Loss tempers bowl talk for Cowboys

<br>STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ A poor performance on the road last week has quelled some of the talk about Oklahoma State making a road trip in the postseason. <br><br>Consecutive victories over Nebraska

Monday, November 11th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ A poor performance on the road last week has quelled some of the talk about Oklahoma State making a road trip in the postseason.

Consecutive victories over Nebraska and Texas A&M raised Oklahoma State's record to 4-4 and moved the Cowboys within two wins of becoming eligible for a bowl game. Coach Les Miles talked last week about trying get to six victories and reaching one of the goals set at the start of the year.

Miles wasn't so quick to discuss the topic Tuesday, three days after his team got throttled 49-24 by Texas Tech.

``It's not on my mind,'' he said. ``Right now, it's Kansas. We'll worry about those scenarios thereafter.''

The Cowboys (4-5, 2-3 Big 12) gave up 556 yards to Texas Tech. Miles talked confidently about the challenge the Red Raiders presented, and he expected his team to give Tech all it could handle. Instead, the Cowboys sputtered early on offense, got into an early 21-0 hole and didn't recover.

``I think the core group of our football team has to respond to what was missing at Texas Tech and make it appear at Kansas, which is great effort, all-out play,'' Miles said. ``If we play like that and keep that consistency, we'll have a good season and we'll win at Kansas.''

Linebacker Terrence Robinson said the outcome against Texas Tech brought to a screeching halt the momentum gained from the Nebraska and A&M victories.

``You can take that game and just throw it in trash can and just look ahead,'' he said.

``We haven't been doing good on the road. That's one thing we have to figure out, how can we go and play good on the road?''

The Cowboys are 0-4 on the road this season. Since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996, they are 6-21 in league games away from home, with three of those victories coming in one year (1997).

Some relief could come this week when the Cowboys visit Kansas. The Jayhawks (2-9, 0-7) have lost six in a row, and rank last in the conference in scoring, points allowed, rushing defense, total offense and total defense.

But after taking a step backward last week, the Cowboys said they have no room to be overconfident.

``I'm not going to take anything for granted,'' said offensive guard Sam Mayes. ``I don't expect anything less from them than to be a good football team.''

Miles said the focus this week must be on the Jayhawks only.

``The thing we have to do is play our best football,'' he said. ``That's the goal of our team. If we focus on what we can control and take it to Kansas with us, we'll play well.''