Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
#TBT To Drama Between OSU and Iowa State
October 06, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Sparks flew in the post-game press conference following Oklahoma State's 48-27 win over Iowa State in Stillwater in 1987.
The reason? Cyclone head coach Jim Walden felt that OSU coach Pat Jones kept Thurman Thomas in the game longer than he should have on a day when Thomas carried 30 times and set a school record with 293 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Walden opened his post-game news conference with a dose of sarcasm. "I hope they got Thurman enough yards. That was important to me that they do that." According to The Oklahoman, he later added that he was bothered by Thomas's 66-yard touchdown run with 2:06 remaining that essentially ended any Cyclone hopes of winning the game.
"But there's no need to be mad," Walden added. "One day we'll get even."
Walden told reporters that day that Thomas should have been removed from the game. "Myself, I'm not sure I'd have my best running back in there when the other guy deserves to play a little, too," he said.
Be careful what you wish for - Thomas's backup in that game was an up-and-coming sophomore by the name of Barry Sanders.
The next season, the two teams clashed again, this time in Ames. This was the opportunity for Iowa State and Walden to get even, as he had vowed to do, and conditions were ripe for Cyclone success.
"I remember it was freezing cold with the wind chill and they didn't have the facility in the north end of the stadium like they do now, so the wind just came straight in and it was a bitter cold," said Mike Gundy, who started at quarterback for the Cowboys that day in 1988.
The Cyclones' strategy was to slow the game down, and for most of the game, that strategy worked. Iowa State had a 28-21 lead over the Cowboys early in the fourth quarter.
But that's when everything changed.
"We ran a trap option. The play was called 77 and I faked the belly to Garrett Limbrick. The end took me, so I pitched it to Barry and he went 80 yards, and that's what busted the game open," Gundy said earlier this week when asked what he remembered about that day.
From that point on, OSU steamrolled its way to three more fourth-quarter touchdowns to win comfortably.
In the post-game news conference, Walden's tone with the media was much different than it was the previous season.
"This is a fine Oklahoma State team, and losing really hurt. When we went up, 28-21, I felt if we could keep on playing the same way, we would be able to win," Walden said. "Our game plan was to take as much time off the clock while moving the ball up the field. The only way I have seen Barry Sanders stopped is when he is sitting on the sidelines."
As for getting even?
OSU's 49-28 victory in 1988 was nearly identical to the 48-27 final score from the previous season.
Sanders finished with 32 carries for 293 yards and four touchdowns against the Cyclones in 1988 – totals that were nearly identical to the 30 carries for 293 yards and four touchdowns that Thurman Thomas amassed against the Cyclones the previous year.
The reason? Cyclone head coach Jim Walden felt that OSU coach Pat Jones kept Thurman Thomas in the game longer than he should have on a day when Thomas carried 30 times and set a school record with 293 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Walden opened his post-game news conference with a dose of sarcasm. "I hope they got Thurman enough yards. That was important to me that they do that." According to The Oklahoman, he later added that he was bothered by Thomas's 66-yard touchdown run with 2:06 remaining that essentially ended any Cyclone hopes of winning the game.
"But there's no need to be mad," Walden added. "One day we'll get even."
Walden told reporters that day that Thomas should have been removed from the game. "Myself, I'm not sure I'd have my best running back in there when the other guy deserves to play a little, too," he said.
Be careful what you wish for - Thomas's backup in that game was an up-and-coming sophomore by the name of Barry Sanders.
The next season, the two teams clashed again, this time in Ames. This was the opportunity for Iowa State and Walden to get even, as he had vowed to do, and conditions were ripe for Cyclone success.
"I remember it was freezing cold with the wind chill and they didn't have the facility in the north end of the stadium like they do now, so the wind just came straight in and it was a bitter cold," said Mike Gundy, who started at quarterback for the Cowboys that day in 1988.
The Cyclones' strategy was to slow the game down, and for most of the game, that strategy worked. Iowa State had a 28-21 lead over the Cowboys early in the fourth quarter.
But that's when everything changed.
"We ran a trap option. The play was called 77 and I faked the belly to Garrett Limbrick. The end took me, so I pitched it to Barry and he went 80 yards, and that's what busted the game open," Gundy said earlier this week when asked what he remembered about that day.
From that point on, OSU steamrolled its way to three more fourth-quarter touchdowns to win comfortably.
In the post-game news conference, Walden's tone with the media was much different than it was the previous season.
"This is a fine Oklahoma State team, and losing really hurt. When we went up, 28-21, I felt if we could keep on playing the same way, we would be able to win," Walden said. "Our game plan was to take as much time off the clock while moving the ball up the field. The only way I have seen Barry Sanders stopped is when he is sitting on the sidelines."
As for getting even?
OSU's 49-28 victory in 1988 was nearly identical to the 48-27 final score from the previous season.
Sanders finished with 32 carries for 293 yards and four touchdowns against the Cyclones in 1988 – totals that were nearly identical to the 30 carries for 293 yards and four touchdowns that Thurman Thomas amassed against the Cyclones the previous year.
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