JimBob
01-01-2008, 09:00 AM
OSU Notebook: Small sea of orange
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
1/1/2008
Oklahoma State fans showed up strong in four previous bowl games this decade. That was not the case at Monday's Insight Bowl.
OSU only sold a little more than 6,000 of its 10,500 ticket allotment for the game against Indiana. Another 4,000 Cowboys fans purchased tickets through the Tempe, Ariz.,-based bowl game.
The game's location played a role in the smaller showing. The Cowboys had approximately 18,000 fans at last year's Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. OSU played in three Texas-based bowls from 2002-2004 (the Houston Bowl, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio) and had at least 30,000 fans for each game.
There were about 8,000 Indiana fans in attendance.
Blast from the past: Former OSU head coach Jim Stanley watched and worked during Monday's game.
Stanley, who coached at OSU from 1973-78, is in his 14th year working in the pro personnel department for the Arizona Cardinals.
Stanley guided OSU to a share of the Big Eight championship in 1976 and victories in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl and 1976 Tangerine Bowl. While he has been away from Stillwater for 29 years, Stanley is impressed with the development of the OSU program.
"Coach (Mike) Gundy is doing a fine job," Stanley said. "Their facilities now are much better than we had when I was there. I'm proud of OSU. It's a great place to go to school and for athletics."
Alumni gathering: Three former Cowboys and current NFL players attended Monday's game. Detroit Lions running back Tatum Bell, Green Bay Packers running back Vernand Morency and Arizona Cardinals defensive end Antonio Smith were in attendance. Bell's younger brother T.J. is an OSU junior reserve defensive back.
Starting debut: Sophomore cornerback Terrance Anderson made his first career start, in place of fellow sophomore Perrish Cox.
Cox entered the game at cornerback on Indiana's third offensive series. Cox did not return punts or kickoffs in the first half. Dez Bryant handled punt returns and Dantrell Savage and Al'Darius Thompson had kickoff-return duties in the first half.
Dignitaries: Insight Bowl officials had a pregame ceremony with dignitaries representing both teams.
Gift baskets were presented to incoming OSU president Burns Hargis, OSU athletic director Mike Holder, OSU booster Boone Pickens, Oklahoma governor Brad Henry and Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe. Among the Indiana and Big 10 representatives receiving a gift basket was Jane Hoeppner, the wife of late Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner.
Sooners in the house: Approximately 50 Oklahoma players attended the game. The Sooners are in the Phoenix area to play Wednesday's Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia.
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
1/1/2008
Oklahoma State fans showed up strong in four previous bowl games this decade. That was not the case at Monday's Insight Bowl.
OSU only sold a little more than 6,000 of its 10,500 ticket allotment for the game against Indiana. Another 4,000 Cowboys fans purchased tickets through the Tempe, Ariz.,-based bowl game.
The game's location played a role in the smaller showing. The Cowboys had approximately 18,000 fans at last year's Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. OSU played in three Texas-based bowls from 2002-2004 (the Houston Bowl, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio) and had at least 30,000 fans for each game.
There were about 8,000 Indiana fans in attendance.
Blast from the past: Former OSU head coach Jim Stanley watched and worked during Monday's game.
Stanley, who coached at OSU from 1973-78, is in his 14th year working in the pro personnel department for the Arizona Cardinals.
Stanley guided OSU to a share of the Big Eight championship in 1976 and victories in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl and 1976 Tangerine Bowl. While he has been away from Stillwater for 29 years, Stanley is impressed with the development of the OSU program.
"Coach (Mike) Gundy is doing a fine job," Stanley said. "Their facilities now are much better than we had when I was there. I'm proud of OSU. It's a great place to go to school and for athletics."
Alumni gathering: Three former Cowboys and current NFL players attended Monday's game. Detroit Lions running back Tatum Bell, Green Bay Packers running back Vernand Morency and Arizona Cardinals defensive end Antonio Smith were in attendance. Bell's younger brother T.J. is an OSU junior reserve defensive back.
Starting debut: Sophomore cornerback Terrance Anderson made his first career start, in place of fellow sophomore Perrish Cox.
Cox entered the game at cornerback on Indiana's third offensive series. Cox did not return punts or kickoffs in the first half. Dez Bryant handled punt returns and Dantrell Savage and Al'Darius Thompson had kickoff-return duties in the first half.
Dignitaries: Insight Bowl officials had a pregame ceremony with dignitaries representing both teams.
Gift baskets were presented to incoming OSU president Burns Hargis, OSU athletic director Mike Holder, OSU booster Boone Pickens, Oklahoma governor Brad Henry and Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe. Among the Indiana and Big 10 representatives receiving a gift basket was Jane Hoeppner, the wife of late Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner.
Sooners in the house: Approximately 50 Oklahoma players attended the game. The Sooners are in the Phoenix area to play Wednesday's Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia.