Simmons, Cowboys go out with heads high

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State's performance against No. 1 Oklahoma left the Cowboys and outgoing coach Bob Simmons to wonder what might have been. <br><br>Just like so many other times. <br><br>``A

Sunday, November 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State's performance against No. 1 Oklahoma left the Cowboys and outgoing coach Bob Simmons to wonder what might have been.

Just like so many other times.

``A play here, a play there, a touchdown here, a ball bouncing in a different direction,'' Simmons said after Saturday's 12-7 loss. ``I can go back and pick out a lot of games that if we had done this or that ...''

If they had, then perhaps Simmons wouldn't be out of a job after six seasons. Perhaps he would have a better record than 30-38, and perhaps he would have beaten Oklahoma for the fourth time in six tries.

But those things didn't happen Saturday, or during this season.

The Cowboys had a great chance to score a touchdown in the closing minutes, a touchdown that would have given them a lead and a chance to beat the top-ranked team in the country.

Instead, on third-and-goal at the 7-yard line, the Cowboys were whistled for illegal procedure. The penalty pushed them back five yards, and two straight incomplete passes ended their hopes for the upset.

``We had an opportunity to win the ball game and that's all we wanted,'' Simmons said. ``We just came up short.''

The Cowboys finished 3-8, although Simmons said they were better than the record indicated. After winning their first two games, they lost seven in a row before finally beating Baylor last week.

Oklahoma State began the season expecting a big year from quarterback Tony Lindsay. But he injured his throwing shoulder in a preseason scrimmage and it only grew more sore as the season went along. After playing in five games, Lindsay decided he had to have surgery.

That left redshirt freshman Aso Pogi to run the offense, and generally he did well. He threw for an OSU freshman-record 328 yards in his first start, against Iowa State, and provided the Cowboys a solid run-pass threat at the quarterback spot.

``He's going to be a good player,'' Simmons said. ``He's a guy that will continue to mature and make plays.''

Oklahoma State made enough plays to give Iowa State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma a serious challenge. The Cowboys lost 33-26 to Iowa State and 21-16 to A&M, and both games were decided late.

But Oklahoma State also gave up nearly 400 yards in the first half of a loss to Colorado, a team that won just three games this season. The Cowboys represented one of Missouri's three victories, and they lost 58-0 to Texas Tech.

The loss to Texas A&M on Nov. 4 guaranteed a third straight losing season, and two days later, Simmons' forced resignation was announced. The blowout loss to Tech followed, but the Cowboys rebounded by beating Baylor and then scaring Oklahoma.

``Three weeks ago, we said, 'We're not changing the way we prepare for a game and we don't expect you're going to change the way you prepare for a game,' '' defensive coordinator Mike Cassity said.

``I said, 'No. 1, put a smile on your face, the sun's coming up tomorrow, and let's go out and get better the next day.' We've worked like that this whole year.''

Simmons had five losing seasons in six years. But he led the Cowboys to an 8-4 finish and a bowl trip in 1997, and his successor will take over a much better program than the one Simmons inherited.

Pogi is among several young players who will provide the next coach with reason to be optimistic.

``He's going to have some tools to work with,'' Simmons said.