Barry Sanders’ 44 touchdowns will count–eventually

Barry Sanders’ 44 touchdowns scored in 1988 are going to count in Oklahoma State’s records.

It’s just a matter of when.

The OSU media relations staff has begun compiling all bowl statistics, which include five touchdowns for Sanders in the 1988 Holiday Bowl, as part of larger process of digitizing every game school history.

That means inputting all stats — including play-by-play — from old-school, hand-written “game books” into a computer program. OSU media relations director Gavin Lang said Monday that he’s gotten back to the 1987 season, but he had to put the task on hold during spring football because of his other responsibilities during that time. He will start up again once following Saturday’s spring finale, but the OSU records will not be updated until every game has been digitized. Lang isn’t sure he’ll finish by the time the 2012 media guide is released this summer.

The NCAA only recognizes bowl statistics since 2002, which means Sanders will still be tied with Wisconsin running back Montee Ball for most touchdowns scored in a season (39) even after OSU updates its records. Ball reached that mark last season.