The 1972 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the Big Eight Conference during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their first and only season under head coach Dave Smith, the Cowboys compiled a 6–5 record (4–3 against conference opponents), tied for third place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 259 to 203.[3][4]
The team's statistical leaders included George Palmer with 937 rushing yards, Brent Blackman with 572 passing yards, Steve Pettes with 154 receiving yards, and Alton Gerard with 42 points scored.[5][6]
The team played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[7]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 16 | UT Arlington | | | W 21–3 | 31,500 | [8] |
| September 23 | at Arkansas* | | | L 23–24 | 54,431 | [9] |
| September 30 | No. 3 Colorado | | - Lewis Field
- Stillwater, OK
| W 31–6 | 38,500 | [10] |
| October 7 | Missouri | | - Lewis Field
- Stillwater, OK
| W 17–16 | 38,000 | [11] |
| October 14 | at Virginia Tech* | No. 19 | | L 32–34 | 36,000 | [12] |
| October 21 | Baylor* | | - Lewis Field
- Stillwater, OK
| W 20–7 | 39,000 | [13] |
| October 28 | at No. 3 Nebraska | | | L 0–34 | 76,432 | [14] |
| November 4 | Kansas | | - Lewis Field
- Stillwater, OK
| L 10–13 | 35,600 | [15] |
| November 11 | at Kansas State | | | W 45–14 | 25,000 | [16] |
| November 25 | No. 17 Iowa State | | - Lewis Field
- Stillwater, OK
| W 45–14 | 22,500 | [17] |
| December 2 | at No. 3 Oklahoma | No. 20 | | L 15–38 | 61,826 | [18] |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
[19]
Roster
| 1972 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| TE
|
82
|
Charlie Beall
|
Sr
|
| QB
|
10
|
Brent Blackman
|
Jr
|
| G
|
75
|
Bon Boatwright
|
Jr
|
| OT
|
61
|
Mike Clendennen
|
Jr
|
| TE
|
85
|
Reuben Gant
|
Jr
|
| C
|
52
|
Bert Jacobson
|
Sr
|
| RB
|
35
|
George Palmer
|
So
|
| WR
|
81
|
Steve Pettes
|
Jr
|
| WR
|
18
|
David Rosenthal
|
Jr
|
| OT
|
77
|
Tom Wolf
|
So
|
| G
|
64
|
Pat Yates
|
Sr
|
|
Defense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| LB
|
54
|
Bobby Bacon
|
Jr
|
| LB
|
62
|
Bubba Bain
|
Sr
|
| DT
|
68
|
Gill Barnes
|
Sr
|
| FS
|
36
|
Alvin Brown
|
Jr
|
| DT
|
65
|
Barry Price
|
Jr
|
| DE
|
93
|
Glenn Robinson
|
Jr
|
| CB
|
28
|
Darryl Stewart
|
Jr
|
| CB
|
34
|
Mike Terry
|
So
|
| DE
|
94
|
Doug Tarrant
|
Jr
|
| LB
|
60
|
Cleveland Vann
|
Jr
|
| DT
|
72
|
Jimmy Williams
|
Jr
|
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
|
References
- ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). soonersports.com. Oklahoma Athletics. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). huskers.com. Nebraska Athletics. p. 206. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
- ^ "1972 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "Oklahoma State Cowboy Football 2016 Guide" (PDF). Oklahoma State University. p. 173. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ 2016 Football Guide, pp. 168, 170.
- ^ "1972 Oklahoma State Cowboys Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ 2016 Football Guide, pp. 217, 219.
- ^ "Poke wishbone shines". The Daily Oklahoman. September 17, 1972. p. C8. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Duo leads Razorbacks to shaky 24–23 win". The Wichita Eagle & Beacon. September 24, 1972. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oklahoma State Cowboys lasso Buffaloes, 31–6". The Indianapolis Star. October 1, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Oklahoma State stuns Mizzou with 1:38 left". St. Petersburg Times. October 8, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Virginia Tech upsets Oklahoma St. on FG". The Journal News. October 15, 1972. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Errors strangle Baylor 20–7". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 22, 1972. Retrieved March 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Huskers rap Oklahoma St., 34–0". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 29, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "OSU kicked, 13–10". The Daily Oklahoman. November 5, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Big plays lift Oklahoma State". Omaha World-Herald. November 12, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cyclones blow cold again". The Commercial Appeal. November 26, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sooners drop Okla. St. 38–15". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. December 3, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schedule/Results (1972 Oklahoma State)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
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