Oklahoma State has produced one winning season in the past 12 years -- an 8-4 Alamo Bowl campaign in 1997 -- but new coach Les Miles doesn't find a bare cupboard.

Miles, who was OSU's offensive coordinator in that winning season of 1997, inherits 16 returning starters.

On offense, 19 of the 25 players listed on the final depth chart are back.

"There is some talent here," said Miles, who had been the tight ends coach of the Dallas Cowboys for the past three seasons. "There isn't any question."

OSU is 13-20 since he left, which helps explain why fans are welcoming him back with open arms.

Sixth-year coach Bob Simmons resigned under pressure during a 3-8 campaign last season. It was the Cowboys' worst record since going 3-7-1 during Pat Jones' final season as head coach in 1994.

But Simmons did recruit well.

"I promise you, we will win here," said Miles. "This team is loaded full of good people and I just have a real strong feeling that good people work their butt off to get better."

The Cowboys gave an indication of their potential by scaring national champion Oklahoma in the regular season finale. OSU lost 12-7 and wielded legitimate upset hopes until a potential game-winning touchdown pass was batted away with 3:15 remaining.

"There has never been a question of talent. The talent has been here," said linebacker Dwayne Levels, the team's leading returning tackler.

"It's just a matter of putting it together and finding that chemistry and finding that bond. With Coach Miles coming in with a new energy and a change of attitude, I really think that will be accomplished.

"He comes in and brings confidence and a new arrogance, I guess you could say. People walk around with their chests out and heads held up high because they are proud they play football for Oklahoma State."

The Cowboys have lots of reasons for optimism on offense even though tailback Reggie White, who rushed for 1,049 yards last season, forfeited his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft pool (he was not drafted).

Replacing White is sophomore Tatum Bell, the crown jewel of OSU's 2000 recruiting class. Bell flashed now-you-see-him, now-you-don't speed by bolting 60 yards for a touchdown against Oklahoma and finished the season with a better yards-per-carry average than White.

Though quantity is a problem at the quarterback position, quality is not. Aso Pogi broke Mike Gundy's freshman record for passing yards, but he ended last season as the only scholarship quarterback on campus.

There are no such depth worries at receiver. Players who combined for 90 catches return, including sophomore Rashaun Woods, who could be poised for a breakout season, Gabe Lindsay, Terrance Davis-Bryant and Willie Young.

The offensive line, anchored by returning starters Kyle Eaton, Jeff Machado, Jon Vandrell and weight-room phenom Bryan Phillips, is considered a strength.

The veteran cast should help the Cowboys break out of an offensive slump. Oklahoma State moved the ball well last season, but stumbled in the red zone. As a result, OSU produced its fewest touchdowns and points since 1994. Fifty of Oklahoma State's 202 points came in the lone Big 12 victory against last-place Baylor.

Oklahoma State's blitz-oriented defenses often ranked among the nation's best under Simmons, but inexperience contributed to a drop-off last season. The Cowboys broke in a fleet of new linebackers and defensive backs. Growing pains contributed to OSU surrendering its most points since 1996.

The most glaring troubles came in the secondary. OSU's pressure defense was burned for a school-record 253.0 passing yards per game.

The Cowboys must feel confident that their defensive backs have grown up, because new defensive coordinator Bill Clay will put five of them on the field most of the time. He is installing a 4-2-5 defense featuring three safeties.

"The mentality is still the same -- attack. I'm all for that. I don't like sitting back waiting," said Levels. "But with the way the conference is going to more pass-oriented offenses, the extra DB is really going to help out."

Levels thinks OSU can be one of the nation's surprise teams. He understands outsiders might be skeptical.

"We were 3-8 last year," he said.

"If I wasn't associated with Oklahoma State and I saw our record from last year, I would say, 'Hey, they are going to be back down there at the bottom.' But that's why we play college football because everything is so unpredictable."

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