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Pokes Look to End Streak Against Huskers October 15, 2002 by Jason Waganer Executive Editor Westside story won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1961. John F. Kennedy became President of the United States the same year. It's also the last time Oklahoma State defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a streak the Cowboys will try to end this weekend in Stillwater. Although the Cowboys are only 2-4 on the season, many believe this is the best opportunity for a victory that OSU has had in years. Nebraska enters the game with a 5-2 record. The two losses have been lopsided. Penn State defeated the Huskers in Happy Valley 40-7 and Iowa State won by 17 points. For a chance to win, the Pokes must play like they did two weeks ago in Austin, Texas. OSU played a great defensive game and had a chance to drive the field to secure a game winning field goal before QB Josh Fields threw an interception. OSU's offensive struggled most of the day against the dominating Longhorn defense. Nebraska's defense is the worst in years and the Pokes should be able to move the ball. Defensively, if OSU can stop Nebraska QB Jammal Lord, the Huskers will roll over. OSU must minimize turnovers to have a chance to win. Cowboy all-star wide receiver Rashaun Woods must have another great performance. Nebraska is an early eight point favorite. News & Notes: * Lord is Nebraska's leading rusher, averaging over 98 yards per game. He is also throwing for just over 90 yards per game. *
OSU and Nebraska have met 38 times on the football field. OSU's only two
victories in the series came the first two times the teams met. The
Pokes won 7-6 in 1960 and 14-6 in 1961. The only tie came in 1973. The
two schools have not met since 1999, a 38-14 NU win in Lincoln, and have
not played in Stillwater since a 64-21 Nebraska triumph in 1995. *The
52 points scored against SMU on Sept. 21 are the most by an OSU offense
since a 62-14 win over Wyoming in the 1988 Holiday Bowl. In the 149
games since the '88 Holiday Bowl win, Oklahoma State has now scored 50
or more points just three times, including 50 points in a 1997 loss to
Missouri and 50 in a 2000 win over Baylor on Lewis Field. * Senior defensive back Chris Massey may be having the best season of his OSU career. Through six games, Massey leads the Cowboy defense in tackles, and he is once again a valuable weapon as a kick returner. Against Kansas State last week, Massey was credited with four total tackles, all of which were unassisted. For the season, Massey now has 29 solo tackles and nine assists for a team-leading total of 38. He has two tackles for minus-three yards, four pass deflections and one forced fumble. * Another Cowboy junior on an award watch list is kicker Luke Phillips. On the watch list for the Lou Groza Award, Phillips is also off to a good start in 2002. Through six games, Phillips is OSU's second-leading scorer with 33 points. He is 4-of-5 in the field goal category, with his long coming from 46 yards out. He is 21-of-22 on extra points, the only unsuccessful attempt of his career coming at Texas last week. * Junior safety Elbert Craig is on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, going annually to the best defensive back in the country. For his part, Craig is turning in a very solid season. He had nine total tackles against Kansas State on Saturday, and he goes into week seven of the 2002 season second on Oklahoma State's tackle chart. Through six games, Craig has been credited with 19 solo tackles and 19 assists for a total of 38. He also has two interceptions (tied for team lead with Darrent Willliams) and six pass deflections (also tied with Williams). Craig also has a fumble recovery to his credit in 2002. *
Fields is one of nine Big 12 quarterbacks who have already passed the
1,000-yard mark for the 2002 season. In passing (completions per games),
OSU's quarterback is third in the league behind Kliff Kingsbury and Brad
Smith. He is tied for 38th in the NCAA in passing. *
According to the NCAA's web site, Oklahoma State's schedule is the
44th-toughest in the country, based on cumulative records of each I-A
opponent. Based on just future opposition, Oklahoma State's schedule is
ranked the 36th toughest this week. Three past or future Oklahoma State
opponents are ranked in this week's national polls, and seven of OSU's
12 regular-season opponents have winning records at the halfway mark of
the 2002 season. The combined record of Oklahoma State's 12 opponents
currently stands at 44-32.
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