Oklahoma State's Les Miles named top coach in Big XII

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Les Miles guided Oklahoma State through one setback after another this season to get the Cowboys to a bowl game for the first time since 1997. <br><br>The media in the Big 12 Conference

Tuesday, December 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Les Miles guided Oklahoma State through one setback after another this season to get the Cowboys to a bowl game for the first time since 1997.

The media in the Big 12 Conference took notice, choosing Miles as The Associated Press coach of the year Tuesday.

``I know there are a lot of deserving guys and a lot of guys who could make a case for their position,'' Miles said. ``I'm very fortunate to have a great staff and a group of guys who love to play.''

Miles received eight votes in the balloting. Gary Barnett of Colorado, who led the Buffaloes to their second straight North Division title, received six votes. Bill Snyder of Kansas State, Mike Leach of Texas Tech and Bob Stoops of Oklahoma also received votes.

The Cowboys had high hopes for this season after winning their final two games of 2001 _ including an upset of Oklahoma in Norman. Miles often pointed to that game as an example of what kind of effort it takes to be a consistent winner.

Injuries and an eligibility question concerning a player left the Cowboys with a patchwork offensive line until the week of OSU's opener, and tailback was a question mark due to injuries.

In the first game, at Louisiana Tech, the Cowboys squandered an 18-point third-quarter lead and wound up losing 39-36.

``It really hammered us,'' Miles said. ``But in the same vein, this is a quality, character group of guys, both coaches and players, and they just hung together and believed in each other.''

Two games later, Oklahoma State committed five turnovers against UCLA and turned a game it felt it could win into an easy Bruins victory.

After beating SMU and then coming within two points of Texas, the Cowboys went on the road and got hammered 44-9 by Kansas State.

That was followed by a home game against Nebraska, a team the Cowboys hadn't beaten since 1961.

``It was imperative that the team would have to play a physical brand of ball and be able to handle that challenge,'' Miles said. ``They had to match Nebraska's physical style.''

The Cowboys did, winning 24-21.

``To me, that was easily the biggest turnaround in the season,'' Miles said.

The Cowboys went on to beat Texas A&M to even their record at 4-4. But more disappointment followed _ a 49-24 loss to Texas Tech in a game the Cowboys figured they could win.

Once again the Cowboys regrouped, beating Kansas and Baylor to get to 6-5, then putting an exclamation point on the season by beating then-No. 3 Oklahoma 38-28 last weekend.

They finished 7-5 overall, 5-3 in the Big 12, and beat Nebraska and Oklahoma in the same season for the first time. After being picked to finish next-to-last in the South Division, the Cowboys tied for third.

``He's been so positive, and he's not allowed for anything other than for people to be positive about our football program _ coaches, players, everybody involved, and it's paid off,'' said offensive coordinator Mike Gundy.

As the season progressed, Rashaun Woods emerged as the best receiver in the Big 12. Tatum Bell solidified the running back position by gaining 100 yards or more in five of the final six games. Quarterback Josh Fields got better and better.

``There is a belief in this football team that they can play better and they can be better, and they've kept working at it,'' Miles said.

``There are a number of spots where this team's improved, but we're very fortunate to be in the position we're in.''