Tulsa World: 20 years ago, Aggie defense was destroyed

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20 years ago, Aggie defense was destroyed

By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 10/3/2008 2:03 AM
Last Modified: 10/3/2008 3:06 AM

BARRY SANDERS WAS still a relative unknown when Texas A&M, with one of the nation's best defenses, came to Stillwater in 1988.

"I really didn't know much about Barry Sanders," said former A&M coach Jackie Sherrill during a recent interview. "But I knew more than I wanted to know by the end of that game."

Oklahoma State's 52-15 victory over Texas A&M in the second game of the 1988 season was considered by many to be the "coming out party" for Sanders, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy and set the all-time single-season rushing record.

Many believe Sanders' 1988 season is perhaps the greatest college football season by any player at any position in history.

The Cowboys host the Aggies on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium, 20 years since Sanders was introduced to the nation.

"I always hated playing in Stillwater because the crowd is right on top of you," said Sherrill. "You turn around and there is a fan in your face.

"On that night, that crowd was amazing."

By the end of the night, Texas A&M was thoroughly convinced.

"That was about as good of a crowd as I can remember," said former OSU coach Pat Jones during a recent interview. "Folks were really up for that game in Stillwater. We knew Texas A&M was good. They had won a couple of Southwest Conference titles. They had great players."

But the Aggies didn't have anybody like Sanders.

By the standards he would later set, the victory over Texas A&M was not that impressive. Sanders ran for 157 yards on 20 carries (nearly 8 yards per try). He scored three touchdowns, including a 61-yard punt return to give OSU a 52-15 lead at the end of the third quarter.

But it was the way Sanders dominated a game against one of the nation's better defenses.

"We had a good team," said Sherrill. "We had a very good defense. There were a lot of those guys off that defense that went on to play in the NFL.

"So, to see the way he ran through us was pretty amazing."

OSU was up 17-0 before A&M knew what had hit it.

The first touchdown, an electrifying 58-yard draw play to Sanders, was when Sherrill knew Texas A&M was in trouble.

It came just 72 seconds into the game.

"It was third-and-long around midfield and we were feeling pretty good about ourselves," said Sherrill. "All of the sudden, they run a simple draw to Sanders. It was nothing fancy but it was one of those incredible plays that Barry became famous for making.

"He took the ball and we looked like we had it defended pretty well. We didn't even touch him."

A&M fumbled, OSU converted with a touchdown and added a field goal, and it was 17-0.

"We jumped out pretty quick on them," said Jones. "So, getting that lead with our offense was a big deal."

In fact, it could be argued that was one of the most dominating halves of the season, or perhaps any season, for Oklahoma State. It was impressive because Texas A&M was known for its "Wrecking Crew" defense.

"We had guys that could really play," said Sherrill.

Jones had a future Pro Football Hall-of-Famer at running back with a first-team All-American wide receiver. Plus, quarterback Mike Gundy was a very good college player behind a big and experienced line.

"We knew we had the makings of being a very good offensive team," said Jones. "You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know we had some great players on offense."

It was 38-7 at halftime. By the end of the third quarter, the Cowboys had scored 52 points.

"To be honest, I think we could have scored 70 or so," said Jones. "We had great players and we were really clicking that night."

Sanders was done after just three quarters. So was receiver Hart Lee Dykes, who caught five passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.

"We were just cocked and primed for that game," said Jones. "It was our first chance to show the nation what we could do."

Sherrill remains amazed two decades later.

"I've seen a lot of football over the years, but that offense... well, you just don't see that kind of talent and performance very often," said Sherrill. By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

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MexiMike, tulsa (10/3/2008 9:41:33 AM)

Great article John. The only thing I would like to have seen was a tie-in to this year's team and explosive offense...maybe some comparitive stats? GO POKES!!!

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