The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 35

THE SUNDAY OKLAHOMAN SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 2003 7-C FOOTBALL SUNDAY NOTEBOOK WEEK 1 Nebraska 17 Oklahoma State 7 POSTGAME Huskers turn the tables Blackshirts stop OSU from reproducing last season performances Quoteboard OSU tight end Billy Bajema: "It's disappointing as an offense. We feel like we oughtta go out there and put points on the board. But it was real encouraging to see the defense play so well." Nebraska coach Frank Solich: "Josh Fields is obviously a courageous player. He had to pick himself up off the ground on several occasions that we were able to get to him. When that happens, it can become a long day.

It was very courageous on his part to hang in there the way he did." OSU defensive coordinator Bill Clay: "We didn't get the win. Everything else has to be worked out and improved to where we could win by that margin. Nebraska's approach was to run power running plays to try and eat up the clock to minimize the time our offense was on the field. Their plan was successful to a certain extent." Nebraska linebacker Barrett Ruud, on his touchdown: "I was worried about the scoop and kicking it out of bounds. I knew that if I could scoop it up, I could score.

The defense only has a few opportunities to score." Starting lineup Jon Holland started at free safety and recorded his first career interception. Starting free safety Thomas Wright, hampered by a toe injury, didn't play much but forced a fumble in the third quarter. "Jon Holland did a tremendous job filling in," said safeties coach Joe De-Forest. "Thomas hurt that toe 1 0 days ago. We got as much out of him as we could.

He did what it could and played well." Antonio Smith moved to defensive tackle alongside Clay Coe. Greg Richmond and Khreem Smith were the starting defensive ends. Kyle Hix, projected to start when two-a-days began, has been hampered by a shoulder injury and did not play. Efe Mowarin and Mike Williams played a few snaps at defensive tackle. Freshman defensive tackle Xavier Lawson-Kennedy did not play.

"(Lawson-Kennedy) still is not 100 percent," said defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. "We brought him here thinking there was a chance to play him but couldn't find the right time to put him in. He's going to be a good football player for us." Mixed reviews Special teams were good and bad in the opener. Vemand Morency had a 48-yard kickoff return, and Darrent Williams added a 28-yard return. "We really didn't have opportunities on punt returns," DeForest said.

"The blocked field goal was just a low kick. Overall, I'm very excited about (deep snapper) Jacob Dressen. He did a nice job snapping in his first game and punt protection went well. We have some good things to work on but it was a good start in the kicking game." By Mike Baldwin Staff Writer LINCOLN, Neb. What a difference a year makes.

Last year, the Cornhuskers had few answers for Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashaun Woods or tailback Tatum Bell. A year later, Nebraska neutralized the Cowboys' offensive stars in a 17-7 win Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. "Quite a bit different," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. "We really mixed things up against (Woods). Last year it was primarily man-to-man coverage.

We weren't really a good enough zone-coverage team last year to be effective." Woods had 11 catches for 134 yards in OSU's win last season. In the rematch, the Huskers relied heavily on zone coverage to limit Woods to five catches for 47 yards. "That's what I was telling him out there," Nebraska cornerback Fabian Washington said. "I kept telling him this game wasn't going to be anything like last year." It wasn't. Last year, Bell rushed for a career-high 182 yards.

This time, Bell was held to 87 yards while it was Nebraska's ground attack that ate up precious time in the second half. "Everybody out there was talking about how we were just blowing them off the ball," Nebraska tailback Josh Davis said. "They weren't that strong up front. Our line was blowing people away." The biggest difference was OSU had five turnovers, including three interceptions. "We knew (Woods) could get up and go get the ball," said Lornell McPherson, who had one interception.

"But you saw the game. We went up and got it, too." For the first time since 1969, Nebraska wasn't ranked in preseason polls. The Cornhuskers might be in the ratings this week after their win over the No. 24-ranked Cowboys. "I don't know how people around the country view it, but we view it as a good start," Solich said.

"It was a very big win for us. Our coaching staff did a great job of preparing for a very good opponent. It was very obvious the defense played extremely well." Said Washington: "This just lets everyone know the blackshirts are back." Playing hurt OSU used its two-tight end package and some one-back sets to offset fullback Tim Bur-rough's injury. Bur-rough injured his shoulder two weeks ago in a mock-game Burrough STAFF PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS Nebraska's Lornell McPherson celebrates with teammates after he intercepted a Josh Fields pass in the second quarter. Tramel: Opportunity missed by Cowboys From Page 1-C scrimmage.

Shawn Willis was the fullback in the first half but Burrough played much of the second half with a banged-up shoulder. Wasted opportunities Both teams failed to cash in on field-goal chances. Luke Phillips' 43-yard kick was low and blocked at the line of scrimmage. Nebraska's Sandro DeAng-elis had a 34-yard attempt hit the left upright and Paul Duren blocked a 33-yard try late in the first half. Travel roster Among OSU players who did not make the trip: quarterbacks Donovan Woods and Mike Friess, safety Charlie Ward, wide receivers Chijuan Mack and Errick McCown, offensive linemen Doug Bond, Jon Hayhurst and Adam Gourley, defensive end Jerry Don Bray.

Husker reunion Billed as the largest football player reunion in school history, more than 800 former lettermen, including more than a dozen former coaches, attended the opener. Some of the coaches in attendance included Tom Osborne, long-time assistant Charlie McBride and Bill Glass-ford, who was coach from 1949-55. There were 41 former All-Americans and 38 Academic All-Americans, 1 1 who are now doctors. Included were Heisman Trophy winners Eric Crouch, Johnny Rodgers and Mike Rozier, Out-land Trophy winners Larry Jacobson, Danny Noonan and Will Shields and Lombardi Award winner Dave Riming-ton. "The response to our invitation was tremendous," said athletic director Steve Pederson.

"The atmosphere on game day when form players march down Memorial Stadium Drive and enter the stadium is electric." BY MIKE BALDWIN New offensive tackles Matt Hardison and Kellen Davis were snowed under by Nebraska marauders. Crazy, isn't it, how the off-season talk centered on the Cowboys replacing defensive tackles. Then OSU shows up in Lincoln and holds the NU offense to 10 points, with the only TD coming on a 15-yard drive. Fields was sacked only once but was assaulted much more. He'll be a sore quarterback this morning.

Better protection of its leader becomes OSU's new top priority. Blocking breakdowns, coupled with a stagnant running game, crippled OSU's deep threats. Offensive line coach Chuck Moller said he figured the Cowboys would have to throw short more while the new tackles gain experience, and that's exactly what happened. Perhaps fearing the loss of Fields' head, the gameplan shriveled. Then when two third-quarter turnovers turned OSU's 7-3 lead into a 17-7 deficit, the dam busted.

"When they got ahead, they came after us more," Gundy said. Still, Fields isn't guilt free. He was a magical quarterback last October and November; there was no magic Saturday: 13-of-28. Fields looked halfway injured, to be honest, although the OSU camp said otherwise. "I wouldn't trade him for anyone in the league," Gundy said.

"But he didn't play good." But unlike Nebraska, the Cowboys have reason to hope that things will get better. OSU proved last year that pre-Labor Day disappointment doesn't wreck a season. Shake off a loss at Louisiana Tech and you can shake off a loss at Nebraska. Few teams win in the Corn Kingdom. That's what made Saturday so danged frustrating for the Cowboys.

They blew a chance to grab one in Lincoln. Who knows when such a ship will pass again? Berry Tramel can be reached by e-mail at btramel(a)oklahoman. com. "I'm going to agree," said OSU offensive coordinator Mike Gundy. "If I say that's a great Nebraska team, where's my credibility?" The Cowboys, through sloppy and uninspired offense, let a lotto ticket burn Saturday.

The Cornhuskers have lost five home games in the last 15 years. Since 1978, Nebraska has lost at home only to six schools: Colorado, Florida State, Penn State, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. That's a quarter century on home soil of losing only to the sport's aristocracy. OSU, the little engine that hasn't won in Nebraska since 1960, was poised to join such company. "We let one slip away," said Cowboy safety Elbert Craig.

"Everybody knew we had a great chance. To come out and lose, it hurts a whole lot." This was golden opportunity. Nebraska remains a shell of its old Big Red self. The Cornhusker offense is downright awful. Nebraska's tailback factory has gone to cobwebs.

The Huskers' only good tailbacks Saturday were the Mike Rozier-Jeff Kinney crowd among the 800 old-timers who ringed Osborne Field in pregame. Heck, the only good tailback on campus plays quarterback. Jammal Lord is a shifty ballcarrier but still can't throw a pigskin in the Platte River if you stand him on the shore. Which is no surprise. Name a QB who learned to pass as a college senior? The Husker defense looked stout Saturday.

Give the Huskers credit for shutting down OSU's vaunted trio. Rashaun Woods: five catches, 47 yards. Tatum STAFF PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY Rashaun Woods is pulled down by Nebraska's Pat Ricketts, right, and T.J. Hollowell in the end zone after scoring OSU's only touchdown of the game Saturday. Bell: 87 yards on 23 carries.

Josh Fields: 97 yards passing and three interceptions. Those are losing numbers for the Pokes. But OSU can blame itself as much as praise Nebraska. After a 28-yard catch by Woods on a first-possession slant, the Cowboys produced no big plays despite ample chances. Three times Fields threw deep to open receivers.

He missed tight end Billy Ba-jema because of a heavy rush (first quarter), he missed Woods with an overthrow on what would have been a 57-yard touchdown (first quarter) and he underthrew Woods on what could have been a huge gainer (third quarter) but instead safety Josh Bullocks intercepted. "That's a situation not like practice, where you can come back and do it again," Woods said. "You've got to take advantage." Hark back to last November, when the Cowboys blossomed. Fields and Woods didn't misfire. They can be mighty potent together; we've seen it too much not to believe it.

Saturday, it wasn't all Fields' fault. OSU SCHEDULE Aug. 30 at Nebraska 17-7 Sept. 6 Wyoming 6 p.m. Sept.

13 SW Missouri St. 6 p.m. Sept. 20 atSMU 7 p.m. Oct.

4 6 p.m. Oct. 11 Kansas State TBA Oct. 18 Texas Tech TBA Oct. 25 at Texas TBA Nov.

1 at Oklahoma TBA Nov. 8 Texas TBA Nov. 15 Kansas TBA Nov. 22 at Baylor 1 p.m..