OU-OSU rivalry personal for coaches

STILLWATER, Okla. -- The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State football game is always about bragging rights for the players and fans.

This year, it's personal for the coaches, too.

Bob Stoops of No. 3 Oklahoma and Les Miles of Oklahoma State have traded barbs since shortly after last year's game, which the Cowboys won 16-13 to deprive Oklahoma of the Big 12 South title and a possible berth in the national championship game.

Prior to last season's Cotton Bowl, Stoops talked about how great it was to be part of a program that has such high expectations.

"Some people are satisfied with six wins, five wins," he said. "Some people are even satisfied with four wins. But not here."

Oklahoma State, by the way, finished 4-7.

Miles stirred the pot during a summertime talk to boosters in Tulsa, when he said the Cowboys should have beaten Oklahoma by more. Later, also in Tulsa, Stoops told fans that "it's real easy to win three, four or five games. You try and win 11 or 13 games."

A few weeks ago, before his team played Kansas, Miles was asked if the game with the Jayhawks was "unloseable."

"I don't know," he said. "You'd have to think there were some games last year that some teams in this state played that they felt were unloseable, too. And that they found were not."

Welcome to the 2002 edition of the Bedlam series.

Stoops and Miles have taken the high road this week, saying they respect the other program and look forward to a spirited game this afternoon. But it's obvious they aren't exactly chums.

Miles said his relationship with Stoops is "cordial."

"It's his responsibility to represent Oklahoma, and it would be my responsibility to represent Oklahoma State to best of my ability," he said.

Stoops said there's no need to describe his relationship with Miles or any other coach.

"I see him as much as I see all of the Big 12 coaches, which is once a year at a head coaches meeting," Stoops said. "I don't have a relationship, really, with any of 'em."

Oklahoma (10-1, 6-1) is playing for pride and revenge. The Sooners, who have a 74-15-7 advantage in the series, have already won the South Division title and will play Colorado on Dec. 7 for the conference championship.

Oklahoma State (6-5, 4-3) is bowl eligible for the first time since 1997. A victory would be the Cowboys' fifth in the past eight years against Oklahoma, and would enhance their chances of getting a bowl berth.

Oklahoma State's stunning upset last year -- the Cowboys were 27-point underdogs, playing in Norman -- has served to heighten the anticipation for both sides.

"I don't know if last year they weren't really worried about us, but last year we kind of gave them a wake-up call," said T.D. Bryant, whose 31-yard reception late in the game set up OSU's winning touchdown.

Was lack of focus an issue for the Sooners last year?

"If it was, then it's not now," said Oklahoma tight end Trent Smith.

Miles said he would like to think the back-and-forth between he and Stoops is simply "good-natured jostling."