Victory over NU would put OSU over hump

By Mike Baldwin

Published: October 27, 2006

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State is much improved.

But there's one thing that's sorely missing in the Mike Gundy era.

A statement win.

Gundy is confident the program is on the right track. He's confident the Cowboys can compete with every team on their schedule.

Several coaches across the country said a win over a nationally ranked opponent provided momentum to get their programs over the hump. For OSU, Saturday's game against No. 20 Nebraska is that type of opportunity.

"Defeating a quality team like Nebraska would give us a tremendous amount of momentum, just like if we had held on last Saturday (against Texas A&M)," offensive coordinator Larry Fedora said. "More than anything it gives fans, the people who support you, momentum."

A good example is Les Miles' four-year tenure. The Cowboys finished 4-7 in Miles' first season, capped by a historic 16-13 upset win over Oklahoma.

The next year, the Cowboys failed to maintain momentum. In the season opener, OSU had a fourth-quarter meltdown in a loss to Louisiana Tech. After losses to three nationally ranked teams — UCLA, Texas and Kansas State — OSU was 2-4.

Statement wins over Texas A&M and Nebraska provided momentum for a three-year run of bowl games. Neither team was nationally ranked, but the victories were huge confidence builders.

"People see how much better we are this season and that we play hard," senior defensive end Darnell Smith said. "But a big win, a statement win, would do a lot for everybody. You beat a team like Nebraska, it could really us get rolling."

The program made major strides under Miles. But it wasn't as if the Cowboys were defeating top-25 teams on a regular basis. OSU was 3-12 against top-25 teams during Miles' four seasons.

That's why wins over top-25 programs are invaluable. Every opportunity is a chance to build momentum.

Oregon posted only seven winning seasons in 24 years before Mike Bellotti took over in 1995.

The previous year, the season before Bellotti was elevated to head coach, the Ducks defeated two nationally ranked teams (Washington and Arizona) to play in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 36 years.

"Big wins over a nationally ranked team legitimizes what you're doing," Bellotti said. "It can be a tremendous motivator for your kids. It provides you with instant credibility for your players and nationally."

Sometimes a narrow loss, like OSU's overtime loss to A&M last week, followed by a big win can be a turning point.

Iowa, a perennial top-25 program in recent years, was 2-18 in its previous 20 games after a close loss to Wisconsin in 2000. The Hawkeyes won at Penn State the next week, followed by an upset over No. 12 Northwestern.

"That three-week span was pivotal for our program," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "At some point, players need evidence their hard work will pay off.

"Those three games gave our players a sense maybe this is doable if they kept pushing."

In California coach Jeff Tedford's first season, the Bears romped to an upset win at No. 15 Michigan State.

"A big win like that was the foundation to help our kids believe that we could get it done," Tedford said. "Obviously, the triple-overtime win over SC when they were No. 1 was huge. There's certain wins that gives your team so much confidence."

Virginia Tech is the model many coaches use to show turnarounds are possible. In 1995, Virginia Tech was trying to establish itself under coach Frank Beamer.

A win over No. 13 Virginia earned a berth in the Sugar Bowl, where the Hokies defeated Texas.

"What we've done now is be in the position to bring in the type of recruits to get to a bowl game every year," Virginia Tech lineman Chris Malone said after the Sugar Bowl. "The momentum we've created should allow the program to blossom even more in the future."

OSU senior offensive tackle Corey Hilliard played in the Alamo Bowl in 2005 and the Cotton Bowl in 2004. He's experienced some big wins. But this is a new day. Under a new coach.

The Cowboys were 4-7 last season. OSU is 4-3 now but easily could be 6-1 if it had closed out wins against Kansas State and Texas A&M.

"Coach Gundy has taken a lot of undeserved criticism," Hilliard said. "We know he's a good coach and know how much he's grown since he took the job. We know the players we have in the locker room. We have no doubt we'll get some big wins."

So what would a win over Nebraska mean for the program?

"It would let everyone know Coach Gundy is for real," Hilliard said. "I guess we need a quality win to reassure (the media) that we're a lot better team. And it would give us a lot of confidence. A win over Nebraska, on TV, would be awesome."