Daily Oklahoman: News and Notes

Road trip: OSU might not have as many fans at Gerald Ford Stadium as first projected. OSU has sold 4,300 tickets through its offices in Stillwater.
“One reason we got them down here was the thinking they were going to bring a lot of people,†SMU coach Phil Bennett said. “I don’t know what the reason is, but they’re not bringing them.â€
What Bennett didn’t take into account was some OSU fans in the Dallas area are purchasing tickets through SMU.
With a strong alumni base in Dallas, the estimate is 7,000 to 10,000 Cowboy fans will attend the game.
Game speed: Redshirt freshman wide receiver D’Juan Woods is discovering one of the hardest adjustments is simulating game conditions in practice.
“The speed is so much faster,†Woods said. “There’s a big difference. Film can be deceiving. There are big guys, linebackers and safeties, you don’t think can move that fast but in a game they’re moving pretty good.
“When you’re out there in the fire, that’s when it really matters.â€
Another freshman: Starting free safety Thomas Wright is sidelined by a sprained knee. When Jon Holland left the Southwest Missouri State game with a shoulder stinger, Jeremy Nethon, a true freshman from Beggs, saw extensive playing time in the second half.
“Jeremy played well,†said secondary coach Doug Mallory. “Coach (Joe) DeForest made a strong point on how well he’s played on special teams. You see a sense of urgency to hit people. His effort on special teams was tremendous.
“He had a good week of practice and worked up the depth chart. We had an injury so we had a young man we wanted to take a good look at. Right now he’s running No. 2 at free safety.â€
NUMBERS TO KNOW
OSU is ranked 15th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 228.0 yards a game.
The Cowboys have been flagged a Big 12-high 27 times for 241 yards. The Pokes are averaging 80.3 penalty yards a game. No other team in the league is averaging more than 57.3.
OSU’s offense is averaging 26:09 minutes in time of possession while opponents are averaging 33:51.
SMU UPDATE
Big 12 tour: SMU has experienced two extremes in road losses. The Mustangs lost at Texas Tech (58-10) and Baylor (10-7).
“We’re sort of taking a Big 12 South tour,†Bennett said. “What we’re trying to do is get ready for our conference. Oklahoma State is a very good team. No doubt, we’ll have to play heads above where we’ve been or they’ll kick the stuffing out of us.â€
So close: SMU has been ridiculed for losing at Baylor, but the Mustangs easily could have won.
The Bears’ two scores were set up by turnovers, including a fumbled punt. Baylor’s two scoring drives combined for 23 yards.
“In the second half, I saw we have some character on this football team,†Bennett said. “We had guys that were out on the field fighting. I liked the effort.â€
EXTRA POINTS
Senior tailback Keylon Kincade needs 83 rushing yards to pass Kyle Rote for 10th all-time at SMU.
Kincade, who has 1,964 career rushing yards, has passed Doak Walker and could finish in the top five with another 1,200-yard season.
The Pokes are 7-3 in non-conference games under Les Miles but are looking for their first road non-league win in the Miles era. OSU’s last non-conference road win was at Tulsa in 2000.
The Cowboys can finish September undefeated for the first time since 1997 with a win. OSU has finished unbeaten in September nine times since 1958.
“One reason we got them down here was the thinking they were going to bring a lot of people,†SMU coach Phil Bennett said. “I don’t know what the reason is, but they’re not bringing them.â€
What Bennett didn’t take into account was some OSU fans in the Dallas area are purchasing tickets through SMU.
With a strong alumni base in Dallas, the estimate is 7,000 to 10,000 Cowboy fans will attend the game.
Game speed: Redshirt freshman wide receiver D’Juan Woods is discovering one of the hardest adjustments is simulating game conditions in practice.
“The speed is so much faster,†Woods said. “There’s a big difference. Film can be deceiving. There are big guys, linebackers and safeties, you don’t think can move that fast but in a game they’re moving pretty good.
“When you’re out there in the fire, that’s when it really matters.â€
Another freshman: Starting free safety Thomas Wright is sidelined by a sprained knee. When Jon Holland left the Southwest Missouri State game with a shoulder stinger, Jeremy Nethon, a true freshman from Beggs, saw extensive playing time in the second half.
“Jeremy played well,†said secondary coach Doug Mallory. “Coach (Joe) DeForest made a strong point on how well he’s played on special teams. You see a sense of urgency to hit people. His effort on special teams was tremendous.
“He had a good week of practice and worked up the depth chart. We had an injury so we had a young man we wanted to take a good look at. Right now he’s running No. 2 at free safety.â€
NUMBERS TO KNOW
OSU is ranked 15th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 228.0 yards a game.
The Cowboys have been flagged a Big 12-high 27 times for 241 yards. The Pokes are averaging 80.3 penalty yards a game. No other team in the league is averaging more than 57.3.
OSU’s offense is averaging 26:09 minutes in time of possession while opponents are averaging 33:51.
SMU UPDATE
Big 12 tour: SMU has experienced two extremes in road losses. The Mustangs lost at Texas Tech (58-10) and Baylor (10-7).
“We’re sort of taking a Big 12 South tour,†Bennett said. “What we’re trying to do is get ready for our conference. Oklahoma State is a very good team. No doubt, we’ll have to play heads above where we’ve been or they’ll kick the stuffing out of us.â€
So close: SMU has been ridiculed for losing at Baylor, but the Mustangs easily could have won.
The Bears’ two scores were set up by turnovers, including a fumbled punt. Baylor’s two scoring drives combined for 23 yards.
“In the second half, I saw we have some character on this football team,†Bennett said. “We had guys that were out on the field fighting. I liked the effort.â€
EXTRA POINTS
Senior tailback Keylon Kincade needs 83 rushing yards to pass Kyle Rote for 10th all-time at SMU.
Kincade, who has 1,964 career rushing yards, has passed Doak Walker and could finish in the top five with another 1,200-yard season.
The Pokes are 7-3 in non-conference games under Les Miles but are looking for their first road non-league win in the Miles era. OSU’s last non-conference road win was at Tulsa in 2000.
The Cowboys can finish September undefeated for the first time since 1997 with a win. OSU has finished unbeaten in September nine times since 1958.