Cowboys hope to pound Rebs' defense

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Dec. 30, 2003
Oklahoma State's 9-3 record reflects an interesting symmetry with the 9-3 campaign put together by Ole Miss in 2003.
The No. 16 Rebels lost two of their first four. The 21st-ranked Cowboys finished the same way.
The two teams will meet Friday in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
After rising as high as No. 14 in the national polls after its 7-1 start, Oklahoma State was blown out on consecutive weekends against Oklahoma and Texas.
Their season-opening loss to Nebraska aside, the two crushing defeats were the only occasions in which the Cowboys looked unimpressive. In their nine wins, the Cowboys topped the 50-point mark five times and enjoyed a 26-point average margin of victory.
Throughout the season, Oklahoma State's success lived and died by its running game. Cowboys running back Tatum Bell is the nation's 10th-leading rusher with over 1,200 yards on the ground despite missing Oklahoma State's last two games. In Bell's absence, freshman running back Vernard Morency amassed 269 yards against Kansas and 227 yards versus Baylor.
Before being injured on Nov. 8 versus Texas, Bell had rushed for more than 120 yards in four straight contests.
Woods, one of the nation's top wide receivers, caught 66 passes for Oklahoma State, finishing the regular season with 1,144 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He had 13 receptions against Southern Methodist on Sept. 20, racking up 232 yards and seven touchdowns.