Oklahoma State’s Top 5 Wins of the Bob Simmons Era

Former Oklahoma State coach Bob Simmons died on Tuesday at 77.

Simmons led the Cowboys for six seasons from 1995 to 2000. He was tasked with revitalizing a program that was coming off six losing seasons and probation.

He’d go 30-38 in that stretch, winning Big 12 Coach of the Year honors in 1997 — a year he led the Cowboys to an 8-4 record where they climbed as high as No. 12 in the AP Poll.

In memoriam, let’s take a look back at some of Simmons’ biggest wins as the Cowboys’ coach.

Bedlam 1995

Oklahoma State had lost 17 of 18 Bedlams entering the 1995 contest, and the only game the Cowboys didn’t lose in that stretch, they tied.

There was reason to believe that streak would continue on Veterans Day of 1995, as OSU entered Bedlam at just 2-7. That record included losses to Tulsa and Wyoming. The Sooners weren’t world beaters in ’95, but they entered this game at a much-better 5-3-1.

The Cowboys shut out OU in Norman, winning 12-0.

“For the OSU fans and alums, all the aggies that’s been agonizing — it’s over,” Simmons said. “We won. We won.”

The game’s only touchdown game on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Tone Jones.

Obviously it featured an outstanding defensive effort. On two occasions, the Sooners ran four straight plays from inside the OSU 5-yard line and left those instances with nothing.

Colorado 1997

This game marked the first ranked win of Simmons’ tenure and might’ve been the peak of his best season as the Cowboys’ coach.

After going 4-8 in 1995 and 5-6 in 1996, Simmons had the Cowboys at 5-0 and ranked 20th nationally entering the 1997 homecoming game against No. 25 Colorado — a game OSU would win 33-29.

The Cowboys were down 29-26 with less than three minutes to play when Tony Lindsay hit Alonzo Mayes for a 19-yard game-winning touchdown. Lindsay did a little bit of everything for the Cowboys that day, finishing with 105 passing yards, 126 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.

Kicker Tim Sydnes also deserves a bit of a shoutout for keeping the Pokes in it early, as OSU’s first 12 points came off his leg. Kevin Williams also had a 40-yard pick-six late in the first half.

Bedlam 1997

Following the win against the Buffaloes, the Cowboys climbed as high as No. 12 in the polls but back-to-back overtime losses to Missouri and Texas A&M saw OSU drop down to No. 25 by the time Bedlam rolled around.

After snapping that streak in 1995, the Cowboys lost the 1996 Bedlam game 27-17, but that Sooner streak wouldn’t last nearly as long as the previous one.

OSU beat the Sooners 30-7 in Norman. OU actually scored the game’s first points before the Cowboys rattled off 30 straight starting in the second quarter.

R.W. McQuarters had an interception in that 1995 Bedlam game. In 1997, he caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Lindsay, who finished 9-for-16 for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Jamaal Fobbs didn’t find paydirt that day, but you could argue he was the player of the game, running for 122 yards and 25 carries.

Here’s the Bob Simmons Show after that game:

Mississippi State 1998

The Cowboys hosted a ranked SEC foe early in the 1998 season and left Lewis Field that day with a 42-23 win.

The Bulldogs had no answer for the OSU ground attack that day.

Nathan Simmons, Bob’s son, ran for 148 yards and a touchdown. Fobbs added another 104 rushing yards and two scores. Oh, and Lindsay ran for 77 more yards and two more scores. In total, the Cowboys ran for 360 yards and six touchdowns on Mississippi State that day.

Bedlam 1998

Remember when it had been 18 years since the Cowboys beat the Sooners on the gridiron?

OSU beat OU 41-26 in 1998 to move to 3-1 against the Sooners with Simmons as the coach.

Lindsay was the Cowboys’ star man that day, throwing for 138 yards, running for 99 yards and accounting for four of OSU’s five touchdowns.

It was OSU’s first Bedlam win in Stillwater since 1966.