniors will be playing in a third straight bowl game. That accomplishment has been achieved just twice before at Oklahoma State. OSU played in three straight bowl games in 1983, 1984 and 1985, and again in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Four players who redshirted in 2004, receiver Todd Nelson, linebacker Seb Clements, tight end Brandon Pettigrew and defensive back Jacob Lacey, are part of a fourth bowl team. Freshmen in 2005 were 1-7 in conference play. OSU is 12-11 against the Big 12 over their last three years. Fourth-year seniors have an overall record of 27-21. Those that have been around since 2004 are 34-26 counting their redshirt season. During their careers, OSU has gone from 1-7 in Big 12 play in 2005, to 3-5 in 2006, 4-4 in 2007 and at least 5-3 in 2008.
COWBOYS AND SOONERS
The Oklahoma State-Oklahoma football series dates back to 1904, three years before statehood. OU holds a large advantage at 78-17-7. However, things have been much tighter recently. And in Stillwater, the games have truly lived up to the “Bedlam Series” moniker.
• Oklahoma holds an 8-5 series advantage since 1995 with six of the 13 games being decided by 10 points or less.
• The cumulative scoring total for the four games in Stillwater this decade is Oklahoma 105, Oklahoma State 101.
• The last three games in Stillwater find the Cowboys outscoring the Sooners by a 94-93 margin.
• In the last five Bedlam games in Stillwater, Oklahoma State has outscored the Sooners, 142-131.
IT'S A NEW CENTURY
The first decade of the new century has brought with it a new era in the Oklahoma State-Oklahoma football series with the state battles more competitive than they has been over a prolonged period of time since the 1920s and 1930s. The drama has especially been present in Stillwater. Take a look at the last four Cowboy home games in the series.
Nov. 25, 2000
No. 1 Oklahoma 12, Oklahoma State 7
In final game for the Cowboys under head coach Bob Simmons, the eventual national champions escaped Stillwater with the win. It was a defensive battle that saw OU outgain OSU by a 309-275 margin. OSU put together a nine-play drive on its final possession. It ended with an incomplete pass in the end zone from the OU 12 with 3:15 left in the game. Oklahoma's final five points came on a third-quarter safety and a field goal that was the result of an 11-yard drive.
Nov. 30, 2002
Oklahoma State 38, No. 3 Oklahoma 28
It what has been called “The Rashaun Game”, Oklahoma State took out third-ranked Oklahoma 38-28 for a second straight upset of a Sooner team ranked in the top five of the AP poll. The Cowboys jumped to a 35-6 lead and cruised to the win. Rashaun Woods caught 12 passes for 226 yards with three touchdowns (41, 60 and 13 yards) as the Cowboys hit the Sooners with 506 yards of total offense and an average of 7.8 yards per snap.
Oct. 30, 2004
No. 2 Oklahoma 38, No. 20 Oklahoma State 35
In a wildly entertaining and back-and-forth contest, the Sooners won in the last Bedlam matchup to feature two ranked teams. OSU scored the final points of the day on a Vernand Morency touchdown with 10:34 remaining in the game. The issue wasn't decided until the Cowboys missed a 49-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in an effort to force overtime.
Nov. 25, 2006
No. 13 Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 21
In a Bedlam game that wasn't decided until the final play, OU prevailed 27-21. Both teams scored on their first possessions and from there the Sooners jumped to a 20-7 lead early in the third period. OSU rallied from that deficit and a 27-14 hole to close within 27-21 with 6:41 remaining on a D'Juan Woods TD reception. The Cowboy defense limited OU to one yard of total offense on the Sooners' final three possessions to give OSU a chance. The final possession of the game saw the Cowboys drive 38 yards to the OU 25. The final play of the game found Zac Robinson firing to Woods in the end zone on a fourth-and-10.
ORANGE AND CRIMSON
As with most state rivalry games, there are several connections between the coaching staffs of the Cowboys and Sooners.
• Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is the older brother of OU running backs coach Cale Gundy.
• Sooner defensive line coach Jackie Shipp is a Stillwater High School grad. His father was a long-time faculty member at Oklahoma State.
• Chris Wilson, OU special teams coordinator, is a former assistant coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College. The head coach at NEO at that time was Dale Patterson, who is currently OSU's assistant director of football operations.
• OU's director of sports enhancement, Jerry Schmidt, headed up the OSU strength staff in 1988-89 and worked with current Cowboy assistant athletic director for speed and strength Rob Glass. Glass returned to OSU from Florida in 2005.
• OSU equipment coordinator Wes Edwards is a former OU staffer.
• OSU director of football operations Jimmy Gonzales was an administrator at Oklahoma under former Sooner boss Gary Gibbs.
THE SCHEDULE FACTOR
Oklahoma State's chances of winning the Big 12 South were all but ended at Texas Tech. However, it is worth noting the role that the 2008 schedule has played in the title chase. Oklahoma State has gone on the road to face three Big 12 foes ranked in the Associated Press top five. In fact, all three of those foes were among the AP top three at the time of the OSU game. OSU's 1-2 record against those three opponents gives OSU one more road victory against the AP top five than the rest of the league put together. Consider....
• Missouri's lone road game against the AP top five resulted in a loss at Texas.
• Texas' lone road game against the AP top five resulted in a loss at Texas Tech.
• Texas Tech's lone road game against the AP top five resulted in a loss at OU.
• OSU played three top-five opponents, all on the road, in a five-week span. The results were a win over the third-ranked team, and a four-point loss at No. 1 before the loss at No. 2 Texas Tech.
• Like Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Texas, the Cowboys are undefeated in home games.
THE SPIRIT OF ‘88
Over each of the last three seasons, the Cowboy offense has drawn comparisons to the legendary 1988 team that featured a first-round draft pick at wide receiver (Hart Lee Dykes), a Heisman Trophy winner at running back (Barry Sanders) and the Big Eight Conference's all-time leader in passing yards and total offense at quarterback (Mike Gundy). Heading into the 12th game of the season, the 2008 offense appears to stack up best among recent Cowboy offenses when challenging the '88 team.
THE CLASS OF THE SOPHOMORES
There can be little argument that Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant and running back Kendall Hunter comprise the top sophomore duo in America. Bryant is fourth nationally in receiving with 111.1 yards per game and 1,222 yards for the season. Among the top 10 receivers in the country, Bryant's 17.97 yards per grab is easily the best average. Of players with at least 40 receptions, Bryant's per-catch average is again the best in the country. Hunter averages 6.83 yards per carry and is fifth nationally with 1,434 rushing yards. Among America's five rushers, Hunter's average per carry is, again, easily the best in the country.
SOPH FEET
At a school with a running back tradition that can stack up against anyone, Kendall Hunter's sophomore season continues to turn heads as the regular season reaches its final week. Hunter is the nation's fifth leading rusher (despite being limited to just 11 carries for 102 yards at Colorado) with an average of 130.4 yards per game. His nine 100-yard rushing games are nearly twice as many as any other Big 12 runner. His rushing total of 1,434 yards to date make him the second most prolific sophomore back in OSU history, behind only Thurman Thomas. Take a look at Thomas' sophomore season compared to Hunter's 2008 campaign.
KENDALL MEETS THE LEGENDS
Kendall Hunter became just the third Cowboy sophomore rusher to reach 1,000 yards in a season with his 161-yard effort at Texas. The only other sophs to accomplish the feat were Thurman Thomas, who rushed for 1,650 yards in 1985 and Terry Miller, who ran for 1,026 yards in 1975. Thomas was a two-time All-American while Miller was a Heisman Trophy runner-up during his career.
FIFTH WITH AN ASTERISK
Kendall Hunter enters the OU game with 1,434 rushing yards. That total is fifth nationally. However, it is worth noting that Hunter's total has come on fewer carries. Among the nation's top five runners, Hunter leads with 6.8 yards per rushing attempt. Hunter's per carry average is more than one full yard better than the NCAA's leading rusher, Donald Brown of Connecticut.
HUNTER TIDBITS
Kendall Hunter has recorded 14 rushing touchdowns this season with 10 of those scores coming from more than 20 yards out. To date, his 1,434 rushing yards rank No. 11 on OSU's single-season list. His 14 rushing TDs represent the sixth best single-season total in OSU history and are the most by a Cowboy since Tatum Bell ran for 16 touchdowns in 2003. Hunter is currently No. 12 all-time at OSU with 2,130 rushing yards.
A MOMENT WITH DEZ
Oklahoma State sophomore receiver Dez Bryant was a highly recruited prepster. He had a strong freshman season and put up impressive numbers when senior wideout Adarius Bowman was temporarily lost to injury. However, even those clippings could not properly set the stage for a sophomore season that has become one of the best in Oklahoma State history and one of the tops in the country in 2008. He has already been named as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
BRYANT ON THE NCAA CHARTS
• Tied for the national lead with two punt returns for scores
• Ranks third with 16 touchdown receptions
• Ranks third with 17.9 yards per punt return
• Ranks fourth with 111.1 receiving yards per game
• Ranks seventh with 9.82 points per game
•Ranks No. 23 with 146 all-purpose yards per game
•Ranks No. 30 with 6.2 catches per game
MORE BRYANT BULLETS
• Bryant has two of the top 10 receiving games in the country this season. His 236 yards against Houston ranks as the second best game in America this season and his 212-yard effort against Baylor is 10th.
• He was the Walter Camp national player of the week for his efforts against Houston (which also included a 71-yard punt return for a score).
• For the season he has earned one Big 12 offensive player of the week award and one Big 12 special teams player of the week honor.
• Bryant has played 23 career games and scored 24 career touchdowns.
• It's worth noting that Bryant did not have any offensive statistics against Missouri State when the Cowboys threw the ball just 10 times in rolling to the victory.
• Bryant has seven 100-yard receiving games in his brief career to rank third all-time at OSU.
• Bryant had a spectacular punt return for a score against Texas A&M. The 78-yarder was ESPN SportsCenter's top play of the day.
• Bryant's 80-yard touchdown reception against Iowa State was the sixth longest pass play in OSU history.
• Bryant has 18 receptions covering at least 20 yards, and 14 catches for 26 yards or more.
• His punt returns have included efforts of 78, 71, 42, 24, 21 and 20 yards.
DEZ AND THE RECORD BOOK
Dez Bryant is already weaving his name into OSU's record book, in the midst of his sophomore season. He already joins All-American Rashaun Woods as the only other Cowboy with multiple 200-yard receiving games. Bryant has two while Woods had three. His 11 receptions against Baylor represent the sixth best total in OSU history. His 1,222 receiving yards this season place him fourth on the single-season list with two games remaining, assuming a bowl appearance. His 68 receptions are fifth on OSU's single-season list. His 108 points rank him No. 3 on the single-season list. His 22 touchdown receptions are already the third best total in Oklahoma State history. The school record for TD grabs is 42 held by Rashaun Woods.
BRANDON'S BACK
After being sidelined by injury for much of the early going, first-team all-Big 12 tight end Brandon Pettigrew is returning to form. In fact, he has been named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top tight end. Through the first seven games of the season, Pettigrew had just 11 catches covering 131 yards. Over the last four games, Pettigrew has 24 catches for 252 yards. Pettigrew now has 1,361 career receiving yards to rank No. 12 all-time. He is eighth all-time with 105 receptions and is the first Cowboy tight end to reach triple figures in catches.
Z-ROB
Zac Robinson continues to be his efficient self. And while his numbers don't scream for headlines because of OSU's effective ground game, Robinson's statistics show he is one of the nation's most effective quarterbacks. He was recently named one of 13 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien Award.
• Robinson enters the OU game as the nation's third-rated passer with an efficiency rating of 178.03
• Robinson is the NCAA's fourth-rated active career passer (182.3 rating).
• His career average of 7.81 yards of offense per play ranks him third among all active NCAA players.
• He's No. 19 nationally in the “points responsible for” category with 14.73 per game.
• He is third all-time at OSU with 47 career touchdown passes.
• Robinson is now second all-time at OSU with 7,059 yards of total offense. He trails only head coach Mike Gundy, who had 7,749 yards of total offense from 1986 through 1989.
• Robinson has 5,650 career passing yards to rank third at OSU. He trails only Mike Gundy (7,997) and Josh Fields (6,090).
• The junior signal caller has 1,415 career rushing yards.
• In 2008, Robinson's 395 yards vs. Iowa State represent the fourth-best passing game in OSU history. His 320 passing yards vs. Houston is the 12h-best game in Cowboy history. Robinson now owns the top passing day in OSU history, along with the fourth, 12th, 18th, 24th and 25th best passing days by a Cowboy. He has passed for 300 yards four times, including a school record 430 yards vs. Texas last season.
• Robinson has 2,481 passing yards this season to rank fourth on OSU's single-season list. He trails only (Josh Fields 3,145 in 2002), his own 2007 total (2,824), and Josh Fields (2,494 in 2003).
• His 2008 total offense count is now at 2,899 for the fourth best mark in school history.
QUICK HITS
• OSU has played four true freshmen this season, including tight end Jamal Mosley, and defensive backs Victor Johnson, Markelle Martin and Johnny Thomas.
• 14 different Cowboys have scored through the first nine games of the season.
• OSU is averaging 7.2 yards per offensive snap.
• Oklahoma State set a new stadium attendance record vs. Troy with a crowd of 52,463 on hand for the OSU win.
• OSU has set a new season ticket record with sales still ongoing and approaching 40,000.
• The Oklahoma State-Texas game was played in front of 98,518 fans. It was the largest crowd ever to see a game in the state of Texas.
230/230
Oklahoma State enters the Oklahoma game averaging 261.3 rushing yards per game and 231.4 passing yards per game. OSU and Tulsa are the only two schools in the country averaging at least 230 yards through the air and on the ground.
BY THE DECADE
Part of it can be attributed to an ever-lengthening college football season, but with more than one full season to go, the current decade is already the second most successful in Cowboy football history in terms of victories. OSU enters the Colorado game with 58 wins since the beginning of the 2000 season. Only in the 1980s, when OSU went 71-43-2, did the school win more than 57 games in a decade. OSU has already won 17 more games this decade than it did in all of the 1990s. A bowl appearance this season, which OSU is already eligible for, would also tie the 1980s for most postseason appearances in a decade at six.
THE BALANCE OF THE COWBOYS
What can the Cowboys provide for an encore? In 2006, OSU and Boise State were the only two teams in the country to run and pass for more than 200 yards per game. In 2007, the Cowboys were perfectly balanced with 3,161 rushing yards and 3,161 passing yards (243 yards per game on the ground and through the air). In the opener at WSU, OSU was again balanced with 174 yards on the ground and 193 through the air.
THE YOUNG GUNS
Oklahoma State has 15 seniors on its roster. That total is 10th lowest among the nation's power conferences, tying the Cowboys with Arizona State, Colorado and Notre Dame for the 10th spot. Minnesota and North Carolina have the smallest senior classes from the power leagues with 11 each. Of the 15 Cowboy seniors, three are walk-ons and two are specialists.
