Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: OSU Athletics
Sanders Went Off Against Tulsa
August 29, 2017 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State and Tulsa share a long history in football, but one performance stands out among the rest - a 304-yard rushing effort from Barry Sanders in week three of the 1988 season.
Sanders scored five rushing touchdowns and averaged 9.2 yards per carry in leading the Cowboys to a 56-35 win over the Golden Hurricane in Stillwater that day. In the first quarter alone, he carried seven times for 118 yards and scored on rushes of 35 and 26 yards.
Sanders' record-setting effort marked the first time in OSU history that a player rushed for 300 yards or more in a game and it broke Thurman Thomas's existing single-game record of 293 rushing yards.
Sanders went on to eclipse the 300-yard mark three more times in his historic 1988 season.
When asked about Sanders' performance after the game, OSU coach Pat Jones kept it simple.
"What Barry has done in the first three weeks of the season is abnormal."
Sanders and the Cowboys jumped out to a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 27-0 halftime advantage before Tulsa was able to get back into it with a 28-point third quarter.
The Golden Hurricane was opportunistic in converting four of five attempts on fourth down and got creative in scoring on a fake punt and then recovering an onside kick, but it still wasn't enough to keep them from losing to OSU by three touchdowns.
While Tulsa's rally was impressive, Sanders' performance is what had people talking after the game.
"His acceleration is tremendous," said Tulsa coach Dave Rader. "He's just an outstanding back who deserves all the accolades you and anyone else can give him."
Sanders scored five rushing touchdowns and averaged 9.2 yards per carry in leading the Cowboys to a 56-35 win over the Golden Hurricane in Stillwater that day. In the first quarter alone, he carried seven times for 118 yards and scored on rushes of 35 and 26 yards.
Sanders' record-setting effort marked the first time in OSU history that a player rushed for 300 yards or more in a game and it broke Thurman Thomas's existing single-game record of 293 rushing yards.
Sanders went on to eclipse the 300-yard mark three more times in his historic 1988 season.
When asked about Sanders' performance after the game, OSU coach Pat Jones kept it simple.
"What Barry has done in the first three weeks of the season is abnormal."
Sanders and the Cowboys jumped out to a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 27-0 halftime advantage before Tulsa was able to get back into it with a 28-point third quarter.
The Golden Hurricane was opportunistic in converting four of five attempts on fourth down and got creative in scoring on a fake punt and then recovering an onside kick, but it still wasn't enough to keep them from losing to OSU by three touchdowns.
While Tulsa's rally was impressive, Sanders' performance is what had people talking after the game.
"His acceleration is tremendous," said Tulsa coach Dave Rader. "He's just an outstanding back who deserves all the accolades you and anyone else can give him."
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