JimBob
10-02-2008, 07:01 AM
Cowboys expecting big crowd
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
10/2/2008
Last Modified: 10/2/2008 2:58 AM
If OSU-A&M attracts 50,000 or more, it will be the third such attendance figure in school history.
With more than 50,000 tickets sold for Saturday's Texas A&M-Oklahoma State Big 12 football opener, OSU officials are expecting another possible school-record crowd for Saturday's 6:05 p.m. contest at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.
If the game does attract a crowd of at least 50,000, OSU will have drawn two consecutive home crowds of 50,000-plus for only the third time in school history.
"I really think (the stadium renovation) generates excitement, and people show up," said Cowboy coach Mike Gundy, whose unbeaten team is No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and leads the nation in rushing.
A school-record crowd of 52,463 watched last week's 55-24 triumph over Troy (Ala.) University.
On two occasions, the Cowboys drew consecutive home crowds of at least 50,000. It happened in 1979 (the opponents were Nebraska and Oklahoma) and 1985 (Nebraska and Kansas State).
As of Tuesday, OSU's school-record total of season-ticket sales had increased to 39,100. Last year, OSU sold 33,400 season tickets.
The Boone Pickens Stadium seating capacity now is 60,000. Because of the renovation, the capacity for two years had been 44,700.
OSU had never before averaged more than 46,805 fans in any football season, so there were critics of OSU's decision to expand the stadium to 60,000.
"The improvements that we needed for football dictated that we needed to go to 60,000," Cowboy athletic director Mike Holder said. "The logical place to put that infrastructure was the west end zone, making our stadium a horseshoe — making it a real football stadium.
"What we have now looks like the stadium of a serious competitor in major-college football. That's what we want to be."
OSU's stadium had been the Big 12's smallest. At 60,000, it now is the league's sixth-largest venue.
"The fact that we've got 60,000 seats now, I think it happened for a reason and I think we'll fill it up." Holder said. "I won't predict when that might happen, but it will be sooner than later if our football team continues to win."
OSU is on pace to shatter the school-record average attendance figure of 46,805, set in 2004. The 1988 Cowboys, with a Heisman Trophy tailback in Barry Sanders and a final record of 10-2, averaged 45,880 for six home dates.
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Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
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OKLAHOMA STATE’S TOP 10
OSU’s top 10 home football attendance figures:
52,463: OSU 55, Troy 24 (Sept. 27, 2008).
51,416: Oklahoma 27, OSU 17 (Nov. 9, 1996).
51,220: Oklahoma 27, OSU 7 (Nov. 1, 1975).
51,100: Oklahoma 27, OSU 3 (Nov. 28, 1981).
51,000: Nebraska 36, OSU 0 (Oct. 20, 1979).
51,000: Oklahoma 38, OSU 7 (Nov. 3, 1979).
50,614: OSU 46, Oklahoma 26 (Nov. 9, 1996).
50,511: Oklahoma 45, OSU 18 (Dec. 1, 1973).
50,500: OSU 17, Nebraska 17 (Oct. 27, 1973).
50,440 (tie): OSU 15, Oklahoma 15 (Nov. 14, 1992); OSU 52, Texas A&M 15 (Sept. 24, 1988); Oklahoma 21, OSU 20 (Oct. 15, 1983); Nebraska 35, OSU 0 (Oct. 17, 1987).
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
10/2/2008
Last Modified: 10/2/2008 2:58 AM
If OSU-A&M attracts 50,000 or more, it will be the third such attendance figure in school history.
With more than 50,000 tickets sold for Saturday's Texas A&M-Oklahoma State Big 12 football opener, OSU officials are expecting another possible school-record crowd for Saturday's 6:05 p.m. contest at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.
If the game does attract a crowd of at least 50,000, OSU will have drawn two consecutive home crowds of 50,000-plus for only the third time in school history.
"I really think (the stadium renovation) generates excitement, and people show up," said Cowboy coach Mike Gundy, whose unbeaten team is No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and leads the nation in rushing.
A school-record crowd of 52,463 watched last week's 55-24 triumph over Troy (Ala.) University.
On two occasions, the Cowboys drew consecutive home crowds of at least 50,000. It happened in 1979 (the opponents were Nebraska and Oklahoma) and 1985 (Nebraska and Kansas State).
As of Tuesday, OSU's school-record total of season-ticket sales had increased to 39,100. Last year, OSU sold 33,400 season tickets.
The Boone Pickens Stadium seating capacity now is 60,000. Because of the renovation, the capacity for two years had been 44,700.
OSU had never before averaged more than 46,805 fans in any football season, so there were critics of OSU's decision to expand the stadium to 60,000.
"The improvements that we needed for football dictated that we needed to go to 60,000," Cowboy athletic director Mike Holder said. "The logical place to put that infrastructure was the west end zone, making our stadium a horseshoe — making it a real football stadium.
"What we have now looks like the stadium of a serious competitor in major-college football. That's what we want to be."
OSU's stadium had been the Big 12's smallest. At 60,000, it now is the league's sixth-largest venue.
"The fact that we've got 60,000 seats now, I think it happened for a reason and I think we'll fill it up." Holder said. "I won't predict when that might happen, but it will be sooner than later if our football team continues to win."
OSU is on pace to shatter the school-record average attendance figure of 46,805, set in 2004. The 1988 Cowboys, with a Heisman Trophy tailback in Barry Sanders and a final record of 10-2, averaged 45,880 for six home dates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OKLAHOMA STATE’S TOP 10
OSU’s top 10 home football attendance figures:
52,463: OSU 55, Troy 24 (Sept. 27, 2008).
51,416: Oklahoma 27, OSU 17 (Nov. 9, 1996).
51,220: Oklahoma 27, OSU 7 (Nov. 1, 1975).
51,100: Oklahoma 27, OSU 3 (Nov. 28, 1981).
51,000: Nebraska 36, OSU 0 (Oct. 20, 1979).
51,000: Oklahoma 38, OSU 7 (Nov. 3, 1979).
50,614: OSU 46, Oklahoma 26 (Nov. 9, 1996).
50,511: Oklahoma 45, OSU 18 (Dec. 1, 1973).
50,500: OSU 17, Nebraska 17 (Oct. 27, 1973).
50,440 (tie): OSU 15, Oklahoma 15 (Nov. 14, 1992); OSU 52, Texas A&M 15 (Sept. 24, 1988); Oklahoma 21, OSU 20 (Oct. 15, 1983); Nebraska 35, OSU 0 (Oct. 17, 1987).