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The Stillwater factor

OSU's Jason Ricks missed on this attempt at a game-tying 49-yard field against OU in 2004, one of several close Bedlam games in Stillwater. Michael Wyke/Tulsa World file

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/29/2008  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 11/29/2008  3:19 AM

On OSU's home field, recent Bedlam battles stressful for Sooners



While Oklahoma holds a pronounced overall advantage in the Bedlam football series, recent games in Stillwater have been extremely difficult for the Sooners.

"Always raucous and loud," OU coach Bob Stoops said of Oklahoma State's home crowd. "You get a lot of bad things said to you. But you get sort of immune to it and used to it.

"It's challenging. That's just how it is. But it's kind of exciting, too, to know that you have to deal with it."

The Boone Pickens Stadium sidelines are only a few feet removed from the first row of seats.

"Their fans are sitting on the bench with you," Stoops said.

The third-ranked Sooners (10-1 overall, 6-1 Big 12) can expect to be showered with derision again on Saturday when they clash with the 11th-ranked Cowboys (9-2, 5-2) in Stillwater.

OU is a seven-point favorite. The 7 p.m. showdown is televised nationally by ABC (KTUL, channel 8).

The Sooners visit Boone Pickens Stadium for the first time since the west end was enclosed. A crowd of about 50,000 is expected at the 60,000-seat stadium.

"There's no question that the way the stadium is set up right now, it's going to be louder than it was in the past," Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said.

Records, rankings and ramifications define this game as one of the more significant Bedlam contests of all time.

If the Cowboys prevail, they will have erased OU from the national-title
picture for the third time in this decade.

"I'm more concerned about Oklahoma State," Gundy said. "I'm not necessarily into spoiling something that Oklahoma is trying to accomplish."

Said OSU wide receiver Dez Bryant: "We're jacked up, fired up and ready to go. Seven o'clock. Prime time."

For the fourth time in seven games, the Cowboys are matched with an opponent ranked in the top three of the Associated Press Top 25. OSU makes its fifth straight appearance on ABC. At 9 a.m., ESPN's College GameDay program broadcasts from the OSU campus.

"Hopefully, we hope our players understand that ultimately the only thing that matters is when we kick it off Saturday night," Gundy said. "Everything else is just a sideshow."

In 2000, 2002 and 2004, the Sooners were national-title contenders when they played in Stillwater.

In 2000, OU was a 25-point favorite but had to scramble for a 12-7 triumph.

In 2002, the Sooners were favored by 15 points but lost by 10 (38-28 as Cowboy wide receiver Rashaun Woods had a performance for the ages).

In 2004, OSU missed on a 49-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds left to play. OU escaped with a 38-35 victory.

"Anybody who is a Cowboy fan knows how important this game is," OSU co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer said. "Doesn't need to be much said about it, but I'm glad there is a lot said about it. It brings more to the forefront, and the young guys start to understand the importance of facing your rival. This one is as big as it gets."

The Cowboys are driven by four players dubbed by the university's media relations office as "The Four Aces." Quarterback Zac Robinson is No. 3 nationally in pass efficiency. Running back Kendall Hunter leads the Big 12 and ranks fifth nationally in rushing (130.4 yards per game). Bryant, among national leaders in receiving yards and punt returns, is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (given annually to the top wide receiver in college football). Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is a finalist for the John Mackey Award.

Against a Sooner team that obliterated Texas Tech by 44 points, Oklahoma State must effectively run the football and find a way to occasionally blunt the Sam Bradford-led Sooner offense.

OU is No. 1 nationally in scoring (52.6-point average) and No. 3 both in passing and total offense. OSU is No. 105 nationally in pass defense.

"We know we'll have to be at our best," Robinson said.

A victory on Saturday would sustain OSU's viability for a possible Cotton Bowl berth and, center David Washington said, "it would put us in the media spotlight. It seems like we've disappeared for a little bit. People forgot about us. You've always got to go out and earn it. Nobody gives you anything."

Genuine Bedlam



While the past three Bedlam games played in Norman have been blowouts—Oklahoma won by an average of 34 points —the last four OU-OSU games in Stillwater have been infinitely more competitive.

2006: OU 27, OSU 21

The Sooners were favored by six points. On the final play of the game, OSU’s Zac Robinson fired a pass, intended for D’Juan Woods in the end zone, but the ball fell incomplete.

2004: OU 38, OSU 35

The Sooners were favored by 12 points. With 11 seconds left, OSU’s Jason Ricks missed on a 49-yard field goal attempt that would have taken the game to overtime.

2002: OSU 38, OU 28

OU was favored by 15 but was dominated by the Les Miles-led Cowboys. Rashaun Woods had 12 receptions for 226 yards and three TDs. OSU had a 35-6 third-quarter lead.

2000: OU 12, OSU 7

The Sooners were favored by 25 points. Undefeated, ranked No. 1 and in the process of winning the national title, OU was pushed to the brink of disaster in the regular- season finale.



Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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7 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Tank, (11/29/2008 8:54:52 AM)
Go Sooners!
Report Comment
Icefighters, Muskogee (11/29/2008 11:33:51 AM)
Go Cowboys! Show them what home field advantage is all about, even with 10,000 empty seats! Stoops should have spent less time lobbying and more time figuring out how to stop DEZ and Hunter! Texas vs Florida in the Title game, No more three way for the Sooners!
Report Comment
Bluebird of HOPE, Whiting, (11/29/2008 12:22:53 PM)
10,000 empty seats!
What!? You guys are stupid..what can't they sell hot dogs or pop! And you all have a Management program?? Idiots. Give those seats away for FREE!!! The pop and hot dogs alone will pay for the seats! Hell ju ju bees and lemonheads would do it too.
Go figure!

Big 10 Rules!

Boomer Sooner!
Report Comment
Icefighters, Muskogee (11/29/2008 1:08:07 PM)
Big 10 Rules? Are you pondering what I am pondering?
The Stillwater factor is only overvome by another well known phenomenon to OSU fans in this Bedlam Series, a medical conditon known as the POKE CHOKE! I mean even Barry Sanders, Mike Gundy and Hart Lee Dykes fell prey to this in 1988 on the last play of the game a game winning pass dropped in the end zone. We have seen the enemy, and they look alot like us.
Report Comment
kyote, (11/29/2008 1:19:38 PM)
Because of the mafia factor the game is won before it is played. I just hope OSU plays a good game that people will see the flaws against your mafia paid stoops.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Comment
Icefighters, Muskogee (11/29/2008 3:28:55 PM)
Leftover Spoilers...Rock Chalk JayHawks, nice comeback agaist Mizzou. OSU out to spoil Sooners BCS dream. Scrape Missouri and have OU and Texas play again for the Conference title. Or Tech vs Missouri. Baylor may take Tech out of the Equation today. Red Raiders suffer from OU hangover and this letdown lets Baylor Bears be the Spoiler
Report Comment
old roper, Sun City (11/30/2008 12:53:55 AM)
the ags played the sooners tough. . . . .but, in the end. . . . .AS USUAL. . .it's

POOOOOOORRRR AGGIES!
 

 
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