The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 37

THE SUNDAY OKLAHOMAN 5-C FOOTBALL SUNDAY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2002 24 it in the budget last week ordering a new pair in anticipation of Saturday's upset. "Best money we ever spent," Birdwell said. BASH JAB: The celebration continued with about 6,000 fans showing up in Gallagher-lba for the Basketball Bash. Former Cowboy Doug Gottlieb wasn't so festive, however, giving the current Pokes consistently low marks in the dunk contest. anywhere the opera maybe without a spit cup? BACK IT UP: Cowboy defensive end Antonio Smith was having so much fun Saturday, he led the Lewis Field crowd in the Orange-Power cheer, swinging his index finger back and forth toward the North and South stands between plays.

Showing substance to go with style, he swatted down a Jammal Lord pass moments later. BY JOHN HELSLEY POST PARTY: Fans rushed past yellow-jacketed security guards to celebrate fittingly in the West end zone, dragging down the goal post. Nobody tried to stop them. "Fans are encouraged not to climb over the wall," public address announcer Larry Reece said, "please use the stairways." POSITIVE THINKING: The new goal posts will cost OSU $6,000 $3,000 each. Athletic director Harry Birdwell found Reece struck again on the P.A.

"Free throw shooting contest is next," said Reese, glaring at Gottlieb. "I'm predicting one out of 10." ETIQUETTE, PLEASE: OSU hosted several potential donors in a pre-game ceremony that featured a computer-generated image of a renovated Lewis Field. Former players were on hand. Even famed Cowboy slugger Pete Incaviglia showed up, appearing dapper and fit. But a question: Can a ballplayer go STAFF PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL 21 Nebraska coach Frank Solich and his players watch as the clock winds down.

LEWIS rlELD Mister Fields OSU quarterback Josh Fields had the best game of his career: 17-of-27 passing, 192 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks. Fields was at his best on third down: 7-of-10 passing for 77 yards and two TDs. All seven completions went for first downs Third down "becomes really big in a game like that," Fields said. "Two yards seem like a mile. We had success today.

We just ran our regular stuff and executed." 1 i 1 Ring the Bell STAFF PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS OSU defenders Greg Richmond and Kevin Williams celebrate a sack Saturday. Comhuskers look like a team that no longer believes STILLWATER Unbelief-able. The goalposts came down Saturday at Lewis Field. They came down as hard as the rain. Hundreds of Tom Shatel wet and wild Oklahoma State fans poured onto the field.

They toppled the two trophies. Then they carried the pieces of history down to the latest museum or tavern, whichever came first. But the really unusual thing about this most unusual day? The 'h STAFF PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS OSU tailback Tatum Bell is brought down by Nebraska's Pat Ricketts and DeJuan Grace after a long gain. Cowboys finally achieve balance OMAHA WORLD-HERALD OSU tailback Tatum Bell had a big day career highs of 182 yards and 33 carries but lost a fumble early in the fourth quarter that gave Nebraska a chance to rally. Bell, too, had a fumble problem last season.

Yet after the fumble, on OSU's last two drives, Bell carried 10 times for 53 yards. Even when taking a knee might have run out the clock, OSU handed off to Bell. "We visited before that" drive, OSU coach Les Miles said of Bell. "He told me, give me the ball." Miles challenge Offensive coordinator Mike Gundy said OSU didn't quit but didn't play hard in the second half a week ago against Kansas State. Miles thus laid down the law on the Cowboys.

"He challenged 'em," Gundy said. "He said, 'You play like that, you won't ever win Miles said the Cowboys responded: "They came off the mat and played their butts off." 100-yard barrier Freshman David Home gained 125 yards on 24 carries, becoming the first Nebraska tailback all season to reach triple digits. "It's more bitter than sweet," said Home, from Omaha Central, the high school that produced Gale Sayers. "I'd rather have 50 yards and a win than 120 yards and a loss." Loud crowd Lewis Field didn't sell out (45,017 tickets sold), there were plenty of no-shows in the rain and a few thousand patrons wore Husker red. But the stadium got loud as the Cowboys built momentum.

"The crowd doesn't know what they do to the team out there," said OSU defensive end Greg Richmond. "When they're yelling and screaming for you and yelling your name, you just want to do something good. You want to dig deeper and fight as hard as you can to make plays for the home crowd." Off the bench OSU flanker Rashaun Woods did not start. He was disciplined for an undisclosed violation of team rules. OSU didn't throw to Woods on its first two possessions but made up for lost time; he had 11 catches for 134 yards and a TD.

"Excellent receiver," said Nebraska coach Frank Solich. "Runs great patterns and has exceptional hands. They go to him a lot. You are talking about a guy who is a very productive player throughout the course of his career." BY BERRY TRAMEL Offense comes through with solid performance jj celebration almost seemed inappropriate. This was no upset.

You understood why Okie State fans were in a lather. This was for 41 straight years of losing to Nebraska. This was for all the more-deserving Cowboy teams who fell short. This was for beating Nebraska tradition. But the scoreboard told a white lie.

Oklahoma State did not beat Nebraska, 24-21. That wasn't Nebraska. Be afraid. Be very afraid for this Big Red football club. They are in uncharted waters, lost at sea, with a boat full of holes, no compass, no idea where they're going or how to get there.

They are imposters with amnesia who woke up with nobody that can tell them where they are. And now it's time to think the unthinkable. Nebraska is 5-3. The Huskers must travel to Texas next week. They still play at Kansas State.

They have Texas, Kansas and Colorado in the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium. What it means is they now have to win a game they shouldn't to avoid going 6-7. End of the nine-win streak? Losing season? No bowl game? Coaching changes? Reality fell like the cold rain on a broken team that trudged off the turf. But those weren't even the scariest things facing the Huskers this morning. It's the faces that stare back at them in the mirror.

Who are these guys? The Huskers no longer have the look. Of a winner. Of a champion. Of a confident team that can flip the switch and swagger its way to victory any old time it wants. Nebraska has the look of a team that no longer believes.

You can see it in their eyes. Hear it in their voices. Read between their lines. We've seen it and heard it before. But it was always in the other locker rooms.

"My hands are up in the air right now," said senior captain John Garrison. "It's a matter of us performing, not like a fish out of water. Maybe something has to change." It's not the talent. Not this time. Nebraska had as much, if not more, talent as Oklahoma State.

This was not about speed or size or experience. This one came down to players making plays. One team made them. One team believed. For the first time in 41 years, that team was wearing orange.

STAFF PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS OSU receiver Josh Lewis catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. By Mike Baldwin Staff Writer STILLWATER As the west goalpost was coming down, senior offensive tackle Jason Russell soaked in the moment. Behind Russell, the Lewis Field scoreboard gave details of a milestone win. Oklahoma State 24. Nebraska 21.

"The win over Oklahoma last year was big," Russell screamed, surrounded by jubilant fans who began carrying the goalpost toward midfield. "But this was bigger. Forty-one years. That's a long time not to beat these guys." The Cowboys beat the Comhuskers with a solid performance from every unit. But it was the offense that finally produced the type of balanced attack coaches have talked about.

Junior tailback Tatum Bell, back in the starting role after Seymore Shaw suffered a fractured leg last week, rushed for a career-high 182 yards on 33 carries. Quarterback Josh Fields was 17-of-27 for 192 yards passing and scored a touchdown. Rashaun Woods had 11 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. "This is the way we'd like the offense to be, the way we could be, should be," Fields said. "It's taken us awhile to get that done but we finally got there.

Now we just need to carry it over." Bell, the starting tailback last season, missed the season opener with an ankle injury but resumed his starter's role against Northern Iowa and UCLA. Shaw passed him on the depth chart but Bell has been handed a second opportunity and seized the moment. "No question about it," said coach Les Miles. "What's exciting to me is we have great competition at tailback." Bell ran hard up the middle, read his blocks well and resembled the back some have envisioned since his 60-yard touchdown run against Oklahoma two years ago. Bell's blamed for everything," Akin said.

"It's nice to come in after a win and just talk about how we got Tatum Bell a lot of rushing yards." Offensive line coach Chuck Mol-ler said balance is always the desired goal but it was especially satisfying to grind out 195 yards on a drizzly, chilly day. "The weather dictated a little of our style of passes," Moller said. "But when we run the ball effectively our play-action is better and our (pass) protection is better." OSU rushed for a season-low 40 yards last week in a 44-9 loss at Kansas State but there were extenuating circumstances. When fullback Tim Burrough was injured, it limited the Cowboys to a one-back scheme. "When we became one-dimensional last week you could really see our youth," Moller said.

"You point a target on your backs when you can't run the ball or use multiple formations. This gives us a lot of confidence." The Cowboys compiled 387 yards. They ran for 195 and passed for 192. "It's our offense," Miles said. "It's what we're supposed to do." only mistake Saturday was a fourth-quarter fumble that set up a Nebraska touchdown drive that closed the gap to 17-14.

Bell finished strong, rushing for 49 yards after the fumble. Bell gained 36 yards on an 80-yard touchdown drive that increased the lead to 24-14 and clinched the win with a 10-yard run that allowed the Pokes to run out the clock. "The thing I enjoyed most about Tatum Bell was late in the game, banged and bruised, he played an inspired back end of the game after his fumble," Miles said. "Tatum had a great day and finished it off great." So did a much beleaguered offensive line, which arguably had its best outing in the Miles' era. Bell's 182 yards was the most for an OSU tailback since Reggie White ran for 187 against Tulsa two years ago.

Coaches didn't know until a few hours before kickoff whether Russell (sprained shoulder) would even play. Chris Akin started at left guard, filling in for the injured Corey Curtis. "The offensive line always gets STAFF PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS OSU's Kevin Williams sacks Nebraska's Jammal Lord on Saturday..