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Published Sunday October 20, 2002 Cowboys answered coach's challenge BY ERIC OLSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State Coach Les Miles called it a "program victory."

Indeed, Saturday's 24-21 win over Nebraska wasn't just for the 2002 Cowboys. Before Saturday, the Cowboys hadn't beaten Nebraska since defeating the Bill Jennings-coached Huskers 14-6 here Oct. 21, 1961.

"For all those people that played on the past teams that Nebraska beat, this is a good feeling for them also," said junior wide receiver Rashaun Woods.

All week Miles downplayed the fact that OSU was 0-35-1 in the previous 36 games in the series. Miles emphasized that the Cowboys were playing against the 2002 Huskers, not against the previous Nebraska squads and the tradition they helped to foster.

After the game, even Miles had to note the historical significance of what happened at Lewis Field. It was too much to ignore. Many of the players celebrated with the fans, who stormed the field and made fast work of tearing down the goalposts. The last time the goalposts came down was Oct. 24, 1998, after OSU beat Oklahoma 46-26.

Once the Cowboys were in the locker room Saturday, Miles addressed the importance of their accomplishment.

"It was a wonderful feeling with great emotions all around," defensive lineman Greg Richmond said. "Coach Miles told us that we hadn't beaten them in 41 years. It was just sweet."

The Cowboys' 387 yards of total offense was their most against Nebraska since racking up 455 yards in 1988.

Tailback Tatum Bell ran for a career-high 182 yards on 33 carries. Woods caught 11 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. And quarterback Josh Fields completed 17 of 27 passes for 192 yards and two scores.

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams and safety Elbert Craig each made 10 tackles. The defense sacked NU quarterback Jammal Lord four times.

"Kevin Williams played an emotional, dominant, courageous game of football today," Miles said. "If you watch him play, down after down, he's my pick for the Big 12 defensive player of the week without watching film."

The victory, which improved the Cowboys to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12, came a week after a 44-9 loss at Kansas State.

"The players responded from a lackluster performance at Kansas State and came to play today," Miles said. "The staff challenged them to meet Nebraska's physical style of play, and they did. It's a great start for the rest of the season. It puts us in a position for bowl goals."

The Cowboys' offense kept Nebraska off-balance, particularly in the second half. The Huskers opted to double-cover Woods with a cornerback and safety on a number of occasions, which helped open up the running game for the Cowboys.

"During first and second downs they played us head-up," Woods said. "On third-and-long they tried to add safety help, but we weren't in many third-and-longs. Our running game did such a good job."

The OSU offensive line, which allowed three sacks against K-State, gave up none.

"The offensive line had to respond just like the rest of the team did on the sour performance that we had at K-State," Miles said, "and they did. It is what we needed. I thought Josh Fields threw well under pressure."